Infants and Newborns
Your baby is one of your most precious gifts and we are honored to be a part of their journey from the very beginning. We ensure a smooth transition to communicating milestone achievements; we’re not a daycare, we’re an extension of your home.
Our highly trained infant teachers partner with you to ensure your baby’s developmental needs are met every step along the way. They create predictable routines and nurturing classroom environments that foster social and emotional development.
Through age-appropriate, natural materials inspired by our Reggio Emilia approach, your infant will be introduced to sensory play, art, music, language, and fine/gross motor activities that are documented and shared with you through our daily LuvNotes®.
Our Proprietary Reggio Emilia-Inspired Curriculum
Creatively Shine®
Our Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum, Creatively Shine®, is based on the latest research and trends to prepare your children for their educational careers, equipping them with cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and language skills.
At Little Sunshine’s Playhouse and Preschool® we believe a child’s work is play. We teach your children age-appropriate lessons, manners, and social skills all through creative and purposeful play. We believe children who enjoy learning at a young age will carry it with them throughout their lives.
Each month we have original projects, provide each classroom with new materials that reflect the monthly theme and provide related activities to support the individual concepts of the “whole child.”
“
The teachers at Little Sunshine’s have been so caring and wonderful! Both of my boys have thrived. The teachers care for my children as if they were their own and have taught them so much. I love that my babies learned sign language at such a young age, and my older son is thriving with their advanced curriculum. I highly recommend this program. "
Parent Resources
Child Development Stages
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Early Childhood Education Matters
If there’s one thing Little Sunshine’s Playhouse® wants to shout from the rooftops, it’s that early childhood education matters!
Sleep Safe: Infant Sleep Safety
Of all the overwhelming things that new parents learn, sleep safety may rank among the most stressful. With so many dos, don’ts, rules, and regulations, it can feel like a tidal wave of anxiety and pamphlets.
Our curriculum is based on the research of the most renowned education experts.
Enjoys social play
Raises head and cheek when lying on stomach
Supports upper body with arms when lying on stomach
Stretches legs out when lying on stomach or back
Opens and shuts hands
Pushes down on legs when feet are placed on firm surface
Watches face intently
Follows moving objects
Recognizes familiar objects and people at a distance
Starts using hands and eyes in coordination
Smiles at the sound of voice
Cooing noises: vocal play begins at 3 mo.
Attends to sound
Startles to loud noise
Begins to develop a social smile
Enjoys playing with other people and may cry when playing stops
Becomes more communicative and expressive with face and body
Imitates some movements and facial expressions
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Pushes up on extended arms
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Pulls to sitting with no head lag
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Sits with support of hands
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Supports whole weight on legs
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Grasps feet
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Transfers objects from hand to hand
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Uses raking grasp (not pincer)
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Looks for toy beyond tracking range
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Tracks moving objects with ease
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Grasps objects dangling in front of him
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Looks for fallen toys
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Distinguishes emotions by tone of voice
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Responds to sound by making sounds
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Uses voice to express joy and displeasure
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Syllable repetition beings
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Finds partially hidden objects
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Explores with hands and mouth
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Struggles to get objects that are out of reach
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Enjoys social play
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Interested in mirror images
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Responds to other people’s expression of emotion
Sits unsupported for short periods
Gets to the sitting position without assistance
Crawls forward on belly
Assumes hand and knee position
Creeps on hands and knees
Gets from sitting to crawling or prone (lying on stomach) position
Pulls self up to standing position
Walks holding onto furniture
Stands momentarily without support
May walk two or three steps without support
Uses pincer grasp
Bangs two cubes together
Puts objects into container
Pokes with index finger
Tries to imitate scribbling
Explores objects in many different ways
Finds hidden objects easily
Looks at correct picture when image is names
Imitates gestures
Responds to simple verbal requests
Responds to “no”
Makes simple gestures such as shaking head for no
Babbles with infliction
Babbles “dada” and “mama”
Says “dada” and “mama” for specific people
Uses exclamations such as “oh-oh”
Shy or anxious with strangers
Cries when mother or father leaves
Enjoys imitating people in play
Show specific preferences for certain people and toys
Prefers mother and/or regular care provider over all others
Repeats sounds or gestures for attention
Finger-feeds themselves
Extends arm or leg to help when being dressed
Explore our Educational Programs
Infant Program (6 weeks – 1 year)
Our highly trained infant teachers partner with you to ensure your baby’s developmental needs are met every step along the way. Our nursery staff create predictable routines and nurturing classroom environments that foster social and emotional development in your baby.
Our toddler classrooms are designed to encourage purposeful play where our teachers guide your child through age-appropriate learning experiences that prepare them with the knowledge they need to be confident as they grow.
Early Preschool Program (2-3 years)
Your child’s preschool teacher and our classroom create a nurturing, home-like classroom environment where your toddler is treated as a capable individual, whose opinions, actions and thoughts are respected and valued.
We design our preschool classrooms with developmental milestones in mind and equip each classroom with age-appropriate, educational toys to help continue inspiring your preschoolers curiosity and desire to learn and engage with their classmates and their environment.
It is our mission to prepare your child for a successful year in the wonderful world of kindergarten. Our skilled pre-K teachers help build essential skills by carefully crafting engaging activities that balance instructed learning and purposeful play.