Parent Resources - Little Sunshine's Playhouse

June 10, 2026

The Difference a Hands-On Dad Makes: What Early Childhood Research Shows

This Father’s Day, we want to share what that research actually says, and why the role of a father in a family during these early years matters more than most people realize. The science on the importance of dads in early childhood has grown significantly over the past two decades, and the findings are consistently […]

June 2, 2026

Principles of Reggio Emilia: Documentation as Communication

By Stephanie Rino, Director of Curriculum and Learning Walk into a Reggio Emilia preschool and look at the walls. You will not find generic posters or decorative borders. You will find photographs of children at work, their words printed carefully beneath them. You will find sketches, questions, and traces of investigations still in progress. You […]

May 18, 2026

Principles of Reggio Emilia: Teachers as Partners and Guides

By Stephanie Rino, Director of Curriculum and Learning Think about the best teacher you ever had. Chances are, they did not simply stand at the front of a room and deliver information. They listened. They asked questions. They noticed what made you curious and found ways to follow that curiosity somewhere meaningful. That memory captures […]

May 14, 2026

Our Southlake Preschool Turned Every Child Into an Artist

There is a moment that happened over and over again at our Family Art Show last April, a child grabbing a parent’s hand, pulling them across the room, and saying with complete confidence: “Look what I made.” That moment is everything. It is what we work toward every day inside our classrooms at Little Sunshine’s […]

April 27, 2026

How to Identify Your Child’s Learning Style (And Support It at Home)

Every child is wired differently. Some light up when they get to move their bodies. Others want to take everything apart and see how it works. Some are drawn to art and color, while others want to talk through every idea out loud. These differences are not random. They often reflect your child’s learning style, […]

April 20, 2026

Principles of Reggio Emilia: The Classroom is the Third Teacher

By Stephanie Rino, Director of Curriculum and Learning Walk into a Reggio Emilia daycare or preschool and you will notice something immediately: the space itself feels alive. Natural materials, thoughtful lighting, children’s artwork on the walls…every detail is intentional. This is the principle of the environment as the “third teacher.” In the Reggio Emilia approach, […]

April 8, 2026

A Spanish Preschool Experience in Austin: Shining a Light on Little Sunshine’s Playhouse of Four Points

At Little Sunshine’s Playhouse of Austin, we believe early childhood is a time to explore, connect, and discover the world in meaningful ways. This includes language. Today, we’re excited to shine a light on the thoughtful and engaging Spanish learning experiences taking place within our school community. While we are not a fully Spanish preschool, […]

March 18, 2026

Principles of Reggio Emilia: Children Are Natural Communicators

By Stephanie Rino, Director of Curriculum and Learning From the moment they enter the world, children are communicating. Even before strong verbal language develops, children are constantly expressing ideas, feelings, and discoveries. Communication is one of the most natural parts of early childhood. In a Reggio Emilia preschool, this understanding forms an essential foundation of […]

March 4, 2026

Gentle Parenting Is Getting a Bad Rap. Here’s What It Really Means.

If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve probably seen the debates. “Gentle parenting doesn’t work.” “It creates entitled children.” “It’s just permissive parenting with a new name.” Gentle parenting has been showing up in headlines and comment sections everywhere, and not always in a positive light. For many families, the conversation has […]