Friendship Children's Center in Chevy Chase

[Anonymous]

Does anyone send their toddler to Friendship Children's Center in Friendship Heights? I'm contemplating sending my 18-month old. I visited the center but it's hard to get a true sense of the teachers and/or the program on a short visit. To be honest, the toddler room seems a little small for such an active group. I was told that they take trips to a local park which is great but they obviously can't go on rainy days and/or during winter when it's too snowy or cold. To be fair to FCC, I've visited several other daycare centers and all of the rooms seem on the small side.

[Anonymous]

Please trust your gut. If you see that the space is too small, that means it is.

[Anonymous]

I don't know about that. When I visited NCRC, I was struck by how small the rooms are compared to those in our current preschool, but clearly many people love the school. As long as the facilities seem clean, safe, and well set-up, I'd focus more on the teachers and administration.

[Anonymous]

I live very near FCC and have for years. Before you sign the dotted line, I recommend that you take a few mornings off and hang out in Livingston Park; the tot lot part is on Livingston and 41st Sts. NW.

Carefully watch the interactions between the FCC adults and the children (if any). You will know you have the right group because no other daycare brings baby/toddlers that young to Livingston park. (the CC coop plays there, too, but they are older preschooler kids)

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP. I have seen many unpleasant park interactions with their staff and children, including one hazardous one that alarmed me enough that I called the daycare's director (Lisa someone?) to report it. I prefer not to go into details but suffice it to say, the daycare workers were ignoring their charges and one of the children almost got seriously injured as a result. I will say that the director was very courteous when I called and she told me she would speak to the staff on duty in no uncertain terms. Nonetheless, I truly would not send my children to this center.

[Anonymous]

I worked there for years......Went downhill after I left.

[Anonymous]

I took a tour a few years back and put my name on the wait list. I was a little turned off when I received a request for donation even though we were not enrolled - only on the wait list and told that a spot would not be available for me for about a year.

[Anonymous]

I highly recommend FCC. My child has been at the school since she was 5 months old. She is now 5 and headed to Kindergarten in the fall. The center is wonderful in all aspects and my child has thrived at the school. The teachers and staff are completely dedicated to the children and learning through play is the philosophy. My daughter now 5 has enjoyed field trips, school parties and events, yearly dance recitals, daily art projects, weekly spanish class, weekly creative movement class, weekly music class, story time, free play, friday show and tell, etc. There are numerous opportunities for parents to participate in class activities - chaperoning field trips, birthday parties, reading to the kids, being a room parent, serving on the board, etc. The teachers are young and energetic. The school brings in a spanish teacher, dance teacher and music teacher each once a week. These special classes are a treat and the kids love them. The kids get lots of exercise every day and visit several area parks. The teachers are attentive to the kids in terms of safety but allow the kids to play together on their own. There are two parent-teacher conferences every year and the teachers and director are always available to talk about any specific issues you may have with your child, even those not dealing with the center specifically. The Director, Lisa Danahy, works tirelessly for the kids, the parents and the staff and running the day to day business. We've been very happy with the school and have always felt confident that our child would nurtured, well cared for and would enjoy her day.