Preschool Programs
Play-Based, Bilingual Preschool Programs in North Boulder
New Horizons offers play-based, child-centered preschool programs for children ages 2.5–6 in a warm, inclusive, and community-centered environment. Our classrooms combine bilingual learning, outdoor exploration, creativity, literacy, and meaningful relationships to support children's social-emotional, cognitive, physical, and language development.
We offer flexible preschool scheduling options designed to support a variety of family needs, including half-day, extended-day, and five-morning programs.
Our Classrooms
Small Class Sizes + Individualized Support
Each classroom is intentionally small, with a maximum of 16 children and 3 teachers, including at least two bilingual Spanish-speaking educators. Small group sizes help teachers build strong relationships with children while providing individualized support, guidance, and opportunities for exploration and growth.
Children learn in mixed-age classroom communities where younger and older children learn alongside one another through play, collaboration, and shared experiences. While classroom ages vary from year to year, our Tuesday/Thursday morning class often includes younger preschool students, while our Monday/Wednesday/Friday and afternoon programs typically include older preschool children preparing for kindergarten.
Daily Learning Experiences
Learning Through Play, Exploration, and Relationships
At New Horizons, children learn through hands-on experiences, imaginative play, inquiry-based projects, storytelling, music, movement, art, outdoor exploration, and meaningful interactions with teachers and peers.
Daily classroom experiences include:
Literacy activities and storytelling in English and Spanish
Art and creative expression
Dramatic play and imaginative exploration
Music and movement
Science and nature exploration
Outdoor play and physical development
Social-emotional learning and conflict resolution
Open-ended play and child-led discovery
Teachers support children as active participants in their learning by encouraging curiosity, confidence, collaboration, empathy, and problem-solving skills.
Daily Rhythm of Play, Learning, and Connection
Each day at New Horizons combines play-based learning, bilingual language experiences, outdoor exploration, creativity, and meaningful relationships in a warm and engaging classroom environment.
Literacy Experiences
Children begin the day with engaging, age-appropriate literacy activities that support language development, storytelling, early writing, and a love of books in both English and Spanish.
Circle Time in English + Spanish
Teachers and children gather together for songs, games, movement, stories, and classroom activities in both English and Spanish, helping build language skills, confidence, and community connection.
Outdoor Play + Exploration
Children spend significant time outdoors every day exploring, creating, imagining, building, digging, riding tricycles and strider bikes, and connecting with nature in our spacious, tree-shaded yard. Outdoor play supports physical development, collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Snack Time
Children take time to gather together for a healthy snack and conversation with teachers and classmates.
Story Time in English + Spanish
The school day often ends with bilingual stories and shared reading experiences that spark imagination, support literacy development, and reinforce language learning.
A Typical Preschool Day
Spanish-English Preschool Environment
New Horizons has offered bilingual Spanish-English preschool programming since 1990. Our bilingual environment supports multilingual children while also introducing English-speaking children to Spanish language and cultural experiences in developmentally appropriate ways.
Children hear and engage with both English and Spanish throughout the day through songs, stories, literacy activities, classroom conversations, routines, and play.
We believe bilingual learning helps children develop communication skills, cultural understanding, empathy, and confidence while supporting strong early literacy development.
Bilingual Learning
Outdoor Learning
Nature, Movement, and Outdoor Play
Children spend significant time outdoors every day exploring, creating, moving, and connecting with nature in our spacious, tree-shaded outdoor space.
Outdoor experiences support:
Physical development and coordination
Imaginative and dramatic play
Collaboration and problem-solving
Sensory exploration
Connection to nature and community
Our outdoor environment includes gardens, sandboxes, climbing structures, a tricycle and strider bike track, open-ended play spaces, a small sledding hill, and opportunities for nature-based learning and exploration. Children also enjoy visits from the neighboring goats and pigs, which help foster curiosity, observation, and connection with the natural world.
The Cooperative Difference
Families as Partners in Learning
As a cooperative preschool, New Horizons is guided by the belief that children thrive when families and educators work together. Since 1968, family partnership has been at the heart of our school community.
Families are active participants in the life of the school through home visits, classroom volunteering, workshops, community events, family literacy programs, and shared leadership opportunities. While participation looks different for every family, these contributions help strengthen the relationships and sense of connection that make New Horizons unique.
The cooperative model helps families build meaningful relationships with teachers and other parents, gain a deeper understanding of their child's learning and development, and become informed advocates for their children's education.
Open communication is an important part of these partnerships. New Horizons uses Bloomz, a secure family communication platform, to share classroom updates, photos, reminders, newsletters, event information, and school announcements throughout the year, helping families stay informed and connected to their child's preschool experience.
Together, families and educators create a supportive, engaged, and connected learning community where children can learn, grow, and thrive.
Program Options
Flexible Scheduling Options for Ages 2.5–6
New Horizons offers a variety of scheduling options designed to support children's developmental needs while providing flexibility for families.
Tuesday/Thursday Morning Class
Our Tuesday/Thursday morning class often includes younger preschool children and provides a gentle introduction to the preschool experience through play-based learning, bilingual language exposure, outdoor exploration, literacy activities, and social-emotional development.
Monday/Wednesday/Friday Morning Class
This mixed-age morning class often includes older preschool children who are building independence, confidence, and foundational skills for kindergarten while continuing to learn through play, exploration, and meaningful relationships.Program Options Include
Afternoon Preschool Program
Our afternoon program meets Monday through Friday and typically serves older preschool children ages 4–6. The program provides additional opportunities for kindergarten readiness, literacy development, bilingual learning, project-based exploration, and community building. The afternoon preschool program is also eligible for Colorado Universal Preschool (UPK) half-day funding for qualifying students.
All Programs Include:
Small class sizes with a maximum of 16 children
Three teachers in every classroom
Daily literacy experiences in English and Spanish
Outdoor play and exploration every day
Play-based, child-centered learning
Family partnerships and community involvement
Community field trips and seasonal celebrations
Please visit our Tuition + Enrollment page for current schedules, tuition information, and enrollment availability.
Field Trips in our Community
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Children participate in neighborhood walks, community field trips, literacy events, and seasonal celebrations that help connect classroom learning to the wider Boulder community.
Field experiences may include visits to local farms, Growing Gardens programs, libraries, museums, parks, and nature preserves, providing opportunities for hands-on exploration, environmental learning, literacy experiences, and community connection.
