I give my highest and most heartfelt recommendation to the Family Academy of Bethesda. My son has…read morebeen here since he was just three months old and stayed until almost three years old, when unfortunately we had to move away due to work relocation. If it weren't for that, we would have loved for him to stay here as long as possible. It's hard to put into words how incredible this place has been for our family. From the days when he could barely lift his head, to learning to walk, talk, sing, and share stories about his day, we've watched him grow into a happy, curious, and confident little boy--all thanks to the loving care and nurturing environment of Family Academy. He not only learned language and knowledge, but also good manners and a true love of learning.The teachers are absolutely amazing--kind, patient, and so easy to communicate with. My son is a slow and picky eater, yet they always gave him extra time and gentle encouragement. They care for each child as if they were their own. The administration team is just as wonderful; they know every child by name and engage with them warmly every single day.What makes Family Academy so special is not only the quality of education but the genuine love and attention they give to every child. The environment encourages exploration, creativity, and curiosity about everything in the world. I could see every day how happy my son was here.I am deeply grateful for everything the Family Academy has given to our son and to our family. This school is truly a treasure in the community, and I would recommend it wholeheartedly to any parent.

So much love for the Family Academy. Our son attended here for years, starting from the time he was…read more6 months old. Each classroom was led by caring, creative teachers. Under the center's care, my son truly blossomed. Well before we expected, he was singing songs to us, identifying letters, counting, and more. And most indicative of this center's awesomeness--my son was always so happy to go to school. It also meant a lot to me that the staff and teachers made genuine, impactful efforts to include our family's culture alongside mainstream culture, for example welcoming us to send in books about our holidays, directly engage the class in activities, and share ideas for the teachers to use. Would recommend Family Academy to anyone!!

I've heard nothing but wonderful things about The Children in the Shoe's management, curriculum,…read moreand teachers. My sister worked here as a lead teacher for over a year and I don't think she'd ever leave if it weren't for relocating! My niece also attended the daycare at age 2 and loved her teachers, had so much fun, and learned a lot quickly. Definitely recommend The Shoe!

The absolute best childcare option. My firstborn has been at the Shoe since 2mo and is now almost…read more2. The teachers and staff are exceptional and they really love their jobs and the kids, and it shows! Every child I see is very happy at the Shoe (all ages). The children interact with different classes/age groups, further enhancing their social development and education. The staff also perform regular checks for added accountability and both teachers and staff are very experienced and friendly. I feel safe with my child at the Shoe knowing that my child is loved there. As a parent, you (and more importantly your children) can tell when someone cares about them. Bottom line: The Children in the Shoe-BCC is the best option for your child if staying at home isn't an option. As a matter of fact, my child eats and sleeps better at the Shoe, so in my case, it may even beat that!

I was in DC for a 2-day work trip with full-day meetings and needed someone who could come to my…read morehotel so I could continue exclusively breastfeeding my 8-month-old between sessions. Honestly, it's really hard to trust a service like this with your baby, especially in a city away from home. I had a few things in place so I could keep an eye on my daughter throughout the day, and because of that, I know she was genuinely well cared for. Alison from The Educated Babysitter was great. She arrived on time, took my daughter on walks outside, changed diapers, and kept her happy and comfortable throughout the day. By the second day, even the hotel staff knew my baby and would stop to say hi. The only reason I'm taking the time to write this review is because I know there are other moms in similar situations trying to balance work travel and motherhood, and trusted childcare like this can make all the difference.

Good babysitter was provided for me the first time but when I reached out again two other times for…read moreadditional babysitter service, I was told that they would get back to me regarding whether or not they could get a babysitter for the requested date/time. I was pretty much ghosted and never received a follow up response...on two occassions.

My son went to Zoia childcare for more than 2 years. He loved it there! he was so excited to go…read moreevery day and sometimes refused to come home. He calls her Tata Zoia :) He loves Ms. Veneta and Mr. Tony who are so friendly and patient with my son. Zoia childcare feels like home and safe and very accommodating. I never found a place like Zoia after moved to VA.

Ms Zoia and the whole team is wonderful. I have been with Ms Zoia for over 2 years now with both my…read morechildren. I love them because they are like family and my girls are very comfortable with them. They are attentive and communicate well with me about my children. Ms Zoia encouraged me to seek help with my youngest who was not talking and now she is starting to talk in few words. I'm so happy I have found ms Zoia, we will miss her and the whole team when my youngest goes to school.

Both of my kids have come to TCCC (my older one from pre toddler class through graduation last year…read moreand younger one mid-way through) and the staff has been here for a long time, which speaks to the leadership team's effective management. Highly recommended to anyone looking for trustworthy, caring staff, rigorous curriculum, and reasonable pricing.

We've been part of the TCCC community since our first of three was a baby, and they have been our…read moreextended family. It is clear that the teachers love the kids so much, and are so caring and attentive. Our oldest is now in kindergarten and TCCC was a huge part of setting him up to thrive. By the end of his last year he was doing math worksheets and writing short sentences, and that was all due to TCCC. Every day has new lessons and activities and art projects, and we are always surprised at how much they learn. I'm so glad we found TCCC and highly recommend it to everyone!

Our daughter has attended for one year so far and she is thriving. Independent, happy, speaking…read moreFrench, making friends and eating healthily. She loves it and we are very impressed with professionalism and credentials of staff.

Our daughter has been attending L'Enfant since spring 2023, first in the infant and then in the…read moretoddler classrooms. We have absolutely loved our experience with the daycare. The teachers and administration are working hard to make it a special, family-centered place. Kids have weekly music lessons and physical education lessons. School also arranged for artists in residence and monthly field trips. One thing that I particularly appreciate is their dedication to the time children spent outdoors, unlike the case in many other daycares we toured. What is also impressive, in less than a year our daughter fully understands French and can speak well. In other words, we are truly lucky we found this school for our daughter.

I am writing this review to share my positive experience at Great Beginnings. I sent my oldest…read moredaughter there for 1.5 years and only switched daycares because we moved from Alexandria. Notably, I sent my four-month old to Great Beginnings for a full month before we switched. We trusted GBELC to get our younger comfortable with the daycare environment! Great Beginnings is located in a yellow townhouse on Washington St. Only those with fobs can access the building, and parents can sign their children in/out using a tablet. Throughout the day, staff update the Tadpole app with food/diaper entries and with photos and videos a few times a week. The Tadpole app is also convenient for creating your own entries--so it's easy to let staff know when an infant last fed/was changed. The best part about Great Beginnings is the director, Cortinzia. Cortinzia is a good, loving leader who takes a personal interest in every child and family who attends. She loved both my girls and was there to greet us on our first days (see photo for proof!). She personally ensures the catered food is all child-safe (which was a concern for us, since our daughter tends to squirrel food away). I've found her to be a good communicator. When we sent our elder back to daycare after her sister was born, the center had its first (and only, to date) COVID case in one classroom. Of course, we freaked out since we had a newborn at home, but Cortinzia went out of her way to let us know our child had not been exposed. On the other hand, when there was a hand, foot, and mouth disease in the infant room back in 2019, I only knew about it because another parent told me. (On the plus side, my kid didn't get it!) She's frankly one of the few consistent faces at the center. Like many daycares, Great Beginnings has high turnover. But as another reviewer noted, the staff are all friendly and take great care of the children. They aren't allowed to be on their phones, a rule that is strictly enforced. Pre-COVID, when we were still allowed into the rooms, we loved the teachers we got to know. The center sets weekly themes and does activities based on that theme, whether it's love or dental health or presidents. The kids do lots of crafts (LOTs of crafts, even the infants! So many foot prints) and we received art bundles on a regular basis. And our daughter really thrived in the pro-social environment. She absolutely loves her classmates and we're sorry to say goodbye. Overall, I recommend GBELC to any Alexandria parents.

Director with the acent not very nice lady . I pulled my daughter out because she called her a…read morespecial circumstances baby when my daughter had a seizure all it was do to a fever but the way she spoke and said it was so mean and hurtful

I have been a Teacher in childcare since 2016. I was in the business world for many years, but…read morefound that my heart directed me back to being with children. A brief essay by the State of Maryland gave me the opportunity to reflect back on why I chose to teach. In the simplest of terms, it makes my heart come alive. It fills me with joy each day I spend with the families the teachers, the staff and children here. I wanted to write this review to focus on how incredible the teachers are that work at this particular location. It is a team effort and they are all quite exceptional! New teachers have arrived since my hire date. They arrived with enthusiasm to share there compassion with these children. Eager to continue their education and learn. They joined a group of intermediate and veteran teachers that raise the bar high when it comes to the quality of care each child and their families receive. Due to the Covid 19 and the unexpected, yet necessary protocols put in place, it has not stopped this center or the wonderful teachers that have returned to do what they love! The administrative staff and teachers truly believe in the quality of care. The safety of everyone in this time is a top priority! Trust, quality, and care are what you will get here.

From the owner: The Sharon L. Hostler Child Development Center serves as a home away from home for many of our…read moreloyal UVA families. Our center consists of ten classrooms, each with a set of creative, supportive teachers that promise to nurture children's growth from Infancy to Pre-K. Our classrooms are known for their unique environments, their developmentally appropriate weekly lessons, & the health & safety practices implemented daily. Each of our educators recognize the importance of the early years & promise to provide your family the continuity of care you deserve. Our team at Sharon L. Hostler is also known for building strong parent partnerships-- we can't wait to build one with you. We look forward to meeting your family.

I was really happy to find someone that I could trust to help me make good child care decisions,…read moreeven when I didn't think I had many options since I am so picky. She noticec of some things I didn't even know about and she was really fast with responding, which I like since I'm in meetings most of the day. I'm so grateful I got a few things crossed of my list just in time for the new year.

The professional and courteous service was above and beyond what I've received from other agencies…read more I've since recommended Ms. Jessie Marie to family, friends & colleagues.

I put my daughter on the wait list when I was 12 weeks pregnant. They had a spot for us 5 days…read moreafter she was born (timed well with a new room opening). My husband worked at the hospital so that increased our priority level. My daughter has gone from infant (age 0) to pre-toddler (age 1) to now a toddler classroom (age2). I have enjoyed all of her teachers and I feel they all truly care about her well-being. When my daughter was delayed in learning to crawl/walk, the staff was happy to practice the exercises from her physical therapists. Her pre-toddler teacher was able to make my daughter try things in order to get her out of her comfort zone. All classrooms give a daily handout of what your child eats, potty habits, how well she naps, etc. You will not receive daily photos on email as I've heard from other child cares. We have had pretty consistent teachers throughout nearly 2.5 years. If you're military, DoD, or a civilian employee with base access, you should strongly consider NSAB/CDC. The hours are changing from 5am to 7pm as of February 27. Overall I am very happy and I feel 100% comfortable leaving my daughter here.

I am a nurse case manager at WRNMMC, and my daughter (now 3) attends the CDC. I put her on the…read morewaiting list when she was a twenty week fetus, but she was unable to secure a spot until she was 18 months old. I am a contractor, so my priority was at the bottom of the list even though my husband was active duty at the time (he was stationed at Andrews AFB). With that being said, I have been very happy with the care that my daughter has received. She has always had loving providers that seem genuinely interested in her happiness and safety. Yes, the documentation for every fall, bite and bumped head is a little over the top, but I would much prefer that than having no communication at all. What I love about the CDC is that there is constant provider accountability. Your child will never be alone with any provider, there will always be a second provider in the room even if your child is the only one there. There are cameras EVERYWHERE! No one can come or go without an ID check. Even if you've been going to the CDC for 5 years and know everyone on a 1st name basis, they will still require that you show your ID before you can pass the front desk. I am a huge fan of security and accountability, and would never utilize a home daycare. I have a coworker (medical professional) who's child was being beaten in a home daycare setting for quite some time before an employee of the home daycare reported the abuse that she witnessed. It was so bad that it became a criminal case that was prosecuted by the state. The price of the care is unbeatable. I know people that are paying close to $2000 a month for daycare. I pay the max amount, which is about $670 a month. I get regular teacher conferences, review of milestone, recommendations, behavior updates etc. I have loved the teachers and providers that have taken care of my daughter. She had a teacher with a Masters in early childhood development who was incredibly creative with the lesson plans for the kids. I could go on and on about the love that has been poured on my child at that CDC. I will admit that my kid is fairly easy and one of those kids that is easy to love. However, she has had classmates that are disruptive and what I would consider difficult children. I've watched the way those kids were handled, and I've been impressed. The current director for the CDC is named Allison (I'm blanking on her last name). She is phenomenal. She is available, involved and knows all of the kids by name. I can't say enough about the service she has provided me and my child.