F.A.Q.
Q: Are parents allowed in the facility?
A: Parents are always welcome to drop off and pick up their children. In accordance with the CDSS Licensing Department, parents also have the right to visit and inspect the facility. At Little Sunshines, we kindly require that enrolled families coordinate their visits with us in advance. This helps us maintain our daily routine and minimize disruptions or strong emotional responses from the children, ensuring a smooth and consistent environment for everyone. In the rare event, a parent is available to shadow a heavy-biting child, a parent must go through fingerprint clearance, basic CDSS and, CPR Training, and present proof of vaccines.
Q: Can I tour while the children are present?
A: As an in-home childcare environment, we strive to maintain a calm and focused atmosphere for the children in our care. To minimize interruptions, limit exposure to unfamiliar adults, and ensure we can give our full attention to visiting families, we kindly schedule all tours outside of child care hours M-Thursday at 5:30pm and Fridays 5Pm. This allows us to provide a safe and consistent environment for the children while offering prospective families a more personalized experience.
Q: Can I tour during the weekend?
A: Weekend tours are available by appointment. As these take place during our staff's time off, a no-show fee is in place to help ensure commitment and respect for their personal time.
Q: What if I enroll my child and he cries a lot?
A:If your child cries a lot during the transition, please know that this is completely normal and part of the adjustment process. Many children need time to feel safe and comfortable in a new environment. Our team is experienced in supporting children through these early days, and we’ll work closely with you to make the transition as smooth as possible. We may suggest shorter days at first to help your child gradually build confidence, bringing their favorite toy or blanket, going for a walk with the main teacher, or play dates before their start day to help ease the adjustment for both the child and the staff.. With consistency, care, and collaboration, most children settle in beautifully over time. A full transition can take anywhere from a few days to a few months, and strong collaboration between parents and staff is key to supporting each child through this important process.
Q: We have read/heard bad things about in-home childcare, the childcare industry, and this facility.
A: We understand that choosing the right care for your child is a very important decision, and we welcome any questions or concerns you may have. If you’ve come across any negative feedback, we encourage you to speak with us directly so we can provide clarity, address any misunderstandings, and share more about our values, staff, and daily practices. We’re committed to transparency and building trust with every family.
Q: Do you offer refunds?
A: Unfortunately, the short answer is no. As an in-home childcare facility, our capacity is very limited—especially for children under 24 months—and every spot we offer means another family may not have the opportunity to enroll.
We offer a two-week trial period to help families determine if Little Sunshines is the right fit. After the trial, we encourage families to complete the month before making any final decisions. In special circumstances, a partial refund may be considered.
We kindly ask that families provide a 30–60 day notice if planning to withdraw. Enrollment changes directly impact our staffing and overall operations, so advance notice is deeply appreciated.
Thank you for understanding and for being considerate of the balance we strive to maintain for all families and staff involved.
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Q: Do you offer extended care?
A: Our program is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, and Fridays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. We truly appreciate timely pickups, as they help our staff and children maintain a smooth routine. If a pickup runs a bit late, a $1.00 per minute fee will apply, which we kindly ask to be settled before your child returns. Thank you so much for your understanding and support!
Q: What are ratios?
A: Ratios refer to the number of children a facility can care for at each age level, as determined by the Licensing Department."
Large in-home child care ratios are 12-14 children maximum, no more than 4 aged under 24 months, 8 aged 2 and up, and two school-aged children. More than these ratios can be enrolled, but not present at the same time. Ratios also refer to the amount of children per staff. We keep our staff ratios 4-1.
​Q: Do you stay in the facility all day? What is the 80/20 rule?
A: Here is an explanation of the 80/20 regulation:
In California, family child care home licensees are allowed to be absent for personal matters (like appointments or meetings) for a maximum of 20% of the time they have children in care each day. During these absences, a qualified substitute must be present to supervise the children. Children must be in the Licensing ratio of the number of staff per child.
Qualified Substitute:
During these absences, the licensee must ensure a qualified substitute is supervising the children. This substitute needs to be associated with the facility, have a criminal record clearance, and have training in pediatric first aid and CPR.
Q: What is expected from parents?
A: We kindly ask that parents:
-Arrive on time for pick-ups, except in case of an emergency.
-Communicate assertively and promptly whenever needed.
-Read through the handbook and follow the provided guidelines.
-Pay tuition on time.
Not following these guidelines could result in the end of care.