Our Programs
Our Program
What we offer
- Infants
- Early Toddler
- Toddlers
- Preschool 2 years
- Preschool 3 years
- Pre-Kindergarten
- Pre-Kindergarten Club Focus
- School Age
8 Weeks to 12 Months
Our Infant Program serves children from the age of 8 weeks through the age of 12 months. There will be approximately 4 infants assigned to this classroom with consistent caregivers. Each infant will have an individualized schedule based on the child’s developmental needs.
Our Infant Program will focus to creating a nurturing learning environment where your child can feel safe and secure with lots of love.
It is our goal to ensure each child receives a lot of love and attention at this age and to reinforce trust and a positive relationship between child and caregiver.
We will provide you with a detailed report of your child’s day, you will not miss a moment of your precious child’s growth. Each child will be assigned to a primary caregiver to make sure that we can provide the maximum amount of attention to each individual child.
We use Fun Shine Express curriculum® which is a comprehensive, researched-based curriculum designed to implement developmentally appropriate practices and offer responsive daily routines and meaningful experiences that nurture learning and development.
12 – 18 Months
Our Early Toddler program will focus on creating a nurturing learning environment where your child can feel safe and secure. By providing you with a detailed report of your child’s day, you will not miss a moment of your precious child’s growth. Each child will be assigned to a primary caregiver to make sure that we can provide the maximum amount of attention to each individual child.
We use Fun Shine Express curriculum® which is a comprehensive, researched-based curriculum designed to implement developmentally appropriate practices and offer responsive daily routines and meaningful experiences that nurture learning and development.
18 Months to 24 Months
Our Toddler Program will focus on creating a nurturing learning environment where your child can feel safe and secure. These years are very crucial to a child’s positive development in all areas. Children are encouraged to explore the world around them in “free play” centers.
Our teachers will implement lesson plans which will increase their developing skills in a variety of age- appropriate activities. Each morning the children will participate in group time, in which they will work on recognizing shapes, colors, numbers, and letters. They will also introduce the calendar and weather elements.
In addition, we will encourage healthy social interactions by making sure each child is aware of their friends’ feelings and helping them to engage in constructive play with other children.
The children will be exploring the outside world with outside play time, both in the morning and afternoon (weather permitting). The children will enjoy a wonderful playground with age-appropriate equipment where they can climb, run, and ride bikes.
2 Years Old
Our two-year-old program will focus on creating an environment where children can discovery their environment through play and learning. Children will discovery their independence with things like handwashing and potty-training. That’s why sinks, toilets, and furniture in our classrooms are all kid-size—so they can build confidence knowing they can do it all by themselves.
Children at this age thrive on routine, and are filled with so much wonder and curiosity, and That’s why we offer plenty of toys and materials to keep children engaged in activities and learning. Children will also begin
to learn the basics; language, alphabet, numbers, counting, social skills and manners, and working together
with others.
We use a schedule with simple pictures to show them what’s coming up next! This keeps them feeling
confident about what to expect for the day and be part of the plan. We’ll talk about our day in morning circle
and have lots of visual reminders everywhere.
The children will be exploring the outside world with outside play time, both in the morning and afternoon
(weather permitting). The children will enjoy a wonderful playground with age-appropriate equipment where
they can climb, run, and ride bikes.
3 Years Old
Our Early Preschool classroom will focus on creating a nurturing learning environment where your child can
feel safe and secure. Children are able to learn and grow when they feel safe and cared for, are appropriately
challenged, and guided and have strong relationships with nurturing adults. That is our main objective to lay
this foundation at an early age.
Our staff will work with your child’s individual needs to become fully potty trained if they are not already. We
have developed a system that is sure to make potty training a rewarding experience for both parent and child.
Teachers will begin largely focusing on the children’s fine motor skills. The children will learn the correct way
to hold and handle a pencil, use scissors to cut a straight line, and trace letters and numbers.
Our teachers will implement lesson plans that will increase the children’s developing skills in a variety of age-
appropriate activities. Each morning and afternoon the children will participate in group time, where they will
continue to work on recognizing shapes, colors, numbers, and letters. Along with mastering the recognition of
shapes and colors they will also work on letter and number recognition, as well as recognizing their name in
print.
In addition, teachers will assist your child in letter recognition, number recognition, one to one
correspondence, patterning, early writing skills, and more. The children will participate in teacher facilitated
lessons such as circle time, reading, writing, and math activities each day.
The children will be exploring the outside world with outside play time, both in the morning and afternoon
(weather permitting). The children will enjoy a wonderful playground with age-appropriate equipment where
they can climb, run, and ride bikes on the bike track.
The Fun shine Express for Preschool features studies which are hands-on, project-based investigations
relevant to the children’s everyday experiences. These studies tap into the children’s natural curiosity which
then results in a fun and intentional learning environment.
4 Years to 5 Years Old
The pre-kindergarten classroom will focus on content areas that the children will need to be familiar with
upon entering kindergarten. Beginning reading skills, mastering letter recognition, phonics, as well as the
introduction of sight words are just a few of the main focus areas in our pre-kindergarten classroom.
Children will also focus on mathematical skills such as patterning, graphing, mastering number recognition,
and understanding numbers 0-30..
We offer transitional kindergarten for kids who missed the cutoff date.
Your kindergartener’s classroom will follow a daily schedule, including group activities, time to play outside, critical thinking, communication, and creativity. Kids take lead roles on projects and complete them in small groups, talking and getting ready for kindergarten, and much more!
Kindergarten is a critical year for young learners. Experienced Little Friends Learning teachers will tap into your child’s natural curiosity to help boost school readiness. Our curriculum program will make the most of current technology while offering plenty of hands-on play and exploration.
The children will be exploring the outside world with outside play time, both in the morning and afternoon (weather permitting). The children will enjoy a wonderful playground where they can climb, run, ride bikes, swing, and play basketball.
We serve the Christiana School District and other nearby Elementary Schools students ages 5 years to 12 years of age.
We provide Transporation to nearby schools, please call/inquire to get more information
Our Curriculum Focus
Our curriculum is with Fun shine express and Mother Goose Curriculum, we have monthly activities for children which is created by our professional teachers, and our Early Education Coordinator. This prepares children for success in Elementary School and beyond.
Art
Fine Motor
Reading and Language
Math
Social Studies
Social and Emotional Development
Music
Physical Activity
Art
Fine Motor
Reading and Language
Math
Social Studies
Social and Emotional Development
Music
Physical Activity
Daily Lesson of the day
Child Classroom Assessments (Parent Approval)
Pre-Kindergarten Club: Preparing children for School Readiness.
Daily Lesson of the day
Child Classroom Assessments (Parent Approval)
Pre-Kindergarten Club: Preparing children for School Readiness.
Math
Social Studies
School Age Program
School-age children will experience a very open-ended curriculum. The children will assist the teachers in planning activities for when they are not in school, such as summer and holiday breaks. When the children are in school, we provide them with materials and teacher support to assist them with their homework. We will also provide them with age-appropriate activities to engage in before and after school.
School Age
We serve the Christiana School District and other nearby Elementary Schools students ages 5 year to 12 years of age.
We provide Transporation to nearby schools, please call/inquire to get more information
Before School Care
We provide our before care students with a nutritious breakfast along with quiet, more relaxed activities. We feel each child should have a positive relaxed morning, before attending school.
After School Care
Students returning for after care will be provided with an afternoon snack. We offer variety of indoor play with special planned activities & outdoor play, with homework assistance every day.
Summer Camp
Summertime is for great sunshine and fun; we create a summer camp experience that provides fun and learning in a safe and secure environment.
Summer Camp Information
Summertime is for great sunshine and fun; we create a summer camp experience that provides fun and learning in a safe and secure environment.
- • Students approximately ages 5 to 12 (currently enrolled in school) are welcomed to come out and play with us.
- • We offer indoor activities, Art and Craft Projects, Sports, Water fun, Field trips, Cooking, and much more!
- • We implement weekly themes that provide daily activities
We offer
Breakfast, Morning/Afternoon Snack & Full nutritious lunch
Full Summer enrollment or two-week sessions
Picnic lunches at local state parks
Our Story
Sunny Side Learning Center is a new and bright childcare center in the Christiana Area. Our goal is to make sure each child is bright and full of smiles each day, we want to make sure each child is learning new things in the classroom, and we want to provide a quality, educational learning environment.
Sunny Side Learning Center is an exciting place to be because it is dedicated in providing high-quality childcare to meet the needs of all children, parents, and staff.
We are constantly improving our services and facilities by proving higher learning opportunities for our staff, as well as maintaining a state-of-the-art facility for our children to grow and learn.
Example of our Learning Day
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Arrival 6:30 A.M. to 9:00 A.M.
Children play quietly, they can play however they choose at our learning centers.
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Breakfast 8:45 A.M. to 9:00 A.M.
Breakfast is offered and served to children.
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Group time 9:00 A.M. – 9:25 A.M.
Our day begins when we come together as a group to welcome each other and talk briefly about the day's planned events. We will also do things like read a book out loud or sing a song!
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Activity centers 9:25 A.M. – 10:30 A.M.
Activity centers are an important part of our classrooms, and usually involve small-group activities. Your child will do things like play with blocks, experiment with creative arts, engage in dramatic play, read, do age-appropriate math or science activities, or write.
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Morning snack 10:30 A.M. – 10:45 A.M.
Children will have a healthy snack
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Outdoor play 10:45 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.
It’s time to go outside! Mostly little ones play on their own, using their imaginations. Outdoor time can also be part of our daily themed activity.
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Lunch 11:45 A.M. – 12:15 P.M.
Time to wash our hands, help set tables, and get ready to eat lunch!
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Transition 12:15 P.M. – 12:30 P.M.
We all help clean up from lunch and get ready to rest.
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Rest time 12:30 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Ssshh … it’s quiet time. Many children will nap, but as they wake up (or if they never quite get to sleep), they can select different quiet activities, such as looking at books or drawing..
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Activity centers 3:00 P.M. – 3:15 P.M.
Every afternoon, we gather as a group to talk about the day's events as well as any special events planned for the following day. Other activities could include a read-aloud or a song.
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Group time 3:15 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.
Kids come back to activity centers to play and explore on their own, and also do a theme-related activity led by a teacher.
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Afternoon snack 3:15 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.
They’ll have a nutritious snack.
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Outdoor play 3:30 P.M. – 4:15 P.M.
It’s time to go outside! They might play on their own or participate in a group activity..
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Activity centers and pick-up 4:15 P.M. – CLOSE
It’s time for pick-up! After a busy day together, children are given the space and time to explore and play in the learning centers on their own.
Center Meals
The Center promotes Healthy Eating
Food Allergies: Children with food allergies or children with Milk allergies will need to supply a doctor note and an action plan from the doctor, the center will follow doctor orders.
Mealtimes
- Breakfast: 8:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
- AM Snack: 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (time will vary)
- Lunch Toddler: 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- Lunch Preschool/Pre-k 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Lunch School age: 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
- Afternoon Snack: 3:30-4 p.m. School age Afternoon snack during school season: 4-4:30pm
Breakfast
- Pancakes & Bananas
- French Toast & Grapes
- English Muffins & Orange Slices
- Bagel & Peaches
- Toasty-Os Cereal
Lunch
- Lasagna Extra Cheese, Mixed Veggies, Peaches, Roll, Milk
- Chicken Nuggets with Broccoli & Potato Wedges
- Pizza Extra Cheese, Strawberries, Corn, Milk
- Mac and Cheese Extra Cheese, Peas, Apple Sauce, Roll, Milk
- Fish Sticks, Broccoli w/Cheese, Pineapple, Roll, Milk or Sun Butter & Jelly Sandwich**
Afternoon Snack
- Goldfish
- Cinnamon Graham Crackers
- Pretzels and cheese
- Cheese Crackers
- Sun Butter & Jelly Sandwich**