About Us

The first year of life is a very important time for development. Our top priority is to provide a safe, healthy, and happy environment that enables children to grow and reach milestones freely. We provide a stimulating environment that enables your child to explore through play. We provide a variety of materials of different colors, sizes, textures and shapes. Infants make new discoveries every day. Our staff constantly interacts with the children to encourage communication. This also gives them a sense of security. Not only does our program allow for development, we also provide a safe, nurturing environment that ensures the needs of all the children are met. Communication between caregivers and families is very important to us. We work collaboratively with parents to follow a schedule that works for each child. In our classroom your child will have the freedom to move and explore during play. 

Our Toddler Program is based on the premise that toddlers develop and learn about their world through the use of exploration and discovery. They learn through active movement, and through interactions with others. The environment, indoor and outdoor, and daily planned activities are designed to encourage self-exploration, hands on play and discovery. Every experience that occurs in our day is seen as a learning experience that enhances the children's emerging gross motor, fine motor, language, sensory, social and self-help skills. Our toddler room is a place where there is a sense of security and trust. This is developed through consistent care giving routines, as well as, through warm, supportive, respectful, and dependable adult-child relationships. 

Knowing that two year old's are full of energy, have a sense of wonder, and have the need to explore  everything in their environment our program is set up for lots of active exploration and experimentation. Our staff provides hands on experiences and activities through the day to support the ever growing gross motor, fine motor, language, sensory and self-help skills. Children are also supported in their endeavors to master toilet training, learning to dress and feed themselves. With the knowledge that two year old's are also beginning to understand social skills, our staff supports them in their efforts to form friendships and to communicate emotions. Interactions between the children are carefully and gently guided towards their development of empathy and compassion. 

Three-year-old's are very energetic and are beginning to show their independence and build self esteem through challenges and successes. We encourage children to focus their energy on positive behavior and good choices including problem solving, self control and acceptable social behavior. Each day children participate in a variety of large and small group activities. Our staff create activities and personalized lesson plans to include the abilities of each individual child. We try to further children's development through a variety of center materials, active play, songs and exploration of their environment. Our busy schedule includes story time, outdoor play and free play in learning centers. Independent exploration, teacher directed activities, and hands-on learning helps develop a variety of skills and knowledge in areas such as literacy, mathematics, scientific thinking and social skills. Our classroom environment helps support all areas of development. 

Our four year old room is a busy place. Children explore areas of learning through hands-on activities. We strive to ensure children have been introduced to concepts needed to succeed as they move into kindergarten. We also work from a research based curriculum that incorporates additional science, technology, engineering, arts and math activities (STEAM). Children receive formal writing instruction through daily activities and the program, Hand Writing Without Tears. Each day children participate in large and small group activities. These activities allow opportunities for free exploration. The classroom is set up with learning centers that offer self-directed and guided choices. Art projects completed in our four year old room are child created. The process of completing the project is more important than the final product. Social skills are very important. Children are encouraged to work out problems on their own and express themselves using words. This is done with guidance and support from our staff. To build self-confidence we encourage children to be more independent. We strive to keep all children motivated and engaged. We challenge the children to build on their current skill level while we are constantly introducing new ideas. Our program is designed to provide a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate learning experience for all children.  

This group is for children who have completed the four year old program and/or who are attending Public Pre-K. The curriculum used is a Creative Curriculum using themes of interest to the children and prepare them for Kindergarten. 

SMCPS transport to Banneker ES., Leonardtown ES. and Kings Christian Academy to and from Sunshine. We have our own transportation to Duke ES. Leonardtown Middle also has transportation to the center.  We provide a safe and fun environment for children to be creative and participate in activities. Our goal is to provide an environment that meets children's social, intellectual with staff ready to assist with children's learning needs.