Little Saplings Preschool

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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.

Today our kids and staff participated and learned about earthquake safety.🫶
10/15/2026

Today our kids and staff participated and learned about earthquake safety.🫶

Wrapping up September like....
10/03/2026

Wrapping up September like....

Happy National Grandparents Day! We see you and appreciate the difference you make in your grandchildren's lives. 💜We lo...
09/13/2026

Happy National Grandparents Day!
We see you and appreciate the difference you make in your grandchildren's lives. 💜
We love knowing you.

We will be closed Monday, September 7th in honor of Labor Day.
09/05/2026

We will be closed Monday, September 7th in honor of Labor Day.

What's been happening at Little Saplings lately you ask....A little of this and a little of that. 🤗
09/05/2026

What's been happening at Little Saplings lately you ask....
A little of this and a little of that. 🤗

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.😎

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.

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

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