Preschool/Daycare Recommendations: Bethesda and McLean

[Anonymous]

We'd be grateful for really good daycare/preschool recommendations (for a 4 yr old) in the Bethesda and/or McLean area. We'd like something play-based, but not a place that mistakes "play-based" for total lack of structure. DH and I both will be working in DC, so we're hoping to end up somewhere with a decent commute to downtown DC. We're from out-of-state, so we really appreciate any recommendations.

[Anonymous]

See recent thread about McLean Preschools for more options.

For what OP describes, I would look into:

Brooksfield School
Lewinsville Montessori
Redeemer Lutheran’s Preschool (non-religous but church sponsored)

Note that the first two are (theoretically) Montessori, but both are more flexible/loose with lots of free play - different than a strict Montessori program would be. Lewinsville has a 12-month option, while the other two are only 9-months. This matters if both parents work. All are enrolling now for next fall. Demand often exceeds supply, so you need to move fast.

All of these have good commute routes to drive into DC, either 123 and GW Pkway or Old Dominion then Spout Run then GW Pkway - to your chosen bridge.

Brooksfield is far from any MetroRail option. The other two are reasonably close to the McLean Metro station.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:See recent thread about McLean Preschools for more options.

For what OP describes, I would look into:

Brooksfield School
Lewinsville Montessori
Redeemer Lutheran’s Preschool (non-religous but church sponsored)

Note that the first two are (theoretically) Montessori, but both are more flexible/loose with lots of free play - different than a strict Montessori program would be. Lewinsville has a 12-month option, while the other two are only 9-months. This matters if both parents work. All are enrolling now for next fall. Demand often exceeds supply, so you need to move fast.

All of these have good commute routes to drive into DC, either 123 and GW Pkway or Old Dominion then Spout Run then GW Pkway - to your chosen bridge.

Brooksfield is far from any MetroRail option. The other two are reasonably close to the McLean Metro station.

I have to say this list is shockingly sub standard.

Georgetown Hill
Goddard School
Wonders

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We'd be grateful for really good daycare/preschool recommendations (for a 4 yr old) in the Bethesda and/or McLean area. We'd like something play-based, but not a place that mistakes "play-based" for total lack of structure. DH and I both will be working in DC, so we're hoping to end up somewhere with a decent commute to downtown DC. We're from out-of-state, so we really appreciate any recommendations.

I'm not sure where in Bethesda you mean...but the Goddard in Silver Spring (not far from downtown Bethesda) and soon-to-be location in North Bethesda are owned by the same person, and we've been very happy with the Silver Spring one.

I don't have experience with but have heard good things about Children in the Shoe and Reggio (Spanish) in Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We'd be grateful for really good daycare/preschool recommendations (for a 4 yr old) in the Bethesda and/or McLean area. We'd like something play-based, but not a place that mistakes "play-based" for total lack of structure. DH and I both will be working in DC, so we're hoping to end up somewhere with a decent commute to downtown DC. We're from out-of-state, so we really appreciate any recommendations.

I'm not sure where in Bethesda you mean...but the Goddard in Silver Spring (not far from downtown Bethesda) and soon-to-be location in North Bethesda are owned by the same person, and we've been very happy with the Silver Spring one.

I don't have experience with but have heard good things about Children in the Shoe and Reggio (Spanish) in Bethesda.

We were very happy at the BCC Shoe location. (There are two essentially across the street from each other -- one called BCC, one East-West.)