Our story
Sunflower Child Development Center was born in 2011 in Sunnyvale, California, as Sunflower Family Child Care. At the time, we began with only six children. Our family childcare provided a safe and nurturing environment for children to learn and develop, and through word of mouth, we quickly became known as a top spot in the community to send your child. Our attendance for the next year more than doubled to 14 kids!
As we grew, we were blessed to have families return with their second and third children. Over the next eight years, we continued to grow and, in 2019, located the perfect spot to expand with our expanding family in Santa Clara. We took our time to remodel the building to make it the perfect learning development for the children in our care.
On June 15, 2020, Sunflower Child Development Center opened its doors and welcomed 35 children and their families. With beautiful new classrooms filled with stimulating and age-appropriate toys, our incredible teachers were ready to provide a loving atmosphere that nurtures creativity, learning, and development in a safe and clean environment. We are proud to serve homemade organic food prepared fresh in our kitchen and to offer a delightful outdoor space and playground for the children.
In 2021 Sunflower celebrated its 10th anniversary, and we are immensely proud of all we have accomplished.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT THE NEXT TEN YEARS WILL BRING AND MEETING ALL THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT WILL BE A PART OF OUR FUTURE!
About Natalia
Natalia Makarova is the owner and director Sunflower CDC. She received her bachelor's degree in music education in Barnaul, Russia, where she also gained experience working as a preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school teacher.
After relocating to California, she further pursued her education and received a Certificate of Achievement in Child Development and a Site Supervisor Certification.
Natalia understands the importance of early childhood development and the great responsibility of caring for young children. She brings a wealth of experience in education as well as unconditional love for the children in her care.
Through her years of experience, Natalia understands that each child is an individual and therefore has unique learning needs and abilities. She promotes whole child education, fostering each child's academic skills, overall health, emotional development, and well-being in her center.