Sunshine Nursery: Growing with Purpose (and Plenty of Partnerships!)

Welcome to the Sunshine Nursery blog! At Sunshine, we’re dedicated to nurturing confident, capable, and independent children who also happen to be experts at sharing muddy footprints, turning glitter accidents into art, and keeping us endlessly entertained. Here’s a peek into our curriculum, values, our amazing staff, and the lovable chaos that makes Sunshine… well, Sunshine.

Our Values: Kindness, Respect, and Striving for the Exceptional (Yes, Even When Covered in Paint)

Here at Sunshine, we believe that values are the heart and sparkle of every experience:

• Kindness is our magic ingredient. Whether it's sharing toys or helping a friend who just learned the hard way that grass doesn’t taste great, kindness is how we roll (literally, when it involves puddles). We teach children that a simple act of kindness can make someone’s day—plus, it’s way better than all of us trying to negotiate over one favorite crayon.

• Respect is right up there, too. From learning about different cultures to exploring each other’s snack choices (even the mysterious ones), we help children appreciate differences. Respect also means listening—like when the “whispers” during storytime get a little extra enthusiastic.

• Striving for the Exceptional: At Sunshine, we like to think big. Children are encouraged to explore, try new things, and be the best they can be—even if that means aiming for the highest swing or creating a truly ambitiousmud pie. Learning that it’s okay to fail (or to find glitter in everything) is all part of the journey.

  
  

  

  
  

The Real Magic Makers: Our Amazing Staff

Behind every shared snack, high-five, and “let’s build a giant cardboard rocket,” you’ll find our incredible team. They’re not just here to deliver the curriculum—they’re here to embody our values and sprinkle them into everything we do:

• Kindness in Action: Our staff lead by example, showing children what kindness looks like every day. Whether it’s giving an extra cuddle after a tumble or helping negotiate the epic “red crayon standoff,” they make sure every child feels valued, safe, and part of our Sunshine family.

• Respect (a.k.a. Never Underestimate a Toddler’s Opinions): Listening to children’s big ideas (like why we might need to “invite all the worms to snack time”) is a core part of our respect-driven approach. Our team honors each child’s voice, perspective, and individuality—yes, even if that means trying to understand the deep love for mud pies.

• Striving for the Exceptional: Our team is made up of passionate early childhood experts who never stop learning themselves. From crafting imaginative play spaces to finding the perfect stories, they’re always thinking outside the box. And they don’t just teach our children to aim high—they do it themselves, tackling each day with creativity and an endless supply of enthusiasm.

  
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  
  

Our Curriculum Goals (And Yes, That Includes Dirt)

We want children to grow up loving to explore, create, and discover. Here’s what they get up to:

1. Nature & Outdoor Learning: We believe nature is the ultimate playground! Children build dens, spot bugs, and sometimes make surprise "soups" with whatever plants and, occasionally, mysterious mushy substances they find. If you’ve ever received a random stick or rock as a “gift,” you know this thrill!

2. Creativity (a.k.a. Glitter Explosion Central): From poetry to dance, storytelling to painting, creativity knows no bounds here. Expect paint smudges on cheeks and surprise glitter in your car—it’s a hazard of having an artist in the family.

3. Community Engagement: From trips to meet community members to learning about local amenities (like which shop has the best snacks), our children are building relationships and learning the finer points of teamwork. Let’s just say, “negotiating” who gets the red crayon is practically an Olympic sport in some of our classrooms.

   
   
   
   

   

   
   
   
   

Our Three-Week Learning Cycle (Because Consistency is Key—and Hilarious)

Our structured three-week cycle promotes confidence, creativity, and the occasional comic moment:

1. Week 1 – Teach the Skill: First, we introduce new skills in line with each child’s interests. Maybe that means learning to hold a pencil (or marker, crayon, or, um, yogurt spoon?) or understanding size with sorting games (we may still end up with pom-poms in our pockets).

2. Week 2 – Practice with Provocations: Here’s where the setups get interesting. If it’s pirate week, brace yourself for eye patches and “arghs” echoing around the house. All in the name of learning, of course!

3. Week 3 – Continuous Provision: We leave these tools accessible so children can master skills at their own pace. You may even find yourself quizzed on bug names after we spend time exploring the local flora and fauna. Fun fact: Some of the bugs we thought were friends didn’t get the memo and, well, they scuttled. Swiftly.

   
   

   

   
   
   
   

Parent Partnerships: Teaming Up for the Best Adventures

At Sunshine Nursery, we know it takes a village—parents included! You’re part of the magic that makes Sunshine a special place to learn and grow. We love working with you to understand each child’s unique quirks, celebrate achievements, and laugh together through the occasional challenges (like the Great Sock Swap of ’24).

Parent partnerships are essential to what we do. From morning hellos and quick chats to regular updates, workshops, and special events, we’re here to make sure you’re part of every step of your child’s journey. And yes, we’ll even give you the lowdown on the latest glitter escapade or mysterious playground “soup” recipe! Because when we team up, the children get to see what respect, kindness, and striving for the exceptional really look like.

Thank you for being part of our Sunshine family, where learning is joyful, caring is constant, and every day is a chance to grow together (and maybe find a little glitter in your hair). Cheers to all the laughs, partnerships, and discoveries ahead!