Our Programs
A program built for every stage.
Four age-based programs with intentional curricula, low ratios, and teachers who know early childhood development — not just childcare.
Which program is right for my child?
Parent Voice
"Ms. Yuki knew my son's hunger cues better than I did by week two. The daily Brightwheel reports let me feel present even when I'm at the office."
— Rachel T., mom of 9-month-old
Infant Care · 6 weeks–12 months · 4:1 ratio
Infant Care
Our infant program is built on the Primary Caregiver model — each baby is assigned one dedicated lead caregiver who learns their unique rhythms, cues, and personality. We believe secure attachment is the single most important thing we can give an infant.
What we teach:
- Tummy time and gross-motor development
- Black-and-white and high-contrast visual stimulation
- Language immersion through narration and song
- Sensory exploration with age-safe materials
- Feeding on demand (bottle or pumped breast milk — never formula substituted without consent)
Developmental milestones targeted:
- Rolling front-to-back and back-to-front
- Responding to name and familiar voices
- Object permanence play
- Supported sitting and standing
- First words and babbling
$1,450/mo full-time
$1,030/mo (3 days)
Parent Voice
"Our son came home from Sunflower saying 20 signs before he could say the words. It completely changed our communication — and his frustration went to zero."
— David L., dad of 18-month-old
Toddler Room · 12–24 months · 5:1 ratio
Toddler Room
The toddler year is the most explosive period of language development in human life. Our program surrounds children with a language-rich environment: narrated play, picture books, songs, and a teacher who talks to — not at — every child.
What we teach:
- 300+ vocabulary-building interactions daily
- Sign language basics (20 core signs) to support pre-verbal communication
- Sensory play: water, sand, playdough, finger paint
- Outdoor exploration and gross-motor play every day
- Simple sequencing and cause-and-effect play
Developmental milestones targeted:
- Walking confidently and beginning to run
- 50+ word expressive vocabulary by 24 months
- Two-word phrases
- Self-feeding and cup use
- Parallel play beginning to emerge
$1,350/mo full-time
$960/mo (3 days)
Parent Voice
"My daughter told me she was 'investigating' whether leaves were the same or different. Mr. Tomás had her doing real scientific thinking at age 2.5."
— Maya R., mom of 2.5-year-old
Preschool Prep · 2–3 years · 8:1 ratio
Preschool Prep
Preschool Prep uses a Reggio-Emilia inspired approach: the environment is the third teacher, children are capable researchers, and documentation of learning makes growth visible. Projects emerge from children's own questions and can run for days or weeks.
What we teach:
- Pre-literacy: letter recognition, phonological awareness, print concepts
- Pre-math: counting, patterns, measurement, spatial awareness
- Reggio-inspired project documentation and portfolio
- Social-emotional learning: emotion vocabulary, conflict resolution
- Weekly garden exploration in our raised-bed outdoor classroom
Developmental milestones targeted:
- Recognizing first letter of own name
- Counting to 10 with one-to-one correspondence
- Taking turns and sharing with guidance
- Drawing recognizable shapes and simple representations
- Expressing needs and emotions with words
$1,200/mo full-time
$855/mo (3 days)
Parent Voice
"My son's kindergarten teacher pulled me aside on the third day to ask where he went to preschool. She said he was 'operating at a first-grade level.' That's Ms. Brianna."
— Tomas W., dad of 5-year-old
Pre-K · 3–5 years · 10:1 ratio
Pre-K
Pre-K at Sunflower is where play and academic preparation meet. We reject the false choice between joyful childhood and kindergarten readiness. Children leave our program reading simple books, writing their names, counting to 20+, and most importantly, knowing how to learn.
What we teach:
- Systematic phonics and phonemic awareness
- Early writing: letter formation, journaling, labeling
- Math: numeracy to 20, addition concepts, geometry
- STEM: weekly science experiments, engineering challenges, coding concepts
- Portfolio assessment: 3x/year progress documentation sent home
Developmental milestones targeted:
- Reading 25+ sight words
- Writing first and last name independently
- Counting to 30+ and basic addition to 5
- Sustaining attention for 15+ minutes during instruction
- Navigating peer conflict with minimal teacher support
$1,100/mo full-time
$785/mo (3 days)
Daily Rhythm
A day at Sunflower.
Predictable routines help children thrive. Here’s a sample of what a typical day looks like in each program.
7:00amArrival & Breakfast
Self-serve breakfast station. Morning journal writing for early arrivals.
8:30amMorning Circle & Calendar
Date, weather, letter of the day. Whole-group phonemic awareness activities.
9:00amLiteracy Centers
Guided reading groups rotate through word work, listening, and writing stations.
10:00amOutdoor Play
Physical activity, cooperative games, and nature investigation in our outdoor classroom.
10:30amSTEM / Art
Weekly project-based learning: bridge building, science experiments, architecture drawing.
11:30amLunch
Family-style lunch. Students practice serving, conversation, and table manners.
12:00amRest / Independent Reading
Rest period for nappers; independent choice reading for non-nappers.
14:00amSnack & Enrichment
Afternoon snack paired with Spanish, yoga, or library storytime on rotation.
15:00amAfternoon Free Play
Child-directed exploration across dramatic play, blocks, and art areas.
16:00amSmall Group Activities
Math games, sequencing puzzles, social problem-solving scenarios.
17:30amPickup / Free Play
Portfolio moments shared in Brightwheel. Evening pickup open until 6:30pm.
Schedules shown are for Pre-K. View full schedules by program ›
Give your child the best start.
Licensed. Nurturing. Rigorous. Sunflower Learning Center is open for enrollment. Schedule a tour and see for yourself why Nashville families keep choosing us.