Meet Ms. Shelley

Ms. Shelley has taught our Pre-K and Young Fives room for 14 years. She holds degrees in both Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education, and she has taught kindergarten herself, so she knows exactly what kindergarten teachers hope to see on day one. Over her career she has helped hundreds of children get ready for that step.

“Working in Pre-K is very rewarding. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to get to know each child individually and as part of the whole group through one-on-one learning and group activities. My absolute favorite part is watching them develop socially, emotionally, and academically throughout the year. It is amazing how much growth occurs, and I get a front-row seat.” — Ms. Shelley

Learning One-on-One and as a Group

Kindergarten readiness is more than letters and numbers. Children also need to follow a routine, take turns, listen during group time and work through small problems on their own. In Ms. Shelley’s room, children learn both ways: individually, at their own pace, and together as a class.

Our preschool assistant, Ms. Cindy, has been part of the classroom for about ten years. She focuses on the social side:

“One of the things I enjoy most is helping children work through problems and build their social skills. I love helping them learn more about themselves, how to express themselves, and how to treat others with kindness and respect.” — Ms. Cindy

A Full Day That Fits Working Families

Our preschool day runs from 7:30am to 5:30pm, with circle time, centers, art, outdoor play, lunch and rest built in. See our post on a day in our preschool room for the hour-by-hour schedule.

Visit the Classroom

The best way to know whether a classroom is right is to see it. Call 248-347-6580 or use our contact page to book a tour and meet Ms. Shelley and Ms. Cindy.

The post Getting Ready for Kindergarten in Northville: Young Fives and Pre-K at Sunny Pointe appeared first on Sunny Pointe.

Our Typical Preschool Schedule

A Guide, Not a Stopwatch

The schedule gives the day a steady rhythm, which helps young children feel secure. We also stay flexible based on the children and the day.

As Much Time Outside as Possible

When the weather allows, we spend as much time outdoors as we can. We often bring classroom activities, projects and other learning outside with us.

Snacks and Lunch

We provide morning and afternoon snacks. Many families prefer to pack lunch from home so they can manage their child’s diet, so children bring their own lunch.

See It for Yourself

A tour at 10am shows you a very different room than one at 5pm. Call 248-347-6580 or use our contact page to book a visit, and we will show you the real day.

The post A Day in Our Northville Preschool: The Sunny Pointe Daily Schedule appeared first on Sunny Pointe.

We have been on Fry Road since 1991, and we have kept enrollment simple on purpose.

Step One: Tell Us the Age and the Start Date

The two things that decide everything are how old your child will be on their first day, and when that first day is. Ratios and room capacity are set by age group, so a two-year-old and a four-year-old can have completely different availability in the same week.

Call us at 248-347-6580 or send a note through our contact page with those two details. We will tell you what is open before you spend time on a tour — and if the room you need is full, we will tell you that too.

Step Two: Come See the Room

We encourage every family to visit before enrolling, so you can see the room, the teachers and the day for yourself.

Plan on about thirty minutes, though nobody is watching the clock. Some families want a quick look around; others arrive with a long list of questions. Either is fine — we would rather you leave with every question answered than feel rushed. You will see the classroom your child would actually be in, meet the teacher who would actually have them, and see the playground. Bring your child if you can — how they react in a room tells you more than anything we can say about it.

Questions worth asking on any tour, ours included:

• How long have the teachers in this room been here?
• What is the ratio in this room, not the center average?
• What does a full day look like, hour by hour?
• How do you communicate with parents during the day?
• What happens when my child is upset, or bites, or will not nap?

For what it is worth on the first one: several of our teachers have been here well over a decade, and Ms. Shelley has taught our Pre-K room for fourteen years. Our infant room runs at one teacher for every three babies.

Step Three: The Enrollment Packet

Once you have chosen a room and a start date, we give you our enrollment packet. It includes:

• Our Parent Handbook and center policies
• The enrollment contract and fee schedule
• An emergency card for contacts and authorized pickups
• Immunization paperwork
• A typical daily schedule for your child’s room
• What to expect, and what to bring, for the first days of care

If you need immunization records from your pediatrician, it helps to request them early.

Step Four: Settling In

We want the move into child care to feel comfortable for your child and for you, so we encourage at least one visit before the first day. Your child can spend some time in the classroom, meet the teachers and get to know the room while you are still there.

If your child needs a little extra time to adjust, we are happy to work out a soft start with you, which can include shorter days at first.

For infants, we ask families to come in the week before the start date. Bring your supplies, introduce your baby to the infant teachers and spend some time in the room together. Your baby gets to know the people and the space, and you get time to ask questions before the first real day.

Whatever the age, tell the teacher how your child settles. Some children need a long goodbye at the door and some need a quick one, and the teacher will get there faster if you just say which.

What Is Open Right Now

Availability is the part that changes fastest, so treat this as a snapshot and call to confirm. Going into this fall we have room in every classroom — space for a few more children across the building:

• Infant program
• Young toddlers
• Toddlers
• Preschool and Pre-K

Openings change as the year goes on, so if you are planning a later start date, it is worth calling early.

Two Things Parents Ask Before They Enroll

Can I watch my child during the day? We have cameras in the classrooms for safety and security, but we do not offer outside live viewing, and that is a deliberate choice — a public feed means strangers can watch other people’s children. Instead, message the room through our parent app and staff will send you a photo or a short video of your child. Most parents find they prefer it.

Do you have Japanese-speaking teachers? Yes. We have three Japanese-speaking staff members, and two Spanish-speaking staff members as well. They help make communication, and the move into child care, easier for families who are more comfortable in Japanese or Spanish. Mention it when you call.

Ready to Start

Daycare enrollment in Northville does not have to take weeks. Call 248-347-6580 or use our contact form to book a tour, and have a look at our programs and FAQ before you come so the tour can be about your child rather than about logistics.

The post Daycare Enrollment in Northville, MI: How Our Process Works appeared first on Sunny Pointe.

One Teacher for Every Three Babies

Our infant room runs at a ratio of one teacher to three babies. That means every baby gets close, individual attention from a teacher who knows them.

A Very Experienced Infant Team

Our infant teachers are private people, so we will not name them here, but their experience speaks for itself. One has been caring for infants at Sunny Pointe for 30 years, since the center’s early days. Our other main infant teacher has been with us for about nine years. You will meet both of them when you visit.

Safe Sleep, Every Nap

• Babies are placed on their backs to sleep.
• Each baby sleeps in their own crib with a clear sleep space.
• Sleep sacks are welcome, and our teachers make sure they meet safe-sleep requirements.
• Infant teachers monitor babies throughout naps.

What Parents Bring

Every baby eats differently, so parents provide their baby’s food. Please bring:

• Breast milk or formula, and bottles
• Baby food or solids, once your baby has started them
• Diapers and wipes
• Diaper cream, if your baby needs it
• A sleep sack, if you would like to use one

A Gentle Start: The Week Before

We ask infant families to come in the week before their baby’s start date. Bring your supplies, introduce your baby to the teachers and spend some time in the room together. Your baby gets familiar with new faces and a new space, and you get time to ask every question before the first real day.

Staying Connected During the Day

We have cameras in our classrooms for safety and security, but we do not offer outside live viewing. A public feed would let strangers watch other families’ babies. Instead, message the room through our parent app and staff will send you a photo or a short video of your baby.

Come See the Infant Room

Sunny Pointe has cared for Northville families since 1991, and we are open 7:30am to 5:30pm. Call 248-347-6580 or use our contact page to book a visit and meet our infant team.

The post Infant Care in Northville, MI: Inside the Sunny Pointe Infant Room appeared first on Sunny Pointe.

A Full-Circle Moment

This September, something happened for the first time in our history: a child we once cared for enrolled their own child in our toddler room. After so many years in Northville, seeing a former Sunny Pointe child choose us for their own family was a very special moment for our whole team.

Rebekah and Jackie: From Toddler Room to Directors

Rebekah and Jackie started out together as toddler teachers. Today Rebekah is our Director, with 18 years at Sunny Pointe. Jackie, about 20 years with us, is our Assistant Director and Preschool Lead. After all these years, they now run the center together — and they still love what they do.

30 Years in the Infant Room

One of our infant teachers has cared for babies at Sunny Pointe for 30 years, since the center’s early days. She prefers to stay out of the spotlight, so we will not name her, but if you tour our infant room, you will meet her.

Ms. Shelley, Pre-K and Young Fives

Ms. Shelley has taught our Pre-K room for 14 years and holds degrees in Early Childhood and Elementary Education.

“My absolute favorite part is watching them develop socially, emotionally, and academically throughout the year. It is amazing how much growth occurs, and I get a front-row seat.” — Ms. Shelley

Ms. Cindy, Preschool

Ms. Cindy has been part of our preschool room for about ten years.

“I love helping them learn more about themselves, how to express themselves, and how to treat others with kindness and respect.” — Ms. Cindy

Japanese- and Spanish-Speaking Staff

We have three Japanese-speaking staff members and two Spanish-speaking staff members. Ms. K has worked at Sunny Pointe on and off since the center’s early years and has helped many Japanese families settle in. Ms. Keiko joined us two years ago. Our Japanese-speaking staff help make communication, and the move into child care, more comfortable for Japanese families, and our Spanish-speaking staff do the same for Spanish-speaking families.

Come Meet Us

The best way to get to know a center is to meet its teachers. Call 248-347-6580 or use our contact page to book a tour.

The post Meet the Teachers: The People Behind Sunny Pointe in Northville appeared first on Sunny Pointe.

October 5 – 9 – Theme: Pumpkins

10/5 – Pumpkin Investigation

10/6 – Pumpkin Painting

10/7 – Pumpkin Science & Math

Compare pumpkins by size, shape, color, and weight

10/8 – Five Little Pumpkins counting and movement activity

10/9 – Literacy Pick: Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper

Class Pumpkin Carving & Counting Seeds

October 12 – 16 – Theme: Fire Safety Week

10/12 – Fire Safety Checklist and dramatic play

10/13 – Fire Truck Art Project

10/14 – Stop, Drop & Roll movement activity

10/15 – Visit from the Northville Township Fire Department at 10:00 a.m.

10/16 – Literacy Pick: Firefighter Frank by Monica Wellington

Put Out the Fire fine-motor activity

October 19 – 23 – Theme: Halloween

10/19 – Halloween Sensory Bin and Fine-Motor Fun

10/20 – Ms. Mary the Librarian at 10:00 a.m.

Friendly Ghost Craft

10/21 – Music Lady at 9:30 a.m.

Spooky Music and Movement

10/22 – Spider Web Art and Spider Counting Activity

10/23 – Literacy Pick: Winnie the Witch by Valerie Thomas

Witch’s Potion Art Project

Saturday 10/24 – Ms. Jackie and Ms. Rebekah at Streets of Treats in Downtown Northville, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

October 26 – 30 – Theme: Halloween

10/26 – Halloween Headbands

10/27 – Monster Math

10/28 – Decorate Halloween Treat Bags

10/29 – Literacy Pick: Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

Story Sequencing Activity

10/30 – Halloween Party

More details coming soon!

The post Activity Calendar and Weekly Themes – October 2026 appeared first on Sunny Pointe.

Art made by little hands

Our favorite part of the room is the Art Wall. Each painting is a child’s own work: bright reds, oranges and greens with fall leaves layered on top. Displaying their art at eye level shows children that their creativity matters, and it gives them something to proudly point out to Mom and Dad at pickup.

Learning through the seasons

Seasonal themes are a natural way for preschoolers to explore colors, shapes and the changing world outside the window. Fall brings leaf sorting, color mixing, counting pumpkins and plenty of conversation about what is happening on the playground as the trees change here in Northville.

Come see it in person

We would love to show you our classrooms. Learn more about our Preschool Program in Northville, MI, or call us at 248-347-6580 to schedule a tour.

The post Fall Has Arrived in Our Northville Preschool Classroom appeared first on Sunny Pointe.

At Sunny Pointe Childcare Center in Northville, several of our teachers speak Japanese, and they work across more than one classroom. Here’s what Japanese families can expect when they choose child care in the area, and how we help.

Why a familiar language matters in the early years

Young children settle in faster when someone can comfort them in the language they hear at home. A teacher who understands what your child is asking for, whether it’s a drink, a hug or the bathroom, takes a lot of stress out of those first weeks.

Children in our rooms hear both English and Japanese during the day. That lets them keep their home language while they pick up English through play, songs and conversation with friends.

Easier for parents, too

Parents new to the area often have questions about forms, schedules, what to pack and how the day works. Being able to ask those questions in Japanese makes a big difference. Our Japanese-speaking teachers can explain daily routines and share how your child’s day went.

During the day, you can message the center through our parent app and ask for photos or a quick update on your child.

What families can expect at Sunny Pointe

• Programs from 3 months to school age: infants, young toddlers, toddlers, preschool, and Pre-K & Young Fives.
• Long-serving teachers: many of our staff have been with us for more than 20 years.
• A home-like setting: a warm center that has served Northville families since 1991.
• Hours that fit a work day: 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
• Packed lunches welcome: we provide snacks, and families send lunch from home, so children can eat the foods they’re used to.

Learn more about our Japanese-speaking child care and our programs by age.

Close to Novi, Plymouth and Livonia

Sunny Pointe is at 19149 Fry Road in Northville, an easy drive from Novi, Plymouth and Livonia. Many of our families drop off on the way to work at nearby offices.

Come see our classrooms

The best way to know if Sunny Pointe is right for your family is to visit. Meet our teachers, see the rooms and ask your questions, in English or Japanese.

Call 248-347-6580 or schedule a visit today.

The post Moving to Northville or Novi From Japan? A Child Care Guide for Japanese Families appeared first on Sunny Pointe.

The good news is that most challenging behavior in toddlers and preschoolers is normal, temporary, and responds well to a calm, consistent approach. Here are the strategies our teachers at Sunny Pointe use every day, and that you can use at home too.

1. Look for the need behind the behavior

Behavior is communication. Before reacting, ask yourself what your child might be trying to tell you:

• Tired or hungry? Many “bad days” are really skipped naps or late snacks.
• Overwhelmed? Noise, crowds, and busy schedules can overload small children.
• Wanting connection? Children who aren’t getting enough positive attention will often settle for negative attention.
• Testing a limit? Sometimes they just want to know whether the rule is real.

Once you meet the underlying need, the behavior often fades on its own.

2. Stay calm, because your calm is contagious

Children borrow our emotional state. If you raise your voice, their stress rises too. Take a breath, lower your voice, and get down to their eye level. A calm adult tells a child, “You’re safe, and I’m in charge of this moment.” That alone can shorten a tantrum.

3. Name the feeling

Young children feel big emotions before they can describe them. Help them by putting it into words:

“You’re really angry that playtime is over. You wanted to keep building.”

Naming a feeling doesn’t mean giving in. It shows your child you understand, and over time it teaches them the words to use instead of hitting, throwing, or screaming.

4. Set clear, simple limits and keep them

Kids feel more secure when they know where the boundaries are. Keep rules short and positive:

• Say “Walking feet inside” instead of “Don’t run.”
• Say “Gentle hands” instead of “Stop hitting.”

Then follow through the same way every time. Consistency matters more than strictness. If a rule only applies on some days, children will keep testing it.

5. Offer choices, not ultimatums

Power struggles often start because a child feels they have no control. Give them a little, within limits you’re comfortable with:

“Do you want to wear the red jacket or the blue one?”
“Do you want to walk to the car or hop like a bunny?”

Two acceptable choices let your child feel in charge while the outcome stays the same.

6. Catch them being good

Children repeat whatever gets attention. Make a point of noticing positive behavior, and be specific:

“You waited so patiently for your turn on the slide. That was kind.”

Specific praise works far better than a general “good job,” and it shows your child exactly what you want to see more of.

7. Use predictable routines

Many behavior problems happen at transitions, like leaving the park, starting bath time, or going to bed. Predictable routines and a heads-up help a lot:

• Give a five-minute warning before changes.
• Use a simple picture chart for morning or bedtime steps.
• Keep meal and sleep times as consistent as you can.

When children know what’s coming next, they have less to fight about.

8. Replace punishment with teaching

Consequences work best when they’re immediate, related, and calm. If blocks are thrown, the blocks go away for a while. If a friend gets hit, playtime pauses so your child can calm down. Afterward, talk about what to do next time:

“When you feel mad, you can stomp your feet or squeeze your pillow. Let’s practice.”

The goal isn’t to make your child feel bad. It’s to help them learn a better way.

9. Take care of yourself, too

Handling challenging behavior is exhausting. It’s okay to step away for a moment, as long as your child is safe, and it’s okay to ask for help. Talk with your partner, your child’s teachers, or other parents. You’re not alone, and a hard phase is not a reflection of your parenting.

10. Partner with your child’s teachers

At Sunny Pointe, we see your child in a different setting: with friends, in a group, and following a classroom routine. Sharing what’s working at home (and hearing what works at school) helps your child get the same message in both places. Consistency between home and school is one of the most powerful tools there is.

When to ask for more support

Most challenging behavior is a normal part of growing up. Consider talking with your pediatrician if your child’s behavior:

• is frequently aggressive or causes injury to themselves or others,
• is getting worse over several months instead of better,
• comes with delays in speech, sleep, or other development, or
• makes everyday life at home very hard to manage.

Asking early is always a good idea, and it often brings peace of mind.

We’re here to help Northville families

At Sunny Pointe Childcare Center in Northville, MI, our experienced teachers help children learn to share, take turns, handle big feelings, and follow routines every day, in a warm environment that feels like home. If you have questions about your child’s behavior or want to see our classrooms, we’d love to meet you.

Schedule a tour or call us at 248-347-6580.

The post When Your Child Is Having a Difficult Time: 10 Calm Strategies for Parents appeared first on Sunny Pointe.

Here is what is worth paying attention to, and what most tour checklists leave out.

Start before the tour: check the license

Every licensed child care center in Michigan is regulated by the Child Care Licensing Bureau, part of MiLEAP. Before you visit anywhere, look the center up in CCHIRP, the state public records portal, or the statewide search for licensed centers.

You will see the license status, how long the center has been licensed, and any special investigations or violations on record. A center with a long clean history and a license dating back decades tells you something that a nicely painted lobby cannot.

This takes about four minutes and almost nobody does it.

Know the ratios — and then count

Michigan sets minimum staff-to-child ratios by age group for licensed centers:

Now the useful part: when you are standing in the room, count. Count the children, count the adults, and do the math yourself. Ask what the ratio looks like at 7:30 AM and at 5:30 PM, not just at 10 AM when you happen to be visiting. Opening and closing hours are when centers combine rooms, and that is where the real answer lives.

Ask how long the teachers have been there

This is the single most revealing question you can ask, and it is rarely on anyone list of tour questions.

Child care has high turnover industry-wide. A center where most teachers have been in the same room for years is a center where the adults are treated well — and it means your child will be cared for by someone who knows them, rather than by whoever started last month.

At Sunny Pointe, Ms. Shelley has taught our Pre-K room for 14 years. Several of our teachers were here before the current ownership. When a former student comes back to pick up a younger sibling, his old teachers still know his name.

Ask the director directly: How long has the lead teacher in this room been here? What about the assistant? Listen to how readily the answer comes.

Watch what the children are doing, not what the room looks like

A tidy classroom is easy to produce for a tour. What is harder to fake is what children do when they are absorbed.

Look for children who are busy without being managed — building, painting, negotiating over blocks, telling a long story to nobody in particular. Look for adults sitting down at child height rather than standing over the room. Listen to the volume: a good early childhood classroom is not silent, and it is not chaotic. It sounds like a busy kitchen.

Ask what the day actually looks like. If the answer is a tight schedule of adult-led activities with worksheets, that is a philosophy choice — and for children under five, it is one worth asking about. Play-based programs are not the absence of learning. When children build, pretend, sort, and argue about rules, they are practicing language, problem-solving, cooperation, and persistence. Those are the skills that predict how kindergarten goes.

Questions worth asking on the tour

• What happens when a child is having a hard morning? (You are listening for a specific answer, not a policy statement.)
• How do you communicate with parents during the day?
• What is your sick-child policy, and how is it applied?
• Can I see where the children nap, eat, and use the bathroom?
• What does a transition to the next room look like, and when does it happen?
• Can I drop in unannounced once my child is enrolled?

That last one matters. A center confident in its own rooms says yes without hesitating.

Trust the walk-through feeling, but check it

Parents almost always know within ten minutes. The feeling is real data — you are picking up on tone, warmth, whether adults look at children when they speak to them.

But check it against the license record and the turnover answer before you commit. A warm tour and a thin staffing history is a different proposition than a warm tour and fourteen years in the same classroom.

Visiting Sunny Pointe

Sunny Pointe Childcare Center has been on Fry Road in Northville since 1991, serving families from Northville, Novi, Plymouth, Livonia, and the surrounding communities. We offer programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarten-age children, with a play-based approach and teachers who tend to stay. We also have Japanese-speaking teachers on staff.

The best way to know whether we are right for your family is to come see the rooms during a regular day — not a staged one.

Schedule a visit: sunnypointe.com · 248-347-6580
19149 Fry Road, Northville, MI 48167

The post How to Choose a Child Care Center in Northville: What to Look For on a Tour appeared first on Sunny Pointe.