Welcome to the Little Sunshines Program

Due to time constraints, families who need ABA therapy and school readiness instruction are often forced to choose between the two - children receiving intensive ABA therapy hours are now at the age to start school (or transition to school), but have not developed the prerequisite school readiness and academic skills needed to succeed in the classroom. Your child can now receive both through our Little Sunshines Program!

Little Sunshines, by New Day ABA Therapy, is a cutting-edge, 1:1 program that blends individualized therapy with education. We focus on building foundational academic, social, and adaptive skills needed for successful school engagement. Our approach also fosters advocacy skills, preparing children for a smooth transition into mainstream classrooms. With evidence-based instruction and a sensory-friendly environment, we set each child on a path to long-term success.

 

Little Sunshines provides a 1:1 ratio for small groups of students in the 2-6 year age range. Each eligible student receives initial curriculum-based and standardized assessments to develop an individualized program designed to meet their needs and educational goals. The result is a dynamic plan for each child developed by our team. Graduates of our Little Sunshines program may move on to our Explorer’s program or may move directly to a private or public school classroom.

click each tab below to view program components we teach!

    • Independent hygiene 

    • Following routines (visual or written)

    • Ability to transition to different areas of a school and to different teachers, etc

    • Attentional skills

    • Executive function skills (organization, planning, and carrying out activities)

    • Participation in group learning 

    • Independent academic work 

    • Basic problem-solving 

    • Communicating personal ideas, wants, interests, and needs

    • Communicating in response to the asks, needs, and wants of others

    • Self-advocacy (seeking help or clarification)

    • Initiating and maintaining peer interactions

    • Initiating and engaging in group social activities

    • Understanding communication from others (peers and adults)

    • Cooperation with others towards a common goal

    • Empathizing with others

    • Developing a sense of community

    • Impulsivity control

    • Sensory needs

    • Tolerance for delay in receiving what one wants

    • Tolerance for not receiving what one wants

    • Following clearly defined expectations

    • Remaining in assigned areas

    • Maintaining attention and on-task behavior

    • Considerate behavior around others (politeness and manners)

    • Private vs public behaviors 

    • Healthy and appropriate expression of emotions

direct instruction

Direct Instruction is a teaching method that involves the teacher giving clear and structured lessons to students. In this method, the teacher leads the class by explicitly teaching new concepts, providing examples, and giving guided practice until the students have mastered the topic. This approach is effective because it focuses on the specific skills and knowledge that students need to learn, and provides frequent opportunities for feedback and assessment. Direct Instruction is often used in subjects like math and reading, but can be applied to any subject.

Overall, it is a straightforward and effective way to teach students and help them achieve academic success! Most importantly, the teacher emphasizes mastery of skills before proceeding to the next level of skills - this is unique in education, resulting in fluency and retention of foundational skills that can be built upon. We utilize the following programs: Language for Learning and Handwriting Without Tears.

preschool life skills (pls)

The Preschool Life Skills (PLS) program is a unique approach to teaching essential social skills to preschool-aged children. The program focuses on teaching thirteen skills in sequence, which have been chosen because they are functional skills required to use in place of problem behavior. Additionally, early elementary teachers have identified these skills as crucial for early school success. The program starts with a class-wide approach and can be personalized for learners with varying abilities.

Finally, the safety of our learners and staff members are of the utmost importance - our clinic features passcode-locked doors to prevent wandering, and every child receives 1:1 supervision from highly trained RBTs. Our staff are certified in CPR/First Aid and receive specialized training in trauma-informed care, cultural responsiveness, de-escalation, and crisis management. With constant monitoring and a proactive approach to safety, you can feel confident knowing your child is protected, respected, and nurtured every step of the way!