The
Sunshine House
A Place for Kids to Grow
Longfellow park is within easy walking distance of The Sunshine House... what could be more fun!
It may be educational, but if you ask our students, it's just plain fun!
Every year we have a group outing with current families and several of our alumni at Timber-Lee campground. Boating, swimming, crafts, fun, and food help make this one of the highlights of our year!
Longfellow park is within easy walking distance of The Sunshine House... what could be more fun!
Where growing kids learn
We believe a child's play is their work! For children, learning is an immersive, sensory experience. The Sunshine House encourages children to explore and learn. We teach math, science, language arts, and music but we do it in an enjoyable way that involves the children’s own imagination! Our physical activities are carefully selected to be age appropriate and to develop both fine and gross motor skills. We provide a supportive environment where children grow both physically and mentally!
A Home
We love exploring seasons, and holidays, and learning about what interests your child! When the opportunity arises, we can set aside our scheduled activity to take advantage of those special moments with him or her because we are not constrained by the rigid, inflexible, top-down curriculums that “industrial” daycare centers must adhere to.
Where growing kids are loved and accepted:
At The Sunshine house we have children from all walks of life. We encourage acceptance, learning, and sharing. Children at this age are beging to learn the social skills that will last them a lifetime and many of them will gain friendships that they will keep into adulthood!
FUN!
We are a place where kids can run and play! We are more than just a place to "park" your children. We read stories, we play with toys, experiment with cooking, go to Brown Cow for ice cream and music, visit the zoo, and we even go camping once a year with current families and Sunshine House alumni!
The Sunshine House is...
We believe that child’s play is their work. For children, learning is an immersive, sensory experience. We provide an environment where children are encouraged to explore and learn. We offer daily activities in math, science, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, language arts, and music. These age-appropriate activities are carefully chosen to stimulate development in every area in your child’s life.
We offer units of study based on various topics throughout the year, each centered on a particular topic or theme. Themes include seasons, holidays, children’s specific interests, and even topics relating to special needs to help the children with circumstances that they are experiencing.
Because The Sunshine House is not an “industrial” daycare, we can adapt to the needs and strengths of each child. Responding to individually to each child in my care is the primary goal of our program and one of the unique benefits of a home day care setting. When opportunities arise, we can set aside the schedule and take advantage of the moment!
It is through wonderful, spontaneous play that your son or daughter builds the foundations of learning, problem solving, and the intricacies of forming lifelong friendships. A large portion of our day is reserved for indoor and, when weather permits, outdoor play.
Although the majority of our time together is spent at the Sunshine House, we also enjoy field trips to the park, the library, Tri-Star Gym, nature centers, the conservatory, and Brookfield Zoo. We even have outings to children’s theater and an annual trip to see the Nutcracker ballet!
Our Program
After taking time away from school after the birth of our first son, I returned to school at Triton Jr. College where I earned my Certificate in Early Childhood Education and then attended National Lewis University where I earned my Bachelor’s Degree.
I have served as a founding board member and Vice President with the West Suburban Home Day Care Association. I sat on the Triton Jr. College Early Childhood Education Department advisory board. I am a past Program Chair for the statewide Catch the Spirit Conference. I provide training for local associations and the State of Illinois through the Child Care Resource and Referral Development Block Grant.
I am a second generation, life-long Oak Park Resident. My husband Terry and I have three grown children, Dave, Jenny, and Matthew and we are the proud grandparents of Joseph, Bobby, Peter, Katie, and Bella.