Downtown DC Daycares

[Anonymous]

Hi All -

We are moving back to DC and now looking for a good daycare for our 1.5 and 3.5 year old kids. We were with Bright Horizons before and loved them, but we are coming from California where we have been spoiled by the facilities and teachers and now need a center with an outside playground, as well as the obvious requirements of caring and intelligent teachers, good curriculum, environment, etc. We know the waitlist game, and have almost a year and some priority, so we have a pretty good chance at these places. We are just not there to do some hard diligence, so I am hoping all the wonderful resources on this site will serve me well yet again.

Finalists at the moment are USDA, IRS-Treasury, HUD, DOE, and FDIC (at Virginia Square). If you have or had any experience (good or bad) with these centers, can you please pass it on? It would be much appreciated!

Thanks,
Amy

[Anonymous]

Don't know about those, but my son is about to start US Kids which is DOJ and EOP. Three of my friends send their kids there and they love it. We were very impressed by what we saw and can't wait for him to start at US Kids.

[Anonymous]

just a tip - would stay away from USDA, IRS and HUD.

[Anonymous]

To the PP - why?

[Anonymous]

I'd be interested to know who posted the tip about staying away from IRS, USDA, & HUD. HUD is a brand new and very nice center, facility-wise much nicer than the other two. However, all three are run by the same company and unfortunately I have to agree...I have very high standards and (if I had children) would not want my children in any of the three. I am a teacher at one of the three centers and am currently looking for a nanny position because, despite my passion and love for what I do, my experience there has turned me off to the feild all together. I have not found any centers in the area to be of great quality. I would suggest a nursery school option for your pre-schooler and considering a nanny or nanny-share for full-time care.

[Anonymous]

Is USDA run by Knowledge Learning/Kindercare? Our former center was run by KL, and I while I loved the teachers, I could.not.stand the management, which was absolutely unresponsive to parental concerns and questions. KL was eventually replaced by Bright Horizons, but by that time we were gone (to OTS, which is independently run and excellent--coincidence?).

[Anonymous]

OP - go visit the centers and make your own judgement. I think that all of these centers will provide you with a safe environment to leave your children every day. My child attended one of these three, and she had a great experience there. She made great friends and loved all of the teachers.

[Meconbear]

If you're going as far as VA Square, I'd check out the NSF facility in Ballston too. It's really great, but the waitlist is super long b/c it does have an tons of programs and an outdoor playground.

[Anonymous]

I've heard some great things about the new HUD center.

[Anonymous]

We are at the Commerce Department center and love it. We also checked out the DOE center and it also seemed great -- nice playground.

I have also heard very bad things about the IRS center.

Friends in the HUD center seem to like it.

[Anonymous]

Bright Horizons at the SEC at Union Station would probably have an opening for your 3.5 year old and then you'd have to find a place for your little one, but you'd have first preference for a sibling spot for the younger one if you get the older one in. As mentioned, most downtown daycares have huge waiting lists and you have to learn to play the game, Get that older one in and you jump to the top of the list for the little one.

[Anonymous]

DS is in the infant program at HUD and I am very happy with it. The center is pretty new, very clean, and the the infant teachers take very good care of the babies. The center has been having some turnover, a new director was brought on in January. There has been some turnover, but so far it seems to be for the better. HUD is definitely worth a visit to see if it is the right fit for your family.

I'd be curious to hear why a PP said to stay away. I think the more info you share makes your opinion/advice more valuable.

[Anonymous]

My son is in the infant room at the DOE Bright Horizons daycare and I am very pleased. I don't have extensive experience with other daycares, so it is hard for me to compare, but I can tell you that the teachers, director and other parents are all very involved and supportive. It also seems to have a strong reputation, which is reflected in the long waitlist. I can only imagine how L'Efant plaza can compare to the environment in California, but with that said, they do have an outdoor play space but more importantly, they take little walks to the mall that includes visits to the carousel, sculpture garden, etc. I have also heard that the FCC daycare next door has great developmental programs for the older children.

Hope that helps, good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is in the infant room at the DOE Bright Horizons daycare and I am very pleased. I don't have extensive experience with other daycares, so it is hard for me to compare, but I can tell you that the teachers, director and other parents are all very involved and supportive. It also seems to have a strong reputation, which is reflected in the long waitlist. I can only imagine how L'Efant plaza can compare to the environment in California, but with that said, they do have an outdoor play space but more importantly, they take little walks to the mall that includes visits to the carousel, sculpture garden, etc. I have also heard that the FCC daycare next door has great developmental programs for the older children.

Hope that helps, good luck!

I meant FAA not FCC!

[Anonymous]

A daycare might be good for infants and toddlers, but perhaps not as good for 3-5 year olds (and vice versa). DH checked out Fingerprints (also BH), and thought it acceptable for infants, but not a good fit for our 3-yr old DS.