Best Children’s Store
1. Doodlet’s
This downtown staple has claimed the first-place title for several years now. Is it the fact that kids are encouraged to play with toys in-store? Is it the recently painted yellow brick road on the floor leading to the register that makes buying toys feel like a trip through Oz? According to owner Lisa Young, “We are a place that sells happiness essentials to children and children-at-heart. It’s what we love.”
120 Don Gaspar Ave., (505) 983-3771
If you need a fix of plush dinosaurs, books about animals or other souvenirs, end your visit to the Children’s Museum by taking a stroll through its gift shop and find out what a Daxiatitan looks like.
1050 Old Pecos Trail, (505) 989-8359
3. Toyopolis
This family-owned and operated business has a vast selection of kids’ toys, games, puzzles, clothes and books, including many educational and science-based kits and developmental toys for babies.
150 Washington Ave., Suite 104, (505) 988-5422
Best Elementary School
1. Santa Fe School for the Arts & Sciences
This private pre-K-8 school utilizes an “expeditionary learning” model, an approach that features in depth engagement at its core and emphasizes learning from one’s peers as well as teachers. This school teaches weekly American Sign Language lessons from third through sixth grade, specifically to “promote better awareness of and sensitivity to the deaf and hard of hearing community,” and to “develop a strong appreciation for deaf culture.”
5912 Jaguar Drive, (505) 438-8585
2. Turquoise Trail Charter School
New Mexico’s oldest charter school serving pre-K-8 students aims to construct “an innovative environment designed to support high achievement, strong engagement, student well being, and an intentional fostering of community.”
13 San Marcos Loop, (505) 986-4000
3. Chaparral Elementary School
At Chaparral, Firebirds (the students) don’t just fly—they soar. As Principal Erica Martinez-Maestas says on the school website, “We believe that everyone at Chaparral deserves to work, learn and play in a positive, kind environment.”
2451 Avenida Chaparral, (505) 467-1400
Best High School
One of the state’s oldest public high schools welcomed a new principal in March: former Assistant Principal Jaime Chavez. “I’m really glad it’s something positive for Santa Fe High, the community and all stakeholders,” she says of Santa Fe High’s win as best Santa Fe high school. “It’s a really great way to start the year.” In the upcoming school year, Chavez says she hopes to “revamp” school spirit through extracurriculars for students, an initiative that includes a dance club that debuted this summer.
2100 Yucca St., (505) 467-2400
2. New Mexico School for the Arts
This statewide public high school based in Santa Fe provides its students with rigorous arts programs, including dance, music, theater, visual arts and creative writing. And, coming soon, the school will add cinematic arts to the mix.
500 Montezuma Ave., (505) 310-4194
This private Catholic school serves grades 7-12, draws its inspiration from the Christian Brothers education initiative dating back to 1680 and offers an education with faith-based opportunities—including retreats and campus ministry.
100 Siringo Road, (505) 983-7353
Best Kids Clothing
1. Indigo Baby
While many visit Indigo Baby to purchase toys, leaving without the world’s cutest tiny sweater may prove difficult. The clothes aren’t just gorgeous; approximately 30% of her stock, owner Katie Hyde says, are made in New Mexico, and all the store’s clothes and toys come from ethically sourced and sustainable companies. And don’t let the “baby” moniker fool you—one recent development Hyde notes is that the clothes and toys are for children up to age 10.
185 Paseo De Peralta, (505) 954-4000
2. Double Take
This downtown thrift store isn’t solely for kids, but it does offer a selection of secondhand gear that includes kids’ clothes, furniture, toys, strollers and more. Plus, if you’ve got baby essentials you no longer need, you can sell them here!
320 Aztec St., (505) 989-8886
This business within Toyopolis offers several specialty brands and T-shirts unique to Santa Fe, along with cowboy boots and moccasins in sizes from infant to age 12, in a fun and friendly atmosphere.
150 Washington Ave., Ste. 104, (505) 988-5422
Best Kids’ Dental Practice
While Dentistry for Kids provides routine services from filling, root canals, extractions and specialty treatments (including sedation if a kid can’t stomach the dentist), the office centers preventative care and a focus on the “whole health” of the child above all, in an environment any kid can get comfortable in. Its head of marketing, Nancy Randle, says, “It’s so rewarding to hear back from the community, that they’re satisfied with their care.”
1439 S St. Francis Drive; 6640 Cerrillos Road, Suite E, (505) 473-5437
Here, parents are encouraged to stay in the room with their children, and along with relatively affordable and bilingual care, all the chairs have TVs attached to keep the kids distracted as the dentist makes their smiles sparkle.
490-B W Zia Road, (505) 428-7878
To ease the nerves of kids intimidated by the dentist, Adventure Dental’s offices are designed to be an exciting and welcoming place. Parents can even receive orthodontic and vision care for their young ones in the same office.
2027 Cerrillos Road, (505) 820-1212
Best Middle School
1. Santa Fe School for the Arts & Sciences
This year’s winner for best elementary school continues receiving praise for its middle school, during which seventh and eighth graders’ curriculum—also an “expeditionary learning” style—includes Spanish and Japanese language courses; community service classes; and film courses in which students learn to critique and create short films (pitching ideas, storyboarding, casting, filming, editing, etc.), many of which are submitted to festivals.
5912 Jaguar Drive, (505) 438-8585
2. Turquoise Trail Charter School
This pre-K-8 school’s stated goal is to make sure all of its graduates finish in the top 10% of their high school freshman class no matter which school they attend. “We are the Coyotes and above all, we protect the pack,” the school’s site proclaims.
13 San Marcos Loop, (505) 986-4000
This pre-K-8 school southeast of the City Different regularly encourages students who do well in class (academically or socially) with positive principal’s office referrals from their teachers commending their good behavior. Go Dust Devils!
2 Avenida Torreon, (505) 467-4900
Best Nonprofit for Youth
The Children’s Museum’s core mission is furthering the education of Santa Fe’s children through weekly programs in the arts and sciences. The museum’s free entry for people ages 17 and under every Thursday has created a space that builds children’s sense of discovery. Plus, kids can connect with other museums in the community through these programs, such as the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and the Santa Fe Bug & Reptile Museum.
1050 Old Pecos Trail, (505) 989-8359
A local branch of a national organization inspiring young girls to be “strong, smart and bold,” Girls Inc. offers after-school programs, a spring break STEM education camp and a summer camp featuring programs from outdoor leadership to economic literacy.
301 Hillside Ave., (505) 982-2042
YouthWorks serves at-risk children in Santa Fe to help them succeed through vocational opportunities and education. Kids in one of its programs, YouthBuild, construct homes with Habitat for Humanity and prepare meals for schools, community groups and homeless residents.
1505 Llano St., (505) 989-1855
Best Orthodontic Practice
To make it even easier for families in Santa Fe to choose their childrens’ dentist, Dentistry for Kids also offers orthodontic treatment for both younger and adolescent kids—no need to refer to outside specialists. Randle notes that for kids, “it is hard work” to go to the dentist’s office, so “we try to make every interaction a positive one…we just try to have a loving and open environment.”
1439 S St. Francis Drive; 6640 Cerrillos Road, Suite E, (505) 473-5437
Both Dr. Stephen Darmitzel and Dr. Clarice Pick were raised in Santa Fe and emphasize commitments to staying current in the field of orthodontics, offering an array of options and providing a family-friendly environment.
125-A Siringo Road, (505) 982-6656
Georgia-born orthodontist Dr. Lilly Padilla, based in Albuquerque with another location in Santa Fe’s Midtown, is passionate about helping her young patients “restore their confidence and self-esteem by giving them a new beautiful smile.”
400 Kiva Court, Suite A, (505) 569-6639
Best Pediatric Practice
1. CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center
When it comes to pediatric care, providers at CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center strive to create a trusting relationship with patients. Arturo Delgado, its director of public communications, gave a shout-out to pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Chittum for her ability to connect with patients, and tells SFR, “We really work hard to serve our patients and give them the best care possible. Something like this gives us that validation that we’re doing the right thing.”
5501 Herrera Drive; 2590 Camino Entrada, (505) 946-3233 465 St. Michael’s Drive, Suite 200, (505) 913-4901
2. Presbyterian Health Services
The Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center on the Southside specializes in family medicine and pediatrics (among other areas), providing wellness checks, specialized care and a focus on kids’ “physical, mental and social health and well being.”
4801 Beckner Road, Suite 1600, (505) 772-2000
For more than 50 years, La Familia has been providing low-income and uninsured families in Santa Fe with a wide range of quality medical services, offering a sliding scale based on family size and income.
1035 Alto St.; 2145 Caja Del Oro Grant Road, (505) 982-4425
Best Preschool
1. Santa Fe School for the Arts & Sciences
Santa Fe School for the Arts & Sciences’ preschool program embeds language arts taught through phonics and story time, with Spanish and ASL integrated into daily classes; social-emotional learning that continues up until the student graduates; hands-on science classes in the school’s garden and an early math learning program known as numeracy.
5912 Jaguar Drive, (505) 438-8585
This preschool offers early pre-K for 3 year olds in addition to 4 year olds; the state Public Education Department named one of its special education teachers, Tara Hughes, the 2023 New Mexico Teacher of the Year—the first early childhood teacher to receive that recognition.
3160 Agua Fria St., (505) 467-4600
El Dorado is one of the more remote schools in the district, and like 14 other schools in SFPS, offers full-day pre-K for the county’s 4 year olds with a curriculum of “learning through play.”
2 Avenida Torreon, (505) 467-4900
Best Summer Program for Youth
Every summer, from mid-June through the month of July, the Santa Fe Children’s Museum hosts seven different week-long “explorer camps” with their own set of themed activities. Learn about the earth’s history and dig for fossils in Earth Camp, cook s’mores on the sun in Space Camp, travel to the world of fairies and dragons through arts and crafts in Enchanted Camp, unleash your inner engineer in Lego Camp and more.
1050 Old Pecos Trail, (505) 989-8359
2. Santa Fe School for the Arts & Sciences
Technically, this consists of six groups of different week-long summer programs, each complete with its own theme. Will you learn wilderness survival? Play carnival games? Paint dragons? Take up weaving? Check them out.
5912 Jaguar Drive, (505) 438-8585
3. The Candyman: Summer Rock Camp
This two-week summer camp is for the kids who played Guitar Hero (do kids still play that?) and want to bring it to life. Form a band, learn and record songs, meet local musicians and perform live to adoring crowds.
851 St. Michael’s Drive, (505) 983-5906
Best Youth Arts Program
1. The Candyman: Summer Rock Camp
Kids who join the Summer Rock Camp don’t just learn to play instruments; they form an identity. On top of live performances, bands come up with their own names, logos and sound. The Candyman’s general manager Hailey Earp tells SFR, “We always have a long waitlist of kids who are dying to join. I like to think about if I had this when I was a kid—how that would have affected my life.”
851 St. Michael’s Drive, (505) 983-5906
2. Santa Fe Youth Symphony Association
The Youth Symphony is most well-known for its advanced orchestra teaching strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion to budding musicians, but it also offers chorus, jazz and mariachi groups. You can also rent instruments or book private lessons.
1000 Cordova Place, Ste. 190, (505) 983-3530
Maybe your kid could become the next O’Keeffe with the help of art classes offered after school and during the summer. Create masterpieces in classes including painting, sketching, textiles, sculpture, printmaking and more.
1513 3rd St., (505) 670-5019
Best Youth Fitness Program
Nothing will help kids gain strength, flexibility and confidence like acrobatic and trapeze classes. Wise Fool offers summer camps and drop-in classes for different age groups to help kids and teens master circus performing arts. Children hoping to find their inner performance artist will be delighted to learn skills such as stilt walking, juggling, aerial fabric, puppetry or general clownery.
1131 Siler Road, Ste. B, (505) 992-2588
A local running team for girls, but so much more. Alongside running, girls build their confidence through team building lessons, and they complete a community impact project together and run a 5K at the end of the season.
1000 Cordova Place, Ste. 164, (505) 572-9073
Swimming lessons that range from parent-tot classes to children age 4 and up, separated by swimming ability levels Seahorse, Starfish, Dolphin and Shark. Learn to float, tread water and work your way up to backstrokes and diving.
601 Alta Vista St., facebook.com/beastaquaticssantafe