Young minds. Bright futures.

Child centered daycare and preschool on Willis Avenue in Mott Haven, Bronx

We're an early childhood education center focused on creative learning and school preparedness for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Serving families across Mott Haven, Port Morris, Hunts Point, and the South Bronx.

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OUR LOCATIONS

Trusted Daycare and Early Learning Center on Willis Avenue in Mott Haven

Willis Avenue has always been one of Mott Haven's main arteries — a street that connects the neighborhood to Manhattan via the Willis Avenue Bridge and to the broader Bronx through the corridors of Bruckner Boulevard and the Third Avenue corridor. It is a working street in a working neighborhood, lined with the kind of small businesses, family apartments, and community organizations that give the South Bronx its character. At 416 Willis Avenue, Sunshine Learning Center is proud to be one of those anchors.

Our Willis Avenue center sits at the intersection of Mott Haven's residential core and the rapidly evolving Port Morris industrial district just to the east. As the warehouses along Bruckner Boulevard convert to creative studios, breweries, and residential lofts, a new wave of families is discovering what longtime residents have always known: this is a real neighborhood with real community.

The 6 train at Cypress Avenue — one stop into the Bronx from Manhattan — is a short walk from our front door. The Bx15 bus along Willis Avenue connects to Fordham and beyond. For parents driving, the Willis Avenue Bridge provides direct access from East Harlem, and the Bruckner Expressway entrance is minutes away.

We serve children from 6 weeks through 6 years old across four programs: infant care, toddler, early preschool, and pre-K. Every classroom operates on the Creative Curriculum, a research-backed framework that develops the whole child through planned, play-based instruction. Our teachers do not babysit. They teach — intentionally, joyfully, and with deep respect for every child's potential.

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A Curriculum Built Around How Children Actually Learn

At Sunshine Learning Center, we follow the Creative Curriculum — a research-backed, nationally recognized early childhood framework that puts hands-on, play-based learning at the center of everything we do. Unlike rigid, one-size-fits-all programs, Creative Curriculum is designed to meet each child exactly where they are developmentally and help them grow at their own pace.

Our teachers use this framework to create structured yet flexible lesson plans that integrate four core developmental areas:

Problem-solving, critical thinking, and early math and science concepts introduced through exploration and discovery

Building vocabulary, early literacy skills, and the confidence to express ideas through stories, songs, and conversation

Fine and gross motor skills developed through active play, art, sensory activities, and outdoor experiences

Learning to share, collaborate, build friendships, and manage emotions in a supportive classroom community

Every unit and lesson is strategically aligned with specific goals and objectives for each age group, so your child is always progressing — not just being watched.

Programs for Every Age and Stage

Infants (6 weeks - 12 months)

Our infant classrooms are thoughtfully designed with customized safety flooring, personal cribs, and separate diaper and feeding areas. We maintain a strict Shoe Free policy to keep the environment clean and safe for crawlers and new walkers. Your baby's day includes structured learning activities tailored to their individual needs — sensory play, tummy time, music, and one-on-one interaction with their dedicated caregivers. We focus on building secure attachments so your child feels confident exploring the world around them.

Toddlers (1-2 years)

Our toddler classrooms channel all that wonderful busy energy into meaningful learning experiences. Small group activities introduce early concepts like numbers, letters, and shapes, while sensory exploration with paint, water, sand, and modeling dough builds creativity and fine motor skills. Teachers customize lesson plans around the strengths and interests of the children in their class, so learning always feels engaging and age-appropriate.

Early Preschool (2-4 years)

As children grow, our curriculum expands to include more collaborative learning, early literacy and math readiness, and the social skills they will need for kindergarten. Classroom centers are designed to spark investigation and discovery — from dramatic play areas to science and art stations. Your child will develop self-help skills, build vocabulary, and gain the independence and confidence that comes from being part of a learning community.

Preschool and Pre-K (4-6years)

Our pre-K program is focused on kindergarten readiness. Children engage in structured academic activities alongside creative projects, building a strong foundation in reading, writing, and math. We prepare children not just academically, but socially and emotionally — so they walk into their first day of kindergarten feeling capable and excited.

What Sets Sunshine Learning Center Apart

NYC Department of Health Licensed

Our Willis Avenue center is fully licensed and regularly inspected by the NYC DOH. We meet or exceed every health, safety, and staffing requirement set by the city.

State-of-the-Art Security

Every Sunshine center is equipped with observation windows in each classroom, security cameras, and an electronic access system that ensures only authorized personnel can enter the building. Your child's safety is never an afterthought.

Open Door Policy

We believe parents should always feel welcome. Drop in anytime. Our open door policy means you are never shut out of your child's day.

Tadpoles Communication App

Stay connected throughout the day with real-time updates on meals, naps, and activities. Teachers share photos, videos, and notes directly with parents, and you can view lesson plans up to four weeks in advance. You will never have to wonder what your child did today.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Formal conferences throughout the year give you detailed insight into your child's progress, how curriculum goals align with their development, and what you can do at home to support their growth.

Weekly Links Newsletter

Every week you will receive our parent newsletter with a breakdown of what your child learned that week, keeping you informed and involved.

Serving Families Across Mott Haven, Port Morris, and the South Bronx

Our Willis Avenue center serves families from an expanding catchment area — Mott Haven east, Port Morris, the Cypress Avenue corridor, western Hunts Point, East Harlem via the Willis Avenue Bridge, and the Bruckner Boulevard corridor. The 6 train at Cypress Avenue, Bx15 bus on Willis Avenue, and easy bridge access from Manhattan make our location one of the most transit-connected in the South Bronx.

We accept HRA vouchers, UPK, and 3-K funding. Let us help you find the financial support your family qualifies for — call and we will walk you through every option.

Why Willis Avenue Families Choose Sunshine Learning Center

In a neighborhood that has been underestimated for too long, Mott Haven families are fiercely protective of their children's futures. They do not want promises — they want proof. Walk into our center at any hour and you will see the proof. Infants in our shoe-free nursery, safely exploring sensory materials. Toddlers in small group circles, learning new words through songs and stories.

The proof is also in the relationships. Parents on Willis Avenue do not treat us as a service provider — they treat us as family. They recommend us to cousins, neighbors, and coworkers. This is not the kind of loyalty you earn with marketing — it is the kind you earn by showing up for children day after day, year after year, and never cutting corners.

Schedule a Tour of Our Willis Avenue Center

See for yourself why families on Willis Avenue and throughout Mott Haven trust Sunshine Learning Center with their children. Schedule a tour and experience our classrooms, meet our team, and decide if this is the right fit for your family. We think it will be.

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