SUNFLOWER CHILD CARE (WINDSOR TERRACE)

—What year(s) does your review cover?
2008-2009 (the year just ending) only

—How old is/was your child(ren) when they attended the preschool/daycare/playgroup?
< 1 year

—Review of experience?
I've been very happy with Sunflower - the caregivers, particularly Tiffany and Evaline - are very responsive and sweet with our almost 6 mo old daughter who started when she was just about 4 mo. She seems to adore them, and did not have any problems with the transition (unlike her mother!). They've also been very patient and responsive regarding any questions, concerns, schedule changes that we've had. It's a very unstructured environment, and they've just recently started keeping the babies and toddlers in separate but adjoining houses - which I like - because it was a little hectic and noisy with both age groups lumped together. Our daughter seems to have thrived since starting - I've seen no developmental issues or slow downs. In fact, I think she's actually progressed faster in the company of other babies her own age. She's also very social They seem busy, yet attentive - and if, like us, you have to put your child in a daycare situation - I recommend them.

—Would you recommend this daycare/preschool/playgroup to other parents for their children?
Highly recommend

—Piece of advice?
You have to go with your gut instinct.

—What year(s) does your review cover?
2008-2009 (the year just ending) only

—How old is/was your child(ren) when they attended the preschool/daycare/playgroup?
< 1 year; 1-2 years

—Review of experience?
With an easygoing and efficient group of caregivers, Sunflower is a favorite in our household. Incredibly patient, fun, flexible and attentive with our daughter—constantly teaching her new things, and responding to her needs.

—Would you recommend?
Highly recommend

—Piece of advice?
Feel a connection with the people taking care of your child.

Preschool/Daycare/Playgroup--Name of Business - Ilene's Sunflower
Specific Program (if applicable) - Toddler level
Length of time (Full or Part Days & 2,3,or 5 days/week) - Part-time (25 hours)
Location - Greenwood Avenue/Windsor Terrace

4. What year(s) does your review cover?
2008-2009 (the year we're in) only

5. How old is/was your child(ren) when they attended the preschool/daycare/playgroup? (Check all that apply)
1-2 years

Our son recently started at Sunflower, but had been in a group daycare out-of-state prior to our move. We have found the teachers to be incredibly warm and loving, showing real concern for our child. His transition was very smooth, which speaks to their attention. All of the children appear to be very happy there (the big selling point on our visit). They have music (although she sometimes misses a day) and yoga every week. Meals are provided - and mostly organic. They were also more than willing to accommodate a vegetarian diet.

7. Would you recommend this daycare/preschool/playgroup to other parents for their children?
Highly recommend

8. What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right preschool or daycare to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family?
Start with your gut. If you don't get a good feeling, your child most likely won't either.

Preschool/Daycare/Playgroup--Name of Business - Ilene's Sunflower
Specific Program (if applicable) - Toddler level
Length of time (Full or Part Days & 2,3,or 5 days/week) - Part-time (25 hours)
Location - Greenwood Avenue/Windsor Terrace

4. What year(s) does your review cover?
2008-2009 (the year we're in) only

5. How old is/was your child(ren) when they attended the preschool/daycare/playgroup? (Check all that apply)
1-2 years

6. Please write a review of your experience in the box provided: Try to give some specific information about your experience-- what you liked and disliked (if anything) and include feedback on things such as: ----Skill and energy of teachers ----The philosophy of the daycare/preschool/playgroup ----The facility and programs offered ----How the school dealt with difficult situations (e.g., transitions, discipline, etc.) ----Feedback you received about your child's progress
Our son recently started at Sunflower, but had been in a group daycare out-of-state prior to our move. We have found the teachers to be incredibly warm and loving, showing real concern for our child. His transition was very smooth, which speaks to their attention. All of the children appear to be very happy there (the big selling point on our visit). They have music (although she sometimes misses a day) and yoga every week. Meals are provided - and mostly organic. They were also more than willing to accomodate a vegetarian diet.

7. Would you recommend this daycare/preschool/playgroup to other parents for their children?
Highly recommend

8. What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right preschool or daycare to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family?
Start with your gut. If you don't get a good feeling, your child most likely won't either.

part days/ 2 days a week
2007-2008 (the year just ending) only
2-3 years


My son has had a wonderful experience at sunflower. I wanted to get him in a preschool program when he turned 2 but was unable to do so because he is a september baby and needed to be slightly older for most programst. so i looked into daycare and decided on sunflower mostly out of proximity but i liked the homey space and the fact that they had an outdoor play area. The teachers are young, very caring, full of energy and come up with great projects for the kids to do. they always tell me exactly what they did and how my son behaved that day. they provide (relatively) healthy meals and i feel the overall cost is very resonable. if i were to pick one thing that i dislike, i would mention that the space is a little run down (like many brooklyn interiors are) but they do compensate with lots of pictures on the walls and high attention to cleanliness.

Highly recommend
think more about what your child will like that what you would like, i.e. a space may feel small to you but it may feel cozy and perfect to your child.

My daughter has been attending Sunflower on 10th Ave since March 08 and it has been an excellent experience. Sadly, we have to leave July 1 because we are moving to Bay Ridge, but I would highly, highly recommend Sunflower to anyone.

My daughter has blossomed since she started. The 3 women that run the center are sweet, caring, friendly, loving and fun. My daughter loves going to ?school? and most days does not want to leave. They have music on Wednesdays, Yoga on Thursdays, and do an art project at least twice a week. They also work on reading, sharing and spend the majority of nice days outside if they can.

The facility is great. My husband and I looked at about 7 places when we began our search and Sunflower by far was the nicest space. They have a great outdoor play area that is secure, a huge main floor, and a finished basement for napping and other indoor play. The majority of the food is organic from fresh direct.

The ladies give great feedback about positive things done during the day, good listening, helpfulness, etc. and let me know about situations that also need to be discussed with my daughter (not sharing, etc.). I am so happy we found Sunflower ? it turned out to better than anything I expected when thought ?daycare?. Can?t recommend it enough!

I Highly recommend

My daughter has been attending Sunflower day care since 3 months of age (from 3 mo - 18 mo at the Prospect St. location) and since 18 mo to date at the 10th ave location. The teachers in both locations have been phenomenal. We had so many concerns leaving her there at such a young age, but it become obvious so quickly how well they took care of her and how much they came to love her. They provided us with detailed feedback on how she did each day, they brought any appropriate concerns to our attention immediately, were sensitive to the fact that we didn't want to miss the big milestones (sitting up on her own, walking, etc) and made sure to keep us posted on all the fun/funny little stuff she did throughout the day that showed they were paying attention and cared. She's now in the older kid's location and since she's older can now tell us on her own how much she enjoys it. She knows all the women by name, talks about them all the time at home and gets excited to go there and see her friends. They have structured time for reading, singing, playing, napping, eating and also have special guests that come each week to do a music class and nature class. She makes the cutest things during crafts time and it isn't always just coloring (they paint ceramics, make sand sculptures, make pasta jewelry, etc.), and do fun stuff around the holidays. We have found our daughter is much more social than kids of friends who don't attend day care (though this may be more the personality of the kid), she cleans up on her own at home (and sings they song they taught her while doing it), we don't struggle with the concept of sharing, and she's learned how to stand up for herself. But regardless of what they do with her during the day, the most important thing to us has always been that they genuinely care about her and I can't say enough how much I truly feel they do. The women who work there get excited every time we drop her off and always say how they enjoy having her there. And that's what gives me the greatest piece of mind.

Review Date Fall 2007

Sending my little girl -- who is now 19 -months-old -- to daycare was a decision I agonized over but I am thrilled with my daughter's experience at Sunflower's Prospect Avenue location, where she's been since she was three-months-old.

I credit the staff and director with being very sensitive to new parents and working with you (because the separation is harder on the parent than on the infant) to make those bleary-eyed days of going back to work, juggling pump, breast milk etc. a bit easier.

The caregivers have amazing energy and lots of warmth and love. I feel a real bond has developed between them and my daughter, who seems to really enjoy herself there and loves her friends.
While English is not the caregivers' first language, we haven't experienced any communication difficulties.

There are some positive changes happening at this location. The director is expanding into the second floor, so the 18-month-olds do not have to move on to the 10th Avenue location. Instead, they will have a new space above while infants and younger toddlers will get more space downstairs. They will make more use of the yard and are getting more outdoor toys and a yoga class (1x wk) will be added in September. (There is already a Music for Aardvarks class 1x wk).

Feel free to contact me if there are specific questions about our experience at this location.
Jennifer Karp

This location takes kids 18 months to 3 years, and has three adults during most of the day. The teachers are energetic and warm, and they clearly love the children. They read them stories, sing songs with them, and do art projects. They communicate clearly with parents. They spend as much time as possible in the backyard, which is well equipped with slides, trikes, etc. Once a week, the kids get a Music for Aardvarks class, and once a week they get a movement/yoga class. Breakfast, lunch, and two snacks are provided -- a real timesaver for parents. They have some very sweet routines. For example, when they play a certain song, the kids lie down quietly while one of them tiptoes among the others. Clearly, the teachers have thought about how to build a community among the children.


The only downside, and I think this probably applies to all daycares (as opposed to preschools) is that the teachers have no formal training, so some of what they do is not ideal. For example, when one child pushes another, all they say is, "That's not nice" or "No pushing" and separate the kids out, instead of helping them to play together.

Our two-year-old son loves going to Sunflower. He talks about the other kids and about one of the teachers quite a bit, and he walks in on his own without so much as a backward glance at us. He especially seems to enjoy snack time, when the kids sit around a table together.

Before going to this location, our son went to the Prospect Avenue location. There was a lot of turnover at that location, and many of the teachers didn't speak enough English to communicate with parents. Still, they were very warm and loving, and our son has always been happy to go. Ilene, the director, has always been very accommodating about changes in schedule. This is where we intend to send our next child, as well.