Little Sunshine's Playhouse of University City, MO

We love Little Sunshine’s and would highly recommend! We transferred our 2 year old here 3 months ago from another daycare. We thought the other daycare was good, but it doesn’t hold a candle to LSP! At LSP, our son does arts and crafts every day and the projects are always so creative and different. It has given us the courage and inspiration to get a painting set for him at home :) There is a lesson plan every day and a monthly theme. We get a ton of updates including photos and a daily disposition. His teachers, Ms. Tracy and Ms. Marley, are so sweet, caring, thoughtful and patient with him (our kiddo is pretty shy). I am in awe of all the energy they always have and it gives us such peace of mind knowing he is being looked after by people that so genuinely care for him. All the staff are so friendly and helpful!

Little Sunshine Playhouse and Preschool has an incredible curriculum led by inspiring teachers, aides and leadership staff. I have two children enrolled at the University City location and I could not be more confident in the safety of my littles and am truly so proud in the growth and development I see everyday. Ms. Emily and Ms. Mia in the infant class are incredible caregivers to the smallest students—giving parents peace of mind to try to find a life routine as baby grows. Ms. Tracy, Ms. Yo, Ms. Shakeila and Ms Kaylie and Ms Nabila find such ways to care and inspire confidence and bravery with my toddler as she learns the world and navigates new challenges everyday. Hands down the best school caring for our kids in such a way that is creating an unmatched foundation of knowledge and success. I LOVE this school so much!!

I am the father of a child previously enrolled at Little Sunshine preschool program in University City. My son, who is just over three years old, is in a critical stage of emotional and physical development—one that requires consistency, empathy, and intentional support. During his enrollment, my son experienced frequent changes in classroom staffing. This lack of continuity appeared to impact his sense of security, adjustment to routines, and ability to thrive within the learning environment. Early in the program, concerns were raised about our son’s behavior, with descriptions that characterized him as “angry” and framed his emotional responses as intentional. Following this, we engaged a licensed child therapist to observe and work with our son. After several one-on-one sessions, the therapist shared that his responses to transitions and redirection were within the expected range for his age. In her sessions, our son did not exhibit behaviors that would have required dismissal. Her ability to calmly redirect and support him underscored the importance of trained, responsive approaches to emotional challenges. Despite this insight, disciplinary actions continued in ways that felt inconsistent and difficult to predict. At times we were asked to support him through discussions; other times, similar incidents resulted in dismissal without prior notice. Our therapist noted concerns about how behavior was being addressed in the classroom and offered tailored strategies to help. Unfortunately, many of these suggestions were not implemented, and communication about next steps remained limited. We also came to understand that key classroom staff may not have held formal credentials in early childhood education or behavior management, raising concerns about readiness to address complex needs. These patterns had a real impact on our family. Sudden dismissals, with no clear or predictable process, disrupted our schedules and created emotional stress as we tried to partner with the school. Our goal was never special treatment—only a consistent, informed, and fair approach to behavior. Every child, particularly in the early years, deserves a learning space where their emotional development is supported—not penalized. As of June 24, 2025, we saw no meaningful shift in how behavioral strategies were applied. Under new leadership, we observed what felt like a firmer stance on dismissal, rather than a reassessment of current practices. We made the decision to withdraw our son and requested flexibility regarding the 30-day notice requirement, to help secure placement elsewhere. In response, we were informed that such flexibility could be granted under certain conditions—including the removal of a prior review and signing of an NDA. We declined. At that point, we felt our concerns were not being genuinely considered. Our son is now enrolled in a new program, and we’ve witnessed a remarkable shift. His behaviors—similar to those previously cited—have been met with patience and understanding. He is thriving in an environment that embraces his curiosity and strong will, and we are relieved to see him supported rather than discouraged.

We started our 2 year old at LSP in University City about a month ago and so far it’s been a great experience. The lead teacher in our son’s class is exceptional. The assistant teachers have also all been great. The director and assistant director are kind, friendly, and it’s clear that it is a well run facility. I am a big fan of the app where we receive daily updates and photos. The learning, activities, and monthly themes are all so fun and interesting. So far, 5 out of 5 stars!

Little Sunshine's in University City has been wonderful for my son. He receives speech and OT therapy and the staff at Little Sunshine's have all been very understanding and accommodating with me and his therapists. The teachers are all warm and friendly, and take the time to get to know the kids in their classrooms. I love the pictures and videos I receive throughout the day of my son having fun. It helps me feel connected to him during the day. Little Sunshines also hosts fun activities each month like their recent End of School Bash and their upcoming Painting with Grandparents event. The school is beautiful, secure, and well maintained. They offer different schedule options to accommodate each family's needs. I highly recommend Little Sunshine's in University City to anyone looking for childcare!