Child care near UMD

[Anonymous]

I figure this will get quickly lost in the general preschool/day care thread, so I'm hoping some of the other PG residents can help me out. I'm looking for child care for my 20 month old hopefully close to the University of Maryland. Does anyone have any centers they could recommend? He hasn't been in child care of any kind before and I'm hoping to find something soon so we can kind of gradually transition him into it before the need for full day hits in September. Any suggestions for good centers or centers to avoid would be much appreciated.

[Anonymous]

I have friends who have been happy with the child care center at St. Jerome's. The St. Jerome's Academy school next door is just opening a Montessori primary program and toddler program. I would check out the child center and Montessori program.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for the info! I called them and there is a waiting list, but it would be much more convenient than the places we've found that don't have waitlists.

[Anonymous]

Greenwood School

[Anonymous]

Here are some other licensed "group" daycares in the area:

Greenwood http://www.greenwoodschoolmd.org/
Childway http://www.childway.net/
Sunny Days http://www.georgetownhill.com/usaphis-sunny-days-riverdale-campus
St. Ann's http://www.stanns.org/programs/day-care

There are also licensed childcare providers near the University. I work at UMD and our home daycare provider is listed in the Maryland Family Network http://www.mdchildcare.org/mdcfc/childcare/choose.html

Here is a list from UMD on Child Care resources: http://thestamp.umd.edu/gh/family/child_care_resources

[Anonymous]

http://heritagechildcare.org/

We have been there for 2 1/2 years and love it. Have referred all of our friends too. Director and teachers are all wonderful and warm.

[Anonymous]

Thanks again for all the info. I have tours set up at most of these centers now. Childway had an immediate opening, but after visiting I think that is getting crossed off the list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks again for all the info. I have tours set up at most of these centers now. Childway had an immediate opening, but after visiting I think that is getting crossed off the list.

PP, if you're visiting Heritage- just a little insight- it's not a large super flashy center. It's very "handmade" so to speak- there is low turnover in the staff and they are all genuinely caring- but if you're thinking it will be like a Bright Horizons... it's not.

[Anonymous]

Also, there are a lot of at home moms with young children in the Historic Hyattsville neighborhood that might be interested in taking care of your daughter. My friend did this. She is a nice well educated person who has travelled abroad, played in an orchestra, and has a loving home. The mother of the baby that she took care of and her friends are friends now too. It is a very nice relationship. This type of set up can be done well if you find the right mom.

[Anonymous]

Try the Locate Childcare site run by the county. It lists all the licensed centers and home day cares.

[Anonymous]

OP again. Anyone have any experiences (good or bad) with the Small Wonders facility at the USDA in Beltsville or the Bright Horizons at the IRS at New Carrollton? Both seemed pretty good when I toured, but those were prescheduled tours so I guess that might not be indicative. Then again, Childway was a prescheduled tour and that tour left me feeling very sad.

I have had no luck getting anyone on the phone at NARA Easter Seals or Greenwood, and no return calls after messages, so I assume that means they are full.

[Anonymous]

Greenwood waitlist is 12-16 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Anyone have any experiences (good or bad) with the Small Wonders facility at the USDA in Beltsville or the Bright Horizons at the IRS at New Carrollton? Both seemed pretty good when I toured, but those were prescheduled tours so I guess that might not be indicative. Then again, Childway was a prescheduled tour and that tour left me feeling very sad.

I have had no luck getting anyone on the phone at NARA Easter Seals or Greenwood, and no return calls after messages, so I assume that means they are full.

I've mentioned on DCUM several times that we are quite happy having our twins at the Bright Horizons in New Carollton (my spouse works in the building). They entered when they were 3.5 months old and are now 22 months old. It's very well run due in large part to the director's leadership. Every room has one more senior teacher and one additional teacher. While there has been a bit of turnover in the more junior staff, the senior staff has been very stable and every room has at least one teacher who has several years experience with Bright Horizons and IRSCDC (Child Development Center). The facility is nice, the routines/procedures are well implemented and the care is excellent. Our children are only toddlers and they have fantastic relationships with quite a number of the teachers. If you have any specific questions about IRSCDC, let me know.

[Anonymous]

USDA has a good reputation, but no personal experience.