WELCOME TO SONSHINE PRESCHOOL
PLEASANTON, CA

  My daughter attended the 3's class this year and we could not have had a better experience. The staff is caring, the parents are involved, and my daughter has made... read more so many great friends. I could not recommend this preschool any more highly - from the amazing teachers to the all the skills she's improved on this year (so many fine motor skill projects!), we have been so incredibly lucky to have gone to school here. Ms. Erin and Ms. Vivian are the best, most compassionate and patient teachers I've experienced. My only sadness is this school year coming to an end.

  I cannot even begin to express what a positive experience we have had this past year at Sonshine! It is such a well oiled machine, runs so smooth and you... read more can just see they've been around for a while and have it all dialed in. They keep things fun and interesting for the kids and I love the perfect balance of structure and free play.
My daughter is thriving there and she was always a bit of a "mamas girl" but we didn't have a tear from day one because she is so happy there. They do a fabulous job prepping the kids before school even starts with various events where you attend with them and go to their classroom, so it really eases them into it.
We absolutely love Mrs.olds and Mrs.Das, her teachers this year. They are so awesome and so good with the kids, it's truly so sweet to watch how good they are with them.
Go into the office and setup a time for a tour and see if this is the right fit for your child. We have even referred other families here who have been equally as happy as we have been.
Sonshine, keep up the good work!

  We could not be happier with Sonshine. I have one who has done 2s, 3s and 4s and my second will be starting his second year next fall. My background... read more is in Psychology and Education, and I wanted a play based school for my kids. I wanted them to have room to move, explore, and socialize and that's exactly what they got! The teachers are patient and kind, firm when they need to be. They work on developmentally appropriate skills- gross and fine motor, communication, manners, letter and number recognition, etc. I really did not want a school that was going to waste time pushing academics on my children before they were ready. I want them to learn how to be a student, how to act in a classroom- get along with other kids, respect their teachers, take turns, etc. I am sending my older to Kindergarten and I feel super confident about his readiness- Sonshine has a huge part in that! I will also mention that the director is awesome and the whole facility is big into composting/recycling which I love!

  Sonshine is a happy, no stress, nurturing environment where kids learn through play. We have had a very positve experience over the last year at Sonshine. The staff is friendly,... read more kind and have a genuine love for children. The school follows the PUSD schedule which is good if you have an older child. They offer summer camps during the summer. We have attended four preschools in Pleasanton as a family and Sonshine has been the best fit for our family. Sonshine is part of the Trinity Church which we were indifferent about as our family is open to all faiths. The school is not overly religoius and you will not have to worry about feeling uncomfortable or that you don't belong, there is a very subtle connection. The school is a co-op but you don't have to co-op if you prefer not to, you can pay a slightly higher tuition. We wanted our son to have the opportunity to learn social skills, improve his speech and exert his energy at school. Sonshine has been a perfect fit for us. We adore the play area out back where kids have the chance to play under huge trees in a large space fit for exploring. We wanted our son to be at a school that allows children to play outside for longer stretches of time. I know Pleasanton is a high academic stress neighborhood and parents worry about their child not being ready for kindergarten. I believe if you spend more time at home teaching your children academics you can have the best of both worlds. Children are only children once and research consistently shows children learn best through play.

  We have been at Sonshine for 3 years and coil my be happier. The teachers are kind and gentle. My children are always excited to go to school!

  If you're looking for a preschool with nurturing teachers who view each student as individuals and gently guide them to be "good people" (helpful, caring, cooperative, responsible, friendly, etc), then... read more look no further. Sonshine is wonderful.

My third child was here for their 3's program and I had the intention of putting her in a Montessori Pre-K class when she turned 4. Sonshine Preschool was such a pleasant surprise -- SO MUCH better than I imagined -- that I kept my child here for a 2nd year (the 4's program). She loved it that much, as did I. There was no way I would pull her out to be in another school, regardless of how modern the rooms are or how technologically-advanced their systems are...or even how shiny and big they play structures are. No way.

I will say that if you care about those outward things, then you may not like Sonshine because they have older classrooms, donated toys, and older playground equipment. (Most were acquired through donations.) But what they lack in new-ness, they make up for (and more) in their care of your children. They also keep their tuition on the lower side, compared to the 10+ preschools I looked into in the Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore cities.

My child (now in Kindergarten) loves school, can read 3rd grade books, and is highly sociable with other children. I absolutely believe that her positive experience during her 2 years at Sonshine contributed to this.

About the different classes:
The 3's class was less academic and more structured to help children (mostly first timers at school) to socialize with other kids and learn how to listen and follow directions, etc. The 4's class had more academics to help prepare the kids for Kindergarten or TK (or DK, depending on what city you're in). They had homework to help kids practice their fine motor skills and get used to writing left-to-right, etc. They also taught phonics and alphabet-writing, but in fun, age-appropriate ways, like making the letter by gluing yarn or craft objects onto a cardboard.

One of the things my child loved (other than the teachers and the great friends she made) was the Reading area (there was carpet and pillows) and also the Science area (lots of cool things to look at under a microscope, stick insects, etc). Unlike some preschools, Sonshine also had a dress-up area, which was always popular with boys and girls of this age. They learn so much by playing.

I think Sonshine combines play-based with traditional preschools, which worked great for us because... why shouldn't preschool be FUN?!! I think if kids love school at an early age, then it builds a positive foundation for school as they get older. This was, unfortunately, not the experience one of my other kids had, which is why I feel compelled to write this review.

This is what I've learned from having my kids attend different preschools and visiting over 10 preschools:
1. Not all preschools are equal.
2. The more you pay, the more you... will usually have nicer objects around the school (nicer play structures, lots of paper?) It doesn't guarantee a better experience for your child.
3. Different personalities of children will like different types of preschool, so take your child and visit them before enrolling. Don't just enroll because you know people who've gone there, or if you had a sibling attend.

  Sonshine is a loving environment for children to learn how to be successful in in everyday life. The curriculum taught at Sonshine helps build a solid foundation to transition to... read more elementary school. Where the children do learn the "district prerequisite" they also learn cooperative play. Cooperative play is essential in a child's development. It allows them the tools to handle situations in a positive manner. My 1st is now 7 and he is thriving in school. He came out of Sonshine with a confidence that has made him eager to learn. I highly recommend Sonshine, for helping shape children into well rounded students.

  I love this school! It's so loving and caring! You couldn't ask for a better environment for your kids. Both my kids love going to school! I wish we could... read more stay here forever instead of moving to a new school for kindergarten.

  My son and daughter both attended Sonshine for their 2, 3 and 4's class and I couldn't be happier. We will greatly miss their caring teachers. I always... read more felt very comfortable leaving the kids in their capable and loving hands. For us, Sonshine offered the right balance of age appropriate learning, which was always presented in a fun and playful way. My kids gained so much from being nurtured by their kind and patient teachers.....each and every teacher there is amazing! It really is a place that we will look back on with that "warm and fuzzy" feeling.

  Today was the first day of preschool. Once again, a total success. The first words out of my daughters mouth were "when am I coming back?" I have so many... read more good things to say about this school, staff and teachers I don't know where to begin. There are so many aspects to choosing a school, and I found that Sonhine exceeded all our needs and expectations. This is our second year here. The staff is so friendly, encouraging, and helpful. Almost everyone here has children of their own and many years of experience. Everything is so clean and organized! From toys to learning the structure of this school is very obvious. My daughter showed such improvement after a few months here with fine and large motor skills. More than academic, she was taught social skills - the things that will help her most in life. I saw such growth in academic, social and interpersonal skills, that we decided our second child will go here as well. Sonshine is a well rounded and family focused center- we love this school!