Infant/ Toddler/ Pre-School Program
Our Traditional Program offers care for children ages six (6) weeks through twelve (12) years old. This program is open from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday, depending on your child’s age. Our PreK Program is a grant funded program that is available for eligible four (4) year olds. This program has a number of different options including a morning session, afternoon session, and a full day session. Our Childcare Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program is a grant funded drop-in and evening care program that is available on a first come first serve basis for eligible student families with children ages six (6) weeks through twelve (12) years old. This program follows the UNM academic calendar and is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am to 9:15 pm and Friday from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm.
The UNMCC provides a developmentally appropriate experience for your child. We have a curriculum that recognizes the equal importance and critical interrelationships of social, emotional, intellectual and physical growth. Our program supports children’s learning through a play based environment and activities that encourage the development of concepts that are crucial for academic learning.
While some of the activities available to your child are teacher initiated, all of these are elective for your child. Your child will initiate many of his/her learning experiences at our Campus. We provide children with a rich social and material learning environment with the confidence that children will pursue their own learning objectives. The role of teachers is to clarify the choices available to children, give them guidance in choosing when necessary and to facilitate children’s accomplishments of their own learning objectives.
Throughout our program we implement anti-bias practices. We recognize and celebrate differences in culture, gender, family form and ability. We support every child’s identity and address children’s occasional biased behaviors and statements in the context in which they occur.
Our Philosophy
We believe children at the UNMCC learn best through:
Hands-on activities and play inside and outside
Music, movement and fantasy play
Real life experiences such as field-trips, walks, and visitors
An environment that offers opportunities and choices that build independence
A child-centered environment in which the children have ownership and responsibility
Constructive, guided and trustful interactions and relationships with their teachers
A safe environment provided by consistency and predictability of routines and boundaries
Open-ended questions
Teacher and family collaboration and communication
A staff that respects and understands the different ways in which children develop
Family-style dining, which encourages language, social awareness and fine motor skills
Teachers that facilitate their engagement, expand their experiences and challenge and stimulate them
