Little Saplings Preschool

Little Saplings Preschool Eureka Recreation is excited to announce, Little Saplings Preschool Program. We offer part time and full day care for children ages 2.5 -5. Lic # 125407413

Meeting children where they are, while nurturing, encouraging and allowing them to grow.

We will be closed for our summer break Monday Aug. 10-14.😎
08/09/2026

We will be closed for our summer break Monday Aug. 10-14.😎

Whoops... It's been a while since we've shared some Little Saplings fun. Enjoy!
08/09/2026

Whoops... It's been a while since we've shared some Little Saplings fun. Enjoy!

Spread the word! Tell your family, friends and neighbors!Calling all Early Childhood Educators! Little Saplings Preschoo...
07/31/2026

Spread the word!
Tell your family, friends and neighbors!
Calling all Early Childhood Educators!
Little Saplings Preschool is looking for qualified, fun and passionate educators to join our team. Check out our ad on Craigslist @
https://www.craigslist.org/view/d/eureka-little-saplings-preschool-is/9QS6Q2HEXmL8Fd2SUN87Rt
Check us out on our website @ https://www.littlesaplingspreschooleureka.com/
*This is the preschool you want to be a part of!
*Loved and respected by so many in Humboldt county.
*Give our director a call if you'd like to know more, Nancy would be happy to chat with you. :)

This may be good information for this weekend. ❤️Research shows that when kids get extra emotional after having fun, lik...
07/03/2026

This may be good information for this weekend. ❤️

Research shows that when kids get extra emotional after having fun, like crying suddenly, melting down, becoming irritable or clingy, it’s not ingratitude. It’s a come-down crash from overstimulation.

They’re not being ungrateful.
They’re not trying to ruin the moment.
They’re not “overreacting for no reason.”

Their nervous system is decompressing.

Because here’s the truth:

Fun is stimulating.

Playdates, parties, outings, laughter, noise, movement, excitement; all of it activates the brain’s arousal systems.

Dopamine rises.
Adrenaline spikes.
The nervous system stays alert and engaged.

For young children, that state is exhilarating
but temporary.

When the stimulation ends, the body drops fast.

Their mind is learning:
“That was a lot.”
“My body is tired.”
“I don’t know how to come down smoothly.”
“I need help regulating.”

And practicing that truth often looks like:

crying after leaving the park,
melting down once guests go home,
becoming overly sensitive after a fun outing,
arguing or collapsing after a great day,
or unraveling right when things finally slow down.

Research on arousal regulation shows that young children struggle with downshifting from high stimulation, especially when their nervous system has been activated for extended periods (Bath & Field, 2010; Perry, 2006).

This is sometimes called a crash, not because something went wrong, but because the body lacks the skills to regulate independently.

And here’s something important:

Big joy can lead to big emotions afterward.

Developmental research shows that emotional regulation is learned through co-regulation, where children rely on calm adults to help them transition between emotional states (Thompson, 1994).

So when the tears come after the fun, what helps most isn’t disappointment or lectures.

It’s grounding.

Slower pace.
Quiet voices.
Food and hydration.
Physical closeness.
Gentle transitions.

Because regulation doesn’t end when the fun ends.

It continues in the landing.

And when we meet post-fun meltdowns with understanding instead of confusion, we teach the nervous system that joy doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

One supported landing, one regulated moment,
one emotionally safe child at a time. 🤍

References:
• Bath, K. G., & Field, S. E. (2010). Brain development and the stress response system. Journal of Neuroendocrinology.
• Perry, B. D. (2006). Applying principles of neurodevelopment to clinical work with maltreated children.
• Thompson, R. A. (1994). Emotion regulation: A theme in search of definition. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development.

This is how we celebrate International Mud Day!!
06/30/2026

This is how we celebrate International Mud Day!!

100 kids enrolled since opening, today in 2024! Still going strong! 🌱
06/21/2026

100 kids enrolled since opening, today in 2024!
Still going strong! 🌱

We hope the sun will show up for all to enjoy today. Happy summer solstice and happy Father's day.
06/21/2026

We hope the sun will show up for all to enjoy today. Happy summer solstice and happy Father's day.

We are closed today in honor of Juneteenth.
06/19/2026

We are closed today in honor of Juneteenth.

Address

1653 J Street
Eureka, CA
95501

Opening Hours

Monday 7:45am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 7:45am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 7:45am - 5:30pm
Thursday 7:45am - 5:30pm
Friday 7:45am - 5:30pm

Telephone

(707) 441-4193

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Little Saplings Preschool posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to Little Saplings Preschool:

Shortcuts

Share

Category