Introduction/specifics

Welcome to the “Little Sunshine” Family Day Care.

My name is Birgül Kuranel, and I am a state-certified early childhood educator. After several years of working in childcare, I became truly inspired by the concept of family day care.The idea behind Little Sunshine was born from a deep belief that every child deserves a loving environment, reliable caregivers, and individual support. At the heart of my work is each child with their own needs, personality, and pace of development.

My main focus in family day care is early childhood literacy development — encouraging a playful and natural engagement with language, books, and songs.

The name “Little Sunshine” stands for joy, security, diversity, and growing together in a harmonious environment.

Rooms

The “Little Sunshine” Family Day Care takes place in the bright and welcoming rooms of my home in Eschborn.

The environment is safe, clean, and lovingly arranged, offering children a space where they can feel comfortable, play, and learn. Nearby, there are several playgrounds, a bakery, the fire station, and open fields, which we often explore on our nature outings.

In the play area, children have access to a variety of age-appropriate materials, including building blocks, picture books, stuffed animals, dolls, vehicles, and toys that support motor development. A separate dining and creative area with child-sized furniture provides space for shared meals and creative activities such as crafts and painting.

During nap time, each child has their own sleeping place in a quiet, dimly lit room. Each child also has a personal space in the cloakroom for their clothing and belongings. Hygiene education is gently integrated into daily routines and approached in a playful, age-appropriate way.

In the garden, children can pick seasonal fruits such as apples, cherries, or raspberries. Whenever the weather allows, we spend plenty of time outdoors. Walks and visits to nearby playgrounds are a regular part of our daily routine.

The safety of the children always comes first. All rooms are equipped with child safety features — power outlets are secured, hazardous items are stored out of reach, and stairways are fitted with safety gates when necessary. All furniture is child-appropriate and meets current safety standards. Regular inspections ensure that all hygiene and safety regulations required by the Youth Welfare Office are consistently met.

Food

A balanced and child-appropriate diet is very important to me. I make sure to use fresh and varied ingredients, incorporating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy products or suitable alternatives into our daily meals. The food should not only be healthy, but also taste good and bring joy to the children.

Sweets or highly processed foods are not part of our everyday menu. However, for special occasions such as birthdays or small celebrations, we do make exceptions.

Of course, I take into account any special dietary habits, allergies, or cultural and religious requirements, and I work closely with parents to ensure that every child’s needs are met.

Basics

My educational approach is based on a relationship-oriented view of the child. I accompany the children with warmth, structure, and the deep conviction that every child will find their own path when they grow up in an environment of trust and security. For me, education means more than imparting knowledge — learning happens through play, relationships, movement, and the many experiences of everyday life.

My educational goals are guided by the Hessian Education and Upbringing Plan, which places the child at the center and supports their development in a holistic way — emotionally, socially, linguistically, creatively, motorically, and cognitively. Everything happens at the child’s own pace and in an age-appropriate manner.

I offer the children a lovingly prepared environment with a wide variety of materials. They are encouraged to make decisions, participate in shaping their environment, and experience that their opinions matter. In doing so, they grow in confidence, learn to take responsibility, and develop the skills to face challenges.

I support the children in becoming independent, making decisions, and taking responsibility for themselves and others. In daily life, they learn to express their feelings, interact respectfully, and build relationships. Playing together, sharing, disagreeing and reconciling, laughing, helping, and discovering new things — all of these are part of our day. A particular concern of mine is to strengthen the children’s trust in themselves. I believe in their abilities and encourage them to be curious and creative, even when things don’t always go as planned. My wish is for them to grow up with a healthy sense of self-worth and an open, curious view of the world.