Advice on Daycare/Preschool in Fairfax County

[gatova]

We're moving to the area in early December and I'm getting really stressed about 1) finding a daycare option we like 2) actually getting the kids in asap. We haven't found a house yet, so we have to make our best guess about location and apply to a couple probably. We'll most likely live in McLean, Vienna or the part of Falls Church that's in McLean school district. My kids will be almost 2 and 4 when we move up and are currently at a Montessori.

I will be working from home, so I need the girls in daycare 5 days a week, until at least 3 everyday. I prefer curriculum like Montessori or Reggio Emilia but I'm open to other progressive options. We'll be doing public school after, so I'm not concerned with being at a private school feeder, but I'd prefer an educational model that let's them pursue their interests and sets them up for a lifelong love of learning. Ideally nothing too rigid since they're used to the free-flowing Montessori approach.

We currently pay $19K/year for daycare per child, and I am hoping not to go any higher since that's already a fortune! I'd prefer to have both girls at the same place, but if I have to I'd do two drop-offs close to each other until I could get them in the same program.

Any recommendations for daycares/pre-schools we should look into? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I have some ideas, but honestly, traffic is so horrific here you really need to narrow down the location of your new home first, unless you are willing to commute more than 30 minutes for drop offs.

[gatova]

PP, we have to pick some daycares to tour while we're touring homes, so any suggestions are welcome!