Playtime Preschool & Childcare

Giáo viên của chúng tôi

I’m Athena Nevarez, Founder of Playtime Preschool & Childcare, an inclusive home-based preschool where children of all abilities are welcomed, celebrated, and supported. For more than 10 years, I’ve dedicated my career to early childhood education, with a special passion for serving autistic children, children with ADHD, and those with communication differences.

My commitment to neurodiversity is both professional and deeply personal. As an autistic and ADHD woman and the proud mother of two amazing autistic boys, I understand the importance of creating spaces where children feel safe, understood, and valued for exactly who they are.

In addition to my work in early childhood education, I am a passionate Autism and ADHD advocate. I proudly serve on the Parent Advocacy Panel for New Mexico State University’s Autism Diagnostic Center (ADC) MEDIAN Project, where I advocate for greater understanding, acceptance, and meaningful support for autistic children and their families. Through this work, I have presented to public school districts across New Mexico, helping educators and administrators better understand how to support neurodivergent students and create more inclusive learning environments.

My passion for children extends beyond the classroom. I have also had the privilege of serving as a youth soccer coach for 3- and 4-year-olds, where I witnessed the same joy, confidence, teamwork, and growth that I strive to nurture every day in my preschool classroom.

I am passionate about offering a home-based preschool because I believe young children learn best in environments where they feel safe, loved, and at home. The smaller setting allows me to build meaningful relationships with each child and their family, understand every child’s unique strengths and needs, and provide individualized learning experiences. There is something truly special about the warmth, connection, and sense of belonging that a home environment provides, and I believe those relationships lay the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.

Triết lý

At Playtime Preschool & Childcare, we believe every child deserves to feel safe, loved, valued, and accepted for exactly who they are. We embrace each child’s unique strengths, interests, and developmental journey, creating an inclusive environment where children of all abilities can learn, play, and thrive together.

Our philosophy is rooted in “learning through play” because we believe play is the work of childhood. Through purposeful play, children build communication, confidence, creativity, problem solving skills, emotional regulation, and meaningful relationships while developing a lifelong love of learning. Rather than expecting children to fit into one approach, we thoughtfully adapt our environment and teaching to meet each child where they are and encourage growth at their own pace.

As a home-based preschool, we believe the strongest learning happens through meaningful relationships. Our smaller setting allows us to truly know each child, build trusting partnerships with families, and create a warm environment that feels like a second home. We value family collaboration and believe that when educators and families work together, children are given the strongest foundation to flourish.

Above all, our mission is to create a community where every child belongs, every family feels supported, and childhood is celebrated through curiosity, connection, compassion, and the joy of play.

Địa điểm

Centrally located

Về chương trình của chúng tôi

What makes Playtime Preschool & Childcare unique is the heart behind our program. As an inclusive home-based preschool, we provide a warm, nurturing environment where children are truly known, accepted, and celebrated for who they are. Our smaller setting allows us to build meaningful relationships with each child and family while creating individualized learning experiences that honor each child’s strengths, interests, and developmental needs. We are especially passionate about supporting children with autism, ADHD, communication differences, and diverse abilities. Our program embraces neurodiversity and focuses on creating an environment where every child feels a sense of belonging. Through sensory supportive practices, individualized care, and a play-based approach, children are encouraged to explore, communicate, build confidence, and develop skills at their own pace.

Our classroom philosophy centers around “learning through play”, because we believe play is the foundation of early childhood learning. Children learn best when they are engaged, curious, and having fun, so our days are filled with hands on exploration, creativity, movement, imagination, and meaningful interactions.

Family partnership is also an important part of our program. Throughout the year, we enjoy creating opportunities for families to connect through special events, celebrations, and activities that bring our preschool community together. We believe families are an essential part of a child’s learning journey, and we strive to create a welcoming community where parents and caregivers feel supported and involved.

At Playtime Preschool & Childcare, we don’t just provide education and care we create a place where children feel at home, families feel connected, and every child has the opportunity to grow, learn, and shine.