Parent Resources - Little Sunshine's Playhouse

August 18, 2026

Fine Motor Skills Activities for Preschoolers

Watch a preschooler carefully tear a piece of tissue paper, thread a bead onto a string, or press their fingers into a lump of clay. What looks like play is actually some of the most important developmental work of early childhood. Fine motor skills activities for preschoolers are not supplementary to learning. They are foundational […]

August 12, 2026

When to Start Daycare? A Parent’s Complete Guide by Age

One of the first big decisions parents face is figuring out when to start daycare. Whether you are returning to work after parental leave, looking for socialization opportunities for your toddler, or wondering about the right age group for preschool, the answer is rarely one-size-fits-all. The good news: research on early childhood development gives us […]

August 5, 2026

Reggio Emilia vs Montessori: Which Early Learning Approach Fits Your Child Best?

If you have spent any time researching early childhood education, you have almost certainly encountered two names that come up again and again: Reggio Emilia and Montessori. Both are widely respected, both are rooted in a deep belief in children’s natural capacity to learn, and both stand in meaningful contrast to the more traditional, teacher-directed […]

July 29, 2026

How to Prepare Your Child for Daycare Transition

Starting daycare is one of the biggest milestones of early childhood, for both children and parents. Whether your little one is an infant heading to a classroom for the first time or a toddler switching to a new program, knowing how to prepare your child for daycare transition can make all the difference between a […]

July 27, 2026

June 2026 National Teacher of the Month

The Teacher of the Month award is our way of celebrating educators who live out our core values—compassion, humility, integrity, loyalty, and discipline—each and every day. We’re excited to announce that our 2026 June National Teacher of the Month is Ms. Abby from Little Sunshine’s Playhouse of Erie. The leadership team at Erie had such kind words to say […]

July 15, 2026

The Summer Reading List Every Parent of Young Children Needs

Summer is here. The days are longer, the schedule is looser, and if you’re anything like us, you’ve already started a mental list of things you actually want to do with a little breathing room. Can we make a suggestion? Add at least one good book to the pile. We put together a list of […]

July 8, 2026

Early Literacy Activities for Young Children: Write to Your Child’s Favorite Author!

Writing a letter to a favorite author is the kind of activity that sounds simple on the surface and turns out to be quietly extraordinary. It takes a child’s natural love of stories and transforms it into something active, intentional, and deeply meaningful. It bridges reading and writing in a way that feels like neither. […]

June 26, 2026

“Ocean’s Wonders” Curriculum At-Home Activity

This month’s Creatively Shine™ curriculum, “Ocean’s Wonders: Exploring Shores, Sand, & Sea Life,” invites children to dive into the incredible world beneath the waves, discovering the creatures, ecosystems, and mysteries that make our oceans so endlessly fascinating. To extend the fun and learning at home, we’re excited to share an activity your child will love: […]

June 24, 2026

Principles of Reggio Emilia: Parents as Partners in Learning

By Stephanie Rino, Director of Curriculum and Learning Think about the last real conversation you had with your child’s teacher. Not the quick hello at drop-off. Not the end-of-year report card. A genuine conversation in which a teacher shared not just what your child did that day, but how they think. What questions they asked. […]