Looking for daycare providers in the 2.5+ age category. Preference w/b for providers in the Friendship Heights/Chevy Chase area??

I think Lanier Lullabies has a spot for a 2 year old starting in Sept. Try to email Julie at lanierlullabies@yahoo.com.

Anonymous wrote:OP omg I thought I would get yelled for over planning! Yikes so for fall 2016 we need to apply srartibg this fall? Full or part time depends on whether I get pregnant quickly (ttc) and probably NoVa although we want to move back to DC. Too many moving pieces??

I wouldn't worry about the full-time option for if you get pregnant, because once you're expecting, you'll just get both kids on the waitlist at the same time and getting your 2 yo a spot shouldn't be hard.

So for now, just pick a few part-time programs that you're genuinely interested. We toured a lot, ultimately decided on the Montessori model, and my kid just started a regular summer camp at the rec center. I think after all of that, I'm the biggest fan of traditional, straight-forward preschools - learn the ABCs, 123s, sit in a circle for story time, have some arts & crafts, run around outside, have a snack, and call it a day. Nothing fancy, but the kids love it and learn something too.

Check out Little Folks in Georgetown. They take children ages 2.5 to 5. Full and half day programs. Play-based with a big focus on the arts! My son loves it there!

We're Adams Morgan - Mt Pleasant area of DC

Anonymous wrote:My son won't be 3 until December, so we're not eligible for DCPS preschool. I'm just realizing he needs more (or will need more) than just playgroup over the coming year, and I haven't applied to anything yet. Does anyone have ideas of some Montessori or curriculum based programs that I might be able to get in to for the fall or winter. We are in DC, and don't need full day or any particular time covered (have a nanny for our toddler.) So, looking for learning programs for an almost 3 year old and how to find an opening at this late date. Any ideas would be very much appreciated.

Where do you live?

My son won't be 3 until December, so we're not eligible for DCPS preschool. I'm just realizing he needs more (or will need more) than just playgroup over the coming year, and I haven't applied to anything yet. Does anyone have ideas of some Montessori or curriculum based programs that I might be able to get in to for the fall or winter. We are in DC, and don't need full day or any particular time covered (have a nanny for our toddler.) So, looking for learning programs for an almost 3 year old and how to find an opening at this late date. Any ideas would be very much appreciated.

PPs are right that you need to start about a year in advance for most NW DC preschools. I'm less familiar with the suburbs, but I think they tend to fill less quickly, so you're not as beholden to the application timeline.

As for location, not having a long commute is really nice. If you're uncertain about moving, I'd enroll close to home and just switch if you do move.

Most preschools for 2.5 year olds are half days, 2 or 3 days per week. Montessoris are often 5 days, maybe half or full days. Some have after care, but sometimes it's not open to the little kids (esp if they only go 2 or 3 days a week).

If you want full time for a 2.5 year old, you're looking more at traditional day cares, which tend to fill on first-come, first-serve, so get on the list now. The day cares offer a preschool curriculum, but tend to have hours more suited to working parents. "Preschools" have hours that are like regular schools, as well as winter break, spring break, etc. Day cares don't really have application seasons.

I'm not sure about VA, but in DC, kids generally need to be 2.5 by September 1 to enroll in the 2s programs. It has to do with regulations and staffing ratios, so IME they're strict about it.

Lastly, if you want to start in the summer, many preschools have summer camps. Kids need to be 2.5 by the time camp starts (I think usually the cut-off is June 1). Camp sign up is way less intense, and it's basically just signing up and is first-come, first served. You need to be on top of it and in most cases can't wait until the last minute, but slots don't go nearly as quickly (I think most sign-ups start in Feb or March). However, most of the summer camps (especially the ones that are open to 2.5 year olds) don't go through August.

For a top preschool, you need to attend an open house. They usually begin in October. You should begin applying then as well. Once you apply, your child will attend a play date in Jan or Feb. Then you receive your acceptance notice in early April, I believe.

OP omg I thought I would get yelled for over planning! Yikes so for fall 2016 we need to apply srartibg this fall? Full or part time depends on whether I get pregnant quickly (ttc) and probably NoVa although we want to move back to DC. Too many moving pieces??

We enrolled my 2.5 yo sometime in June for the following Fall. But we had less choices because some of the classes had already filled up.

If you want a part-time preschool, either stand-alone or attached to a K-8, then you'll need to apply in the winter for an acceptance to start in the fall.

If you want full-time, year round, then just call up the centers you're interested in. They get a lot of changes in the summer, but generally rooms for 2 & up aren't as crowded around here as the < 2 rooms.

Tours will start in the fall, so now is the time to be thinking about what pedagogy you want (Montessori, Emilio Reggio, play-based, Waldorf) and how far you are willing to travel to get that.

Also worth considering is whether you have the freedom to do a co-op, and whether you want just a few mornings a week or something more full-time. Once you answer those questions, ask your neighbors and DCUM for suggestions.

DC/MD or VA? Full time or a morning preschool class?

I would like to start my son in preschool/day care next summer when he will be 2.5. I have no idea how things work around here in terms of competition, etc. He is currently with a nanny. How should do we need to start looking?