SUNFLOWER PRESCHOOL

I would highly recommend Sunflower Preschool. Most of the families who chose Sunflower had living nearby as one criteria if not the main one. But for us, it didn't have to do with distance (it is actually a very long commute for us, we chose it for other reasons). The main things we looked at when choosing it were (in no particular order): - Teacher's tenure (one of the teachers has been there decades, she was the teacher of one of the teachers, most other places have an extremely high turnover, which is hard for kids making bonds that need to be continually replaced). - Time outside. The kids spend a lot of time outside. Teacher's education. The teachers have continuous professional development and they are aware of things that are important for us, such as peaceful parenting, non-violent communication, Waldorf and Montessori principles, among others. - Mixed age group. - Lower focus on academics and more focus on emotional intelligence, relationships, creativity, and awareness of the environment. - No screens. As I said, one thing that has surprised me when interacting with other parents from Sunflower is that most of them have had the proximity to Sunflower as one of the main if not the main criteria when choosing it. I think most parents that see it that way got lucky and I hope they are now able to appreciate the little treasure that Sunflower is.

We love Sunflower. It has been such a great fit for our son. He has made some great friends there and practically begs to go to school in the morning. The teaching staff is also top-notch. They are very observant and attentive, while also giving the kids room to explore their curiosities. I have had the opportunity to interact with numerous Sunflower parents, and without exception, each one has expressed sincere appreciation for the program Sunflower runs. If your kid is happy, the other kids seem happy, and the other parents are happy, then I would say Sunflower is a winner.

After spending two years at Sunflower, my daughter is completely Kindergarten-ready. The teachers are incredibly intuitive caregivers and also thoughtful practitioners of the montessori philosophy. As a result, I've witnessed my daughter build confidence and a deep sense of self. The multi-age classroom and outdoor curriculum have helped her cultivate a responsible and nurturing disposition that I hope stays with her for decades to come. Can't recommend enough!

My family and I could not be more happy at Sunflower Preschool. Due to my background in childhood development and teaching, I was looking for some very specific elements for childcare/preschool for my son - lots of outdoor time, lots of truly child-directed free play time, responsive and calm teachers who use respectful, non-punitive language - and I found them all at Sunflower. The way they relay information about my child's day is always so understanding of where he is at developmentally. The teachers truly care about partnering with parents to raise wonderful humans and find solutions to challenges that work for your individual child. This place is a gem. We actually drive 25 minutes just to take our son to this preschool and I highly recommend it to other parents.

We've had two kids go through Sunflower Preschool and have been truly delighted with the experience. The classroom and outdoor areas are thoughtfully designed, the teachers are all so dedicated and wonderful with the kids. We went to two other Boulder preschools before Sunflower and are very grateful to have found it.