Full Day, Play-Based Preschools in and around Montgomery County?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check out the Goddard schools. There's one in Bethesda, Rockville/Gaithersburg and Clarksburg. My child goes to the one in Clarksburg, so I don't have too much info about the other ones but I think they're run pretty much the same way and I've been happy with my child's experience. The ratio goes to 12:1 after 3 years old though.

Here goes the Goddard owner again... avoid the Rockville and Bethesda one. We looked at Rockville and wouldn't let us observe a classroom saying the kids were napping but it was clear the kids were older and not napping. I don't know anything about the clarksburg one.

For many, with kids under 3, you need to get on the waitlist and it could be years, you could get lucky or never get a call. Price wise, its about the same as what you are quoting. Average is $1200 a month after age 2 or 3, to $2000+ a month.

Aren't the Goddard schools franchises, meaning they are all owned by different people? (Obviously someone could own more than one.). If that is right, it would seem odd for this person to mention so many different places. There have been some posts about the new Bethesda Goddard that have seemed like they could be by the owner (but I really don't know and the couple of people I know there are happy enough), but the quoted post didn't strike me as a plant.

[Anonymous]

I think TPCDC might fit the bill. It's a little chaotic on the administrative side, but the kids do tons of STEM and art projects and it is definitely play based in a way that the Goddard programs and similar pedagogies are not.

[Anonymous]

We're very happy with Wonders. We're at the Edgemoor location and love that it's up above street level with a playground and green space. The teachers are warm and caring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DD goes to Green Acres School in North Bethesda. There's a big play component, but it's not play-based. It's progressive. The kids have two dedicated teachers for 13 students as well as specialists for science, art, music, Spanish, creative movement and more. The playground is huge and was one of the things we heard about from friends when we searched for preschool programs. And we searched A LOT.

Good luck!

St Columba's in DC

Outdoor Nursery school in Chevy Chase, Md

St Raphael's in Potomac

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DD goes to Green Acres School in North Bethesda. There's a big play component, but it's not play-based. It's progressive. The kids have two dedicated teachers for 13 students as well as specialists for science, art, music, Spanish, creative movement and more. The playground is huge and was one of the things we heard about from friends when we searched for preschool programs. And we searched A LOT.

Good luck!

St Columba's in DC

Outdoor Nursery school in Chevy Chase, Md

St Raphael's in Potomac

Also look at co-OP's near you. Also any JCC school is worth a look.
Preschool can be cut throat to get into here - sorry about that.

[Anonymous]

If you are in Silver Spring, Bethesda or Chevy Chase, consider NCRC in NW D.C.

[Anonymous]

Our son has gone to a Montgomery County Childcare Association preschool / daycare that we've been very happy with, though my understanding is that all the centers are different. It isn't fancy, but was one of the few places we visited with a truly play-based curriculum, and my son has thrived there.

Second this. We have been very, very pleased with the play-based curriculum at our MCCA center. Plus the twice-daily outdoor time and lots of interaction with nature via walks, collecting things, etc. They really seem to understand preschoolers.

[Anonymous]

I have a 14 month old so take my recommendations with a grain of salt.

We love Montessori schools and the Montessori philosophy so my hope is to get my LO in one of those programs. We live in MoCo, in Silver Spring. I absolutely LOVED the Barrie School. The campus, the admissions staff, everything. Their tuition rates are published online. It's out of our price range or I would enroll my son there in a heartbeat.

A couple things to know about moving to the DMV: it's not anywhere near as bad as the people in your other post are making it out to be. I've lived in Maryland most of my life and I make a concerted effort to live here. Now, northern Virginia has amazing schools. So does Maryland. You really can't go wrong with the public schools in either of these areas. But, MoCo has some areas where the schools aren't as good. Make sure you check out the neighborhoods on Great Schools and you can definitely ask here. Taxes in Maryland are higher than in Virginia, but in Virginia you have to pay property taxes on your cars every year so to me, it's a wash.

I'm a Maryland girl, through and through, so I'm biased. But you really can't go wrong. Know that you are moving to an incredibly cutthroat, high achieving, high strung area of the country. It's high stress.

I'm happy to help you with anything else, just ask.

[Anonymous]

Bethesda Reggio is worth a look, it is also bi-lingual as a bonus.

[Anonymous]

Washington Waldorf is definitely all play

[Anonymous]

We're very happy at The Children in the Shoe/East-West Towers location. Tons of play for our four year old, and covered playgrounds so kids get outside in inclement weather.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Our son has gone to a Montgomery County Childcare Association preschool / daycare that we've been very happy with, though my understanding is that all the centers are different. It isn't fancy, but was one of the few places we visited with a truly play-based curriculum, and my son has thrived there.

Second this. We have been very, very pleased with the play-based curriculum at our MCCA center. Plus the twice-daily outdoor time and lots of interaction with nature via walks, collecting things, etc. They really seem to understand preschoolers.

And I'll third this. My son's been in the Garret Park location and has done very well. It's probably more laid back than you're used to and ratio is 1:10, but it's truly play-based. Garrett Park starts at 3 years old, but some of the locations have infant care. Wherever you go, have the kids at the same school or near each other. Rush hour traffic around here (even in the County) is a pain in the butt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check out the Goddard schools. There's one in Bethesda, Rockville/Gaithersburg and Clarksburg. My child goes to the one in Clarksburg, so I don't have too much info about the other ones but I think they're run pretty much the same way and I've been happy with my child's experience. The ratio goes to 12:1 after 3 years old though.

Goddard Schools are the antithesis of play-based. They are great if you want preparation for a very traditional school, but no kid should be sitting at a desk all day at age 3.

This poster must not have any knowledge of preschools. Goddard School is Piaget based curriculum, which is play based. You are referring to Montessori.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RSCC

+1

I wouldn't call RSCC play-based: the four year olds have homework and the final year is the kindergarten curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check out the Goddard schools. There's one in Bethesda, Rockville/Gaithersburg and Clarksburg. My child goes to the one in Clarksburg, so I don't have too much info about the other ones but I think they're run pretty much the same way and I've been happy with my child's experience. The ratio goes to 12:1 after 3 years old though.

Goddard Schools are the antithesis of play-based. They are great if you want preparation for a very traditional school, but no kid should be sitting at a desk all day at age 3.

This poster must not have any knowledge of preschools. Goddard School is Piaget based curriculum, which is play based. You are referring to Montessori.

+1