We're moving to the area in early December and I'm getting really stressed about 1) finding a daycare option we like 2) actually getting the kids in asap. We haven't found a house yet, so we have to make our best guess about location and apply to a couple probably. We'll most likely live in McLean, Vienna or the part of Falls Church that's in McLean school district. My kids will be almost 2 and 4 when we move up and are currently at a Montessori.
I will be working from home, so I need the girls in daycare 5 days a week, until at least 3 everyday. I prefer curriculum like Montessori or Reggio Emilia but I'm open to other progressive options. We'll be doing public school after, so I'm not concerned with being at a private school feeder, but I'd prefer an educational model that let's them pursue their interests and sets them up for a lifelong love of learning. Ideally nothing too rigid since they're used to the free-flowing Montessori approach.
We currently pay $19K/year for daycare per child, and I am hoping not to go any higher since that's already a fortune! I'd prefer to have both girls at the same place, but if I have to I'd do two drop-offs close to each other until I could get them in the same program.
Any recommendations for daycares/pre-schools we should look into? Thanks!