FAQs

These are the questions parents ask us most. If yours isn't here, call (617) 469-3977 or email admin@sunnybear.academy.

Getting started

What ages do you take? We care for children from 3 months to 5 years old. Children usually move from the infant room to the toddler room at about 15 months, and from toddlers to preschool at about 3 years. We time each move to the child and to space in the next room, and we always talk it over with you first.

Do you have a waitlist? How early should we get on it? Yes. Infant spots fill early, and many families join our waitlist while they're still expecting. To get on the list, fill out our waitlist application. We'll stay in touch as your start date gets closer. We usually confirm spots a few months before the start month.

How do we hold a spot once one opens? Send back our one-page registration form with a $100 non-refundable registration fee and a deposit equal to two weeks of tuition. That holds your child's spot. The deposit is applied to your last tuition payment when your child leaves, as long as we have two weeks' written notice. If your child does not start with us, the deposit is not returned. The rest of the enrollment forms and your child's latest physical and immunization record are due closer to your start date.

What if we need to leave Sunny Bear? We ask for two weeks' written notice before your child's last day. Tuition is due for those two weeks. Your two-week tuition deposit is applied to your final payment.

Can we visit first? Please do. Tours are on weekdays between 4:30 and 5:30pm and take about 30 minutes. Book a tour online or call us. If you can't come in person, we can do a video tour. When you arrive, walk around to the back of the building and take the ramp up to our main door.

Can we start slowly? Yes, and we encourage it. Many families start with a few half days in the first week. Babies do better when they ease in, and so do parents.

Tuition and schedules

How much is tuition? It depends on your child's age and how many days a week they come. Siblings get 15% off. Call or email us and we'll send you our rates the same day. See Hours & Fees for more.

Do you offer part-time? Yes, depending on what's open in each room. Toddlers and preschoolers can come 2 to 5 days a week, for a full day or for our morning program, 9:00am to 12:30pm. Part-time for infants is more limited. Ask us what's open.

Do you take child care vouchers? Yes. We work with families who use Massachusetts child care vouchers. Tell us when you apply, and we'll help with the paperwork.

Do you charge for sick days or vacation days? Tuition is a fixed weekly rate, so we don't prorate for days your child is out. If there's a real emergency, talk to us.

Day to day

Do you provide food? We provide snacks. You pack your child's breakfast and lunch. We keep meals in the classroom fridge and warm them up when it's time to eat. For babies, glass or plastic bottles are both fine.

Are you peanut-free? Yes. We're a peanut-free center, so please don't send anything with peanuts. If your child has an allergy, tell us before they start. Children with allergies need an Individual Health Care Plan (IHCP) on file and their medication here at school. Please bring medication, like an EpiPen, in its original box. We check expiration dates.

When do the kids nap? Babies sleep on their backs in their own crib. Toddlers nap from about 1:00 to 3:00, and preschoolers from about 1:30 to 3:00. Kids who don't sleep rest quietly or get a calm activity. See our Daily Routine.

How do you handle potty training? We work on it together with you. It usually starts best at home, over a focused weekend. Then we keep it going at school with regular bathroom breaks. There's no rush and no pressure. No child is ever scolded for an accident.

What should we bring?

Diapers or pull-ups, labeled with your child's name

A full change of clothes, labeled

Breakfast and lunch each day, peanut-free

Clothes for the weather and for getting messy. We go out, and we play with paint, sand, and water.

Do the teachers speak Spanish? Yes. Our teachers speak Spanish and English with the children every day. Many kids pick up words in both just from hearing them.

Do the kids go outside? Yes. We don't have a yard of our own, so teachers walk the children to nearby parks and playgrounds, weather permitting.

Staying in touch

How will we know how our child's day went? Teachers talk with you at drop-off and pickup, and they send photos during the day.

Do you post photos of kids online? Only with your written OK. When you enroll, you choose one of three options on our media form: public and school use, school use only (like classroom walls and newsletters), or no photos. We never post a child's full name with a public photo.

Still have a question? Call (617) 469-3977, email admin@sunnybear.academy, or book a tour.