Little Sunshine's Playhouse of University City
52 Reviews
Recent Reviews:
March 31, 2026
M.G.
March 3, 2026
J.M.
We truly couldn’t be happier with Little Sunshine’s Playhouse. The communication is exceptional. We love receiving daily updates, seeing pictures of Elliott throughout the day, knowing what he ate, and hearing about the activities he participated in. It gives us real peace of mind and helps us feel connected even while we’re at work.
We especially appreciate how intentional the teachers are about sharing milestones, small successes, and areas they are working on. It feels like a true partnership.
Miss Kaleigh has been absolutely wonderful. She is kind, patient, attentive, and incredibly communicative. We trust her completely with Elliott and are so grateful for the care and consistency she provides. It is clear how much she cares about the children in her classroom.
We feel very fortunate to be part of the Little Sunshine family.
January 30, 2026
L.S.
January 20, 2026
A.M.
December 30, 2025
S.L.G.
⭐ Little Sunshine Playhouse – University City, MO
A Thoughtful and Honest Family Review
🌈 Overall Atmosphere
Little Sunshine Playhouse–University City provides a warm, engaging, and well-run environment for children. The staff is welcoming, diverse, professional, and genuinely nurturing. The school strikes a great balance between structure and fun, offering creative themes and activities that keep children engaged and excited to learn. From the start, the environment has felt intentional, secure, and thoughtfully designed with children in mind.
🌱 Our Child’s Growth and Adjustment
Our family enrolled our daughter in August 2025. Prior to that, she stayed home full-time until age two and was very much a “stage 5 Velcro baby.” The transition into a school setting was emotional at first, particularly during drop-off, but the growth we have seen since then has been truly encouraging.
Today, she confidently gives hugs goodbye, happily says “bye-bye,” and walks into her classroom with comfort and familiarity. She genuinely enjoys school and is happy and content during pick-up. It’s clear she feels safe, supported, and cared for throughout the day.
There have been a few instances where we needed to remind staff to clean our child’s face, hands, or nose after meals or messy play, as well as change her into clean clothes when appropriate. Parents are asked to provide at least two sets of weather-appropriate spare clothing so children can be changed if they get messy or have an accident. On occasion, those changes were not made as promptly as we would have preferred.
Additionally, there have been times when personal items were misplaced. However, staff consistently communicated with us, made genuine efforts to locate missing items, and kept us informed throughout the process. We understand that managing many young children and their belongings is a common challenge in any preschool or daycare setting.
What has mattered most to us is that when concerns are raised, they are taken seriously. The staff listens, communicates openly, and works toward improvement. We have seen follow-through, responsiveness, and a willingness to do better, which we truly appreciate.
Overall, our child is nurtured, learning, protected, and thriving, and we are very happy with the care she receives.
🧠 Leadership and Administration
Ms. Katelyn, the Director, played a major role in our decision to choose Little Sunshine Playhouse. As parents who were understandably nervous about transitioning our child into a school environment, she took significant time to speak with us before enrollment, both on the phone and in person.
She patiently walked us through the school’s philosophy, daily operations, tuition, safety measures, and procedures, answering questions thoroughly and thoughtfully. She remains approachable, responsive, and consistently kind. Her leadership style is warm yet professional and sets a positive tone throughout the school.
Ms. Lucy, the Assistant Director, is equally welcoming and knowledgeable. She makes families feel seen and supported and is easy to communicate with. Her presence contributes to the overall sense of care and professionalism within the school.
🍎 Teachers and Staff Recognition
The staff deserves recognition for the care they provide:
• Ms. Amanda, a head teacher, is exceptionally friendly, caring, and highly creative. She brings warmth and personality to the front desk, makes an effort to connect with families, and her creativity is evident throughout the school.
• Mr. Daniel is upbeat, professional, and consistently friendly. We always enjoy seeing him during evening pick-ups.
• Ms. Alina, another head teacher, is more reserved in her interactions and has a straightforward, businesslike communication style. Her creativity is evident in the projects displayed throughout the school.
• Ms. Niya, our child’s lead teacher, took time to meet with us prior to enrollment, gave us a tour of the entire school and playground, and offered reassurance during the transition. She is warm, attentive, and a strong educator.
• Ms. Victoria is more reserved but kind, nurturing, and clearly invested in the children’s well-being.
• Ms. Sabrina, who often works with our child in the evenings, is personable, friendly, and a joy to interact with.
• Ms. Jaela is consistently kind and welcoming.
• Ms. Wafae, who occasionally fills in, communicates well and clearly enjoys working with children.
• Ms. Nabila is very warm, responsible, and attentive with updates through the app.
• Ms. Cassie, who also fills in our child’s classroom at times, has always seemed kind and caring, which we appreciate.
📲 Communication
Communication at this school is excellent. Phones are always answered, and messages through the app are returned promptly, usually within the hour. When we have raised concerns, leadership has addressed them quickly and respectfully. There is a clear effort from staff and administration to listen, improve, and support families.
🧼 Cleanliness, Structure, and Security
The school is clean, thoughtfully decorated, and visually welcoming. The classrooms, playground, and lobby are bright and well-maintained, creating an environment that truly feels designed for children.
Drop-off and pick-up are smooth and well-organized. Security measures are strong, including controlled entry, cameras, strict classroom ratios, and detailed communication through the app. The app tracks meals, diaper changes, naps, notices, and payments, which promotes transparency and accountability. Leadership frequently steps in to support classrooms when needed, reflecting a hands-on approach.
🕰️ Hours, Meals, and Rest
Little Sunshine Playhouse operates from 6:30 AM to 6 PM and provides breakfast, lunch, and a snack daily, all included in tuition. Nap time is well-structured and appropriate for each age group. For our two-year-old, naps average around two hours, which feels developmentally appropriate and well-balanced.
💛 Peace of Mind as a Family
As parents, peace of mind is everything. Like many families, we were initially hesitant due to the stories often associated with childcare, but we do not second-guess leaving our child here. We trust the team and feel confident in the care she receives.
Our daughter frequently talks about her teachers, which speaks volumes. We feel supported, respected, and grateful to be part of this school community.
🌟 Final Thoughts
Little Sunshine Playhouse–University City has met—and in many ways exceeded—our expectations. While there is room for improvement, particularly with organization of children’s belongings and timely clothing changes, the responsiveness, communication, and genuine care shown by staff and leadership truly stand out.
Another consideration for families is cost. It's expensive. Little Sunshine Playhouse is on the higher end in terms of tuition and is priced as a premium program.
Overall, our family is very happy with this school and would confidently recommend it to families seeking a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment for their child.
October 17, 2025
A.V.
September 30, 2025
B.H.
September 20, 2025
M.G.
September 11, 2025
S.L.
August 18, 2025
B.N.
Lots of thoughtful activities for the kids in a organized, structured environment. Many teachers have been there for several years which is nice so that the kids don't have to get used to lots of new teachers all the time. Also, we like how professional the whole operation is. It is a clean building with appropriate security and safety measures.
July 31, 2025
Liz Rathjen
July 19, 2025
C.V.
July 17, 2025
K.H.