Gaithersburg- Kidsco Jr and Kiddie Academy? Tuition costs?

[Anonymous]

Anyone have any recent reviews or opinions on toddler care 2-3 year old for Kids Co Jr or Kiddie Academy in Gaithersburg?
Does anyone know the tuition rates for that age at Kiddie Academy? KidsCo is actually pretty affordable but a little out of the way. I'd appreciate any feedback!

[Anonymous]

I think we were quoted ~1,400/month full time for the 3 year old classroom at KiddieAcademy

[Anonymous]

Kidsco jr is cheap because their teachers are not qualified. They call teachers that have the qualifications of an aide by MD standards a lead teacher. They do not have the bios of these teachers up online for a reason. You can ask for this information. I would be cautious about this place. Kiddie Academy is more reputable.

[Anonymous]

My kids have been in kiddie academy for few months. The good thing is that they provide video cameras so you can watch the kids from work. The bad thing is that you see teachers seating down most of the day while the kids are just playing with each other. I am a disappointed. Price is about 1,400 to 1,500 each. Looking for another school.

[Anonymous]

My 3 kids, soon to be 4, has been at Kidsco Jr for two years now. I am very pleased with the program. I felt was daughter was prepared for kindergarten. Not top of the class, but comfortable going in and had been exposed to different topics by their theme of the week. My almost 4 year old is writing and spelling sight words.
I am a teacher myself, and I feel they have a good balance of introducing the kids to different concepts, giving them some pre academics, and doing so in a play based way. There are lots of arts and crafts and dramatic play- as it should be at this age. They also have a great outdoor space and gym for when the weather is bad.
The staff is very attentive and they have a good ratio. The aftercare program has structure so it is not a free for all. My oldest has been in 4 daycares in her life-home based, Kidtime, Goddard, and Kidsco. We are by far most pleased with Kidsco.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 3 kids, soon to be 4, has been at Kidsco Jr for two years now. I am very pleased with the program. I felt was daughter was prepared for kindergarten. Not top of the class, but comfortable going in and had been exposed to different topics by their theme of the week. My almost 4 year old is writing and spelling sight words.
I am a teacher myself, and I feel they have a good balance of introducing the kids to different concepts, giving them some pre academics, and doing so in a play based way. There are lots of arts and crafts and dramatic play- as it should be at this age. They also have a great outdoor space and gym for when the weather is bad.
The staff is very attentive and they have a good ratio. The aftercare program has structure so it is not a free for all. My oldest has been in 4 daycares in her life-home based, Kidtime, Goddard, and Kidsco. We are by far most pleased with Kidsco.

Really? Over Goddard. Please share more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3 kids, soon to be 4, has been at Kidsco Jr for two years now. I am very pleased with the program. I felt was daughter was prepared for kindergarten. Not top of the class, but comfortable going in and had been exposed to different topics by their theme of the week. My almost 4 year old is writing and spelling sight words.
I am a teacher myself, and I feel they have a good balance of introducing the kids to different concepts, giving them some pre academics, and doing so in a play based way. There are lots of arts and crafts and dramatic play- as it should be at this age. They also have a great outdoor space and gym for when the weather is bad.
The staff is very attentive and they have a good ratio. The aftercare program has structure so it is not a free for all. My oldest has been in 4 daycares in her life-home based, Kidtime, Goddard, and Kidsco. We are by far most pleased with Kidsco.

Really? Over Goddard. Please share more.

Staff works overlapping shifts so the after care staff is fresh-typically high school and college kids. More teachers in each classroom and smaller class sizes allows for more individualized attention. At first I thought I would miss the Spanish enrichment classes and music classes, but if we weren't going to keep up with it, what was the point? I feel that the atmosphere is more relaxed and the staff is happier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3 kids, soon to be 4, has been at Kidsco Jr for two years now. I am very pleased with the program. I felt was daughter was prepared for kindergarten. Not top of the class, but comfortable going in and had been exposed to different topics by their theme of the week. My almost 4 year old is writing and spelling sight words.
I am a teacher myself, and I feel they have a good balance of introducing the kids to different concepts, giving them some pre academics, and doing so in a play based way. There are lots of arts and crafts and dramatic play- as it should be at this age. They also have a great outdoor space and gym for when the weather is bad.
The staff is very attentive and they have a good ratio. The aftercare program has structure so it is not a free for all. My oldest has been in 4 daycares in her life-home based, Kidtime, Goddard, and Kidsco. We are by far most pleased with Kidsco.

Really? Over Goddard. Please share more.

Staff works overlapping shifts so the after care staff is fresh-typically high school and college kids. More teachers in each classroom and smaller class sizes allows for more individualized attention. At first I thought I would miss the Spanish enrichment classes and music classes, but if we weren't going to keep up with it, what was the point? I feel that the atmosphere is more relaxed and the staff is happier.

You have high school kids watching your kids at a place you pay for curriculum and that is better? Also if they do not Spanish or Music, what are they doing? This is not even worth me posting my opinion.

[Anonymous]

I agree with 12:28. We left a fancier school with a lot of enrichment for a happier, more relaxed school where my son is thriving. He learns more because he is more at ease and feels loved. Atmosphere matters more than enrichment. Ideally you don't have to make the trade off. But sometimes in reality, you do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with 12:28. We left a fancier school with a lot of enrichment for a happier, more relaxed school where my son is thriving. He learns more because he is more at ease and feels loved. Atmosphere matters more than enrichment. Ideally you don't have to make the trade off. But sometimes in reality, you do.

You call it thriving when you child is in a less enriched environment that is relaxed? That's an oxymoron.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with 12:28. We left a fancier school with a lot of enrichment for a happier, more relaxed school where my son is thriving. He learns more because he is more at ease and feels loved. Atmosphere matters more than enrichment. Ideally you don't have to make the trade off. But sometimes in reality, you do.

You call it thriving when you child is in a less enriched environment that is relaxed? That's an oxymoron.

I thought the general rule of thumb for child rearing is that all kids are different and have different needs. Some may find "enrichment" to be too stressful and demanding while others are bored in the absence of "enrichment."

This isn't an oxymoron in the least...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids have been in kiddie academy for few months. The good thing is that they provide video cameras so you can watch the kids from work. The bad thing is that you see teachers seating down most of the day while the kids are just playing with each other. I am a disappointed. Price is about 1,400 to 1,500 each. Looking for another school.

What age group?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with 12:28. We left a fancier school with a lot of enrichment for a happier, more relaxed school where my son is thriving. He learns more because he is more at ease and feels loved. Atmosphere matters more than enrichment. Ideally you don't have to make the trade off. But sometimes in reality, you do.

You call it thriving when you child is in a less enriched environment that is relaxed? That's an oxymoron.

Your wrong- not an oxymoron at all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have been in kiddie academy for few months. The good thing is that they provide video cameras so you can watch the kids from work. The bad thing is that you see teachers seating down most of the day while the kids are just playing with each other. I am a disappointed. Price is about 1,400 to 1,500 each. Looking for another school.

What age group?

Yes! We toured this (3 year old classroom) daycare and that seemed very strange to me. There were 3 providers in the room, the director made sure to tell me 100 times that they are only required to have 2 providers but she likes to have 3 in the room. Anyway, they were all sitting down and the kids were just running around them, playing, whatever. It seemed very strange because their brochures and website claim to have a very structured curriculum.

[Anonymous]

My child went to Kiddie Academy of Gaithersburg. The teacher was ok, but the manager Angela was unprofessional, she showed partiality to my child and us as parents. It looks like there are some nationalities that she does not like and we felt the effects of this on many occasions. Also, there was no clarity in curriculum. Before joining the program, she gave me one curriculum with the description of classes and kids activities, but when my child started to go there, the classes and activities that we wanted were on different days. My child went there part-time. When I raised this question with Angela, she just ignored it and when I asked to change our days of attendance, she answered that other days were not available. If I knew that the activities that I was promised would not be available to my child and that I was given a different curriculum, I would not enroll my child there. She basically lied to me, giving me a different curriculum before I signed the contract and after I did it, it was too late. The food there also was not qualitative, the menu looked much better than what kids received in reality. I regret sending my child there.