Bethesda area daycare

[Anonymous]

OP here - thank you all! So helpful, will check out Wonders and the Shoe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Children in the Shoe has a location in Bethesda.

There are two Shoe locations in downtown Bethesda, right across from each other on East-West Highway. All three of our kids went to the East-West Towers location and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about it - besides the cost.

They handled multiple challenging situations very well; the lack of stress on our family was worth the money, frankly. Most of our friends with kids have gone through so many manifestations of daycare nonsense. We had none of that with the Shoe.

What nonsense? I liked the Shoe when we toured but the location was not ideal. Went with a much cheaper local daycare and have had no "nonsense" and plenty of effective handling of a very challenging situation.

That’s great you’ve had a good experience. There are many terrific daycares out there, for sure. Some of the issues I’ve seen that we didn’t deal with include:

-Utter inability to handle difficult children
-Lengthy closures around the holidays and in summer
-Defaulting to MCPS for determining weather-related closures
-COVID policies that had no basis in evidence
-Discipline policies that were developmentally inappropriate and shaming of kids
-Providing inadequate stimulation for kids
-Screen time for kids
-Failure to adequately communicate with parents about disruptions to care
-Insufficient training around signs of child abuse

This was not our experience at the Shoe at all. We loved our time there.

Just to be clear PP was giving a list of problems their friends had that they did NOT have the Shoe.

Exactly, thank you.

Also, because someone mentioned Rock Spring: that’s one of the ones I was referring to with the list above. I know many people love it, but some of the things I heard from a good friend were surprising, given the cost and reputation.

[Anonymous]

Centers don't give the right amount of attention for every child. I prefer daycares.

Also daycares is a preschool too. Most daycare providers are preschool teachers.

Daycares are family child care homes take can care up to 4 years old age. Every daycare in Maryland follows the curriculum of Maryland child care resources.

But it's your choice at the end. Just remember the ratios, centers should have more staff to take care big groups of children. I prefer a small group like 6-8 and is a great way to transition the big class of 20 in kindergarten. Because they will be more emotional mature for that environment. But trust your instinct. Keep observing your child how it likes, behaves and thinks about any childcare place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Centers don't give the right amount of attention for every child. I prefer daycares.

Also daycares is a preschool too. Most daycare providers are preschool teachers.

Daycares are family child care homes take can care up to 4 years old age. Every daycare in Maryland follows the curriculum of Maryland child care resources.

But it's your choice at the end. Just remember the ratios, centers should have more staff to take care big groups of children. I prefer a small group like 6-8 and is a great way to transition the big class of 20 in kindergarten. Because they will be more emotional mature for that environment. But trust your instinct. Keep observing your child how it likes, behaves and thinks about any childcare place.

I am confused by this post - centers are a form of daycare. Daycare just means they provide care all day, unlike preschools. There are centers and home-based models, but they are all daycares

[Anonymous]

We like Bright Horizons at Democracy Center https://child-care-preschool.brighthorizons.com/MD/Bethesda/democracycenter

They have an infant class up to 15 months, and 15 to 24 months is toddlers;

The teachers are very well trained, have been with the center for a long time; The center provide meals: breakfast, lunch and snack.
We toured so many daycares and this one is definitely one of the best ones we've seen.

OP - your location is super important as your choice of daycare will be driven by your new house. Good luck!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We like Bright Horizons at Democracy Center https://child-care-preschool.brighthorizons.com/MD/Bethesda/democracycenter

They have an infant class up to 15 months, and 15 to 24 months is toddlers;

The teachers are very well trained, have been with the center for a long time; The center provide meals: breakfast, lunch and snack.
We toured so many daycares and this one is definitely one of the best ones we've seen.

OP - your location is super important as your choice of daycare will be driven by your new house. Good luck!!

One nice thing about Wonder is it’s literally above Bethesda metro and across the street from a Bethesda garage so it might fit your commute easily

[Anonymous]

The Shoe is ok. Not worth it.

Find a nice Family Daycare. I hope yours is a Preschool Teacher like ours, we love our family daycare!

Imo centers are too complicated, too much noise and children don't get enough of individual attention. The first 3 years are very important.

Children needs attention

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Centers don't give the right amount of attention for every child. I prefer daycares.

Also daycares is a preschool too. Most daycare providers are preschool teachers.

Daycares are family child care homes take can care up to 4 years old age. Every daycare in Maryland follows the curriculum of Maryland child care resources.

But it's your choice at the end. Just remember the ratios, centers should have more staff to take care big groups of children. I prefer a small group like 6-8 and is a great way to transition the big class of 20 in kindergarten. Because they will be more emotional mature for that environment. But trust your instinct. Keep observing your child how it likes, behaves and thinks about any childcare place.

I am confused by this post - centers are a form of daycare. Daycare just means they provide care all day, unlike preschools. There are centers and home-based models, but they are all daycares

Center: noisy. is a place for 30 kids to 150. Yikes. Not my preference

Family Child Care home is known as Family Daycare " most of the Providers are Preschool Teachers, open every day all day or just mornings, your preference.

I prefer a small group. Kindergarten us fked up. 30 kids with 1 teacher ugh

[Anonymous]

There's also Family daycares with trained Teachers who teaches pre k to a group of 8 or 12 kids. Our son is 4 and getting ready for kindergarten