February 23, 2026
By Stephanie Rino, Director of Curriculum and Learning Hello, I’m Stephanie Rino, Director of Curriculum and Learning at Little Sunshine’s Playhouse. As a longtime Reggio Emilia–inspired educator, I’ve spent much of my career observing how children make meaning together, through shared questions, collective problem-solving, and moments of genuine connection. Collaboration has always been one of […]
February 18, 2026
Choosing a preschool can feel overwhelming. There are tours to schedule, questions to ask, and—perhaps most confusing of all—educational philosophies to compare. Two names parents often encounter are Reggio Emilia and Montessori. While both approaches are respected, research-informed, and centered on children, they differ in meaningful ways. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering Reggio vs […]
January 29, 2026
By Stephanie Rino, Director of Curriculum and Learning Walk into a thoughtfully designed Reggio Emilia preschool, and one thing becomes immediately clear: children are not sitting quietly waiting to be told what to do next. They are moving, wondering, questioning, building, negotiating, experimenting, and—yes—sometimes making a mess. This is not accidental. It is foundational. As […]
January 12, 2026
Screens have slowly become a part of modern childhood. From television shows and tablets to phones used for video calls and learning apps, digital media is woven into daily life. For parents, the challenge often isn’t whether screens exist. It’s how to manage screen time for kids in a way that supports healthy development without […]
December 16, 2025
Winter brings a beautiful shift in the seasons. It’s full of shorter days, colder temperatures, and a slower pace for many families. While winter often means cozy mornings and holiday traditions, it can also create challenges for keeping young children active, engaged, and learning. That is why thoughtful winter activities for kids play such an […]
October 2, 2025
For many parents, there’s a bedtime ritual that never seems to change: your child begs for the same book over and over again. While you might know every page by heart, there’s something meaningful happening in that moment. A child’s favorite story isn’t just about the characters on the page. It can actually give you […]
September 15, 2025
Play-based learning sometimes gets brushed off as “just play,” but decades of child development research tell us the opposite. Play is how children learn best. It’s where they experiment, solve problems, and discover how the world works. Little Sunshine’s Playhouse, as a reggio emilia-inspired school, believes wholeheartedly in preparing little minds for a life full […]
September 9, 2025
At Little Sunshine’s Playhouse, our classrooms are more than spaces for learning. They’re vibrant communities where curiosity is celebrated, imaginations flourish, and children feel empowered to explore the world around them. For more than 20 years, our proprietary curriculum has been intentionally planned with care and expertise to stand apart. Each month, it captures hearts […]
June 12, 2025
If you’ve been researching preschools near you, you may have come across something called the Reggio Emilia approach. But what does that actually mean? And how is it different from what most of us think of as a “normal” preschool? At Little Sunshine’s Playhouse, we use the Reggio Emilia approach because we believe your child […]