Anonymous wrote:any updates or insights especially for anyone at Woodlin? We just got off the wait list.

PP here. We did a tour and turned down our spot. The outdoor play area is very small, rather bleak for the youngest group and they dont have an indoor play place for when the weather is bad. Required us to start in 3 weeks, so unable to give notice to current daycare.

any updates or insights especially for anyone at Woodlin? We just got off the wait list.

I don't have direct experience with RDCA, but I know it's one of the providers that uses space in public schools and county facilities. We use another provider that does this, and we've really liked it. I think they have a double incentive to keep up quality because they don't own those spaces and can lose access to them if they mess up. Also, the space is likely cheaper for them to operate in than a private building (our provider charges less than many of the providers that use space in private buildings) and they have access to the school facilities like the gym and playground and blacktop. The only downside is you are subject to the whims of MCPS when it comes to building closures for renovations or freak events like the time that plane flew into a major power line. They do open as long as offices are open.

They have not yet reopened at Woodlin and their most recent communication did not provide a specific reopening date, but they're hopeful it will be around the end of May.

Any Rdca updates? Have they reopened at Woodin elementary school yet?

We love RDCA! We have had two kids there for a few years. They use creative curriculum and are very play based. They get the kids out all the time and also have lots of time for arts and crafts, science, math, writing, etc. Our child recently started kindergarten and is at the top of her class in terms of reading and math (with us doing very little at home). Hours are amazing (like 7-6pm) and they take kids on monthly field trips. Its very affordable too.

bump/bueller

Have folks had good experiences at these preschools? DD turns 3 in a few months and we plan to move her out of her inhome daycare. There's a RDCA place extremely close by where we live, like, walkable close.

We don't want straight-up daycare but also not some heavy-duty academic place either for her...something play-based that will prep her for kindergarten, basically. (Can you tell she's our first and this is all new to us? Ha!)