The Child Development Center at DOL is an absolutely wonderful facility. My daughter has attended…read moresince age 15 months and loves it. I have had nothing but positive experiences, and the incredible impact that the teachers and staff have had on our family is hard to put into words. The facility itself is so fun and I personally think they've got the best playground for a DC daycare by far! It's HUGE and dedicated just to the center. The teachers and staff are so caring and kind and friendly, and they really do participate in my child's growth and development every step of the way. Excellent communication, reasonable pricing, and very accommodating hours. They are the best!

My daughter started at DOL Kindercare when she was about 5 months old. From the first day, I felt…read morelike the center's leadership and her teachers were invested in her and knew how to properly meet her needs. I was always impressed with how involved the center's leadership team (Ms. Elba, Ms. Donneeka, and Ms. Donisha) was in each child's development and how they knew each family. My daughter was so happy in their care, and made little friends in her classroom. I would have kept my daughter in the center until she aged out, but we moved out of the area. The teachers and center leadership still keep in touch with us, which shows how much they care about the children and families in their care. I highly recommend DOL Kindercare!!

This review is based on a tour. I met with Carolina this morning, who was very nice and…read moreprofessional. My bottom line is that they are doing the best with what they have. It's a small space without natural light, but it does feel bright. It's clean and the children seem happy and well cared for. We are likely not pursuing a spot for two main reasons: the lack of natural light and the lack of a dedicated playground, or playground nearby. We feel strongly that we want our daughter to have outdoor education incorporated into her day, and I wasn't thrilled with the idea that she would have to walk on busy DC streets to get to a park without playground equipment meant for her age. In short, I think it seems like a perfectly nice place, but I don't think it's the right fit for us.

We are very Happy with our son's first Kindergarten! In a…read morecaring and professional atmosphere, our son loved going there and felt at home form the first day! The facilities are new, clean and very welcoming. Mrs. Mattingly and her staff made sure all our needs are met and questions answered. Highly recommended!

On April 15, 2025, my son called me in tears after another student threw a shoe at him, causing him…read moreto fall. I asked where the teacher was, and he told me she was in the classroom, not paying attention--talking with another staff member. When I asked if she helped him right away, he said no. I had to call the daycare myself because no one from your center contacted me about the incident. No one could explain what happened. I was told repeatedly that no one even knew about it until his father brought it to the staff's attention. Why? Because management was apparently in a meeting dealing with another situation. Is my child not a priority? I'm sorry your staff wasn't supported well enough to do their jobs properly, but that's not my problem--it's yours. Not only did no one offer care, but my son wasn't even sent home with so much as an ice pack. Completely unacceptable. The next day, I brought Trent in so staff could see the physical damage for themselves. I remained calm the entire time--no yelling, no raised voice--but I made it clear I expected answers and accountability. I asked to view the camera footage and was told none existed, despite the video monitor clearly visible in the office. I was told an investigation would be done and I'd receive a call by noon. When I was contacted, I was told my son was lying. That he was playing leapfrog and tripped over another student. No. What we're not going to do is gaslight my child to avoid responsibility. Now it's turned into a "he said, she said," and it's giving full-on cover-up energy--overcrowded, understaffed, and trying to sweep it under the rug. My son's story hasn't changed once. I believe him, and I will always stand behind him. Tell me--what does a child gain by lying about being hurt? I also made it very clear: if anything else happens to either of my children while in your care, I will not hesitate to file a police report. Then--after all of this--you send me a disrespectful, accusatory email full of lies and decide to remove both of my children from your center? Because I advocated for my son? Cool. I was two steps ahead of y'all anyway. I handled this situation peacefully. You will not call my son a liar, and you will not lie on me. I never left a voicemail, so that accusation is completely false. Like I said--and I'll say it again--I BELIEVE MY CHILD. I've already filed a complaint with the Office of Child Care. Next step: a police report.

I can vouch for before/aftercare and Summer Camp! The center went as far as taking my son to…read morefootball practice. You just need to pick them up. (Can you say more "you" time?). Also, for the before/aftercare, they do provide you child with breakfast, snacks and dinner. I mean....home cooked dinner! They offer free tutoring (in addition to homework assistance), dance classes, mime, drama and they always have big production performances. Let's not even get started on the Summer Camp! Pay your tuition on time and you shouldn't have any issues.

My daughter started at Creative Minds in Columbia Heights in the infant room when she was just over…read morea year old and then transitioned to the toddler room a couple of months later. She's now been there for nearly a year and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The teachers and staff are so kind and helped her transition into new environments and she is THRIVING there. My daughter was late in speech development early on but once we started here she has just exploded with words and is learning so many things so fast. The class sizes are small (capped at 8 since COVID I believe) and the teachers are attentive. They send pictures and videos all day, provide meals, quick to communicate any needs. The classes and staff are diverse. One time my daughter was out of school for two weeks and when I dropped her back off the first day back both of her teachers were so excited to see her and scooped her up in big hugs. That's when I knew, these teachers truly love these kids. They even got her birthday presents and Christmas presents ! Highly highly recommend.

Our 9mo old daughter has been going to CMCC for 6 months now and she is excited to go to 'school'…read moreevery day of the week. She just loves all the teachers in her class and has learned so much, including Spanish and sign language. We love CMCC and are grateful they're a part of our lives!

KinderCare Penn Quarter is an amazing school! My son attended the program for over a year and we…read moresaw so much growth in what he learned and his overall development. The staff, from the leadership to the teachers, are truly invested in the success of their students and its apparent in everything they do. From their daily lessons, to their outdoor activities on The Mall and field trips to the library, KinderCare does an amazing job of teaching students in a fun and engaging way. KinderCare Penn Quarter is truly a family and we were lucky to have been a part of it!

We are so glad we found KinderCare Penn Quarter! Not only did our son really bond with his…read moreteachers, he was excited to go to daycare in the morning. We saw significant improvement in his development, both cognitively and emotionally. Our son had so much fun bonding with children his age while creating art, completing projects, playing, singing, and dancing his way into developing new skills and abilities. Under their expert care, our son was eating, sleeping, and assisted with potty training! As first-time parents, it was imperative we find childcare where we could trust our little one to capable hands. I'm so glad we chose well! Additionally, the director and teachers are very communicative, organized and prompt with requests/responses. We are glad we sent our little guy here and love that they offer support during the summer even after your little one has moved on to Pre-K!

My children are still enrolled!! I truly love this place EVERY teacher in the building CARES, they…read moreare respectful, responsive, very nice and my children just love them and so do I! The academics are important and they have my babies on track!! I love it!!!!!

This is a great school! Staff is extremely caring. They always welcome you with an upbeat attitude…read more(I don't know where they find the energy at the end of the day!). They are so well organized and fill the kids days with fun and educational activities. They take the older kids on great field trips. The summer program is more like camp than day care, and my kids absolutely love it - water play or pool every week, a weekly theme, magic show, reptile show, etc. etc. They go out of their way to have family events throughout the year (Thanksgiving feast, Christmas program, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Kick Off to Summer, Fall Festival etc), which make you feel part of the family. They provide all the meals and snacks, usually including a hot and healthy lunch. I always feel confident going to work that my kids are safe and well cared for. It's not easy leaving your little ones all day, but Loving 2 Learn made it so much better! We're really going to miss this school and the staff and other kids now that my little ones are moving on. Recommend highly to anyone looking for child care in the area.

During the covid lockdown we lost access to our daycare and were scrambling to find a daycare that…read morewas open. A friend recommended curious critters and while we would have taken any port in that storm we have been very happy with the care our son has received here and continued sending him there even once things began to open up. My son genuinely loves his teachers and talks about them all the time at home. He is learning quite a bit and every day comes home with new vocabulary. And I really love that the staff here encourage development across the board, from eating with proper utensils to potty training, and they are happy to work with parents to help the kids succeed. On top of everything we can tell a ton of planning goes into their days there. Every week has a theme that carries over from the books they read and the projects they do to the food that is served for breakfast and lunch.

Curious Critters is an awesome daycare! My daughter started when she was 2 years old and recently…read moreleft in August 2018 at 4 years old to attend a private school nearby. The owner Dominique Walker and her staff are professional and courteous. I was always greeted with a smile and my daughter enjoyed going there. If I had a concern it was addressed and corrected. It takes a village to raise a child and CCELT staff really assisted with that process. I recommend CCELT to all parents who wants their child(ren) to thrive, be loved and cared for with dignity. The cost did not matter to me becuz I always had a peace of mind when dropping off my most precious gift. No price compares to the LOVE and CARING your child(ren) will receive from the CCELT staff. I really hated to leave; however, kids do grow up and they have to move on LOL!!! It was truly a pleasure being able to be apart of a wonderful family environment. We will truly miss CCELT but I know I will definitely use their drop in services from time to time Dionne

Quality: Dr. Abro (director) and his staff here are wonderful. They are friendly and knowledgeable…read more My daughter loves it here and has a smile on her face when we talk about daycare. I would like to thank th e teachers b of the two class (ms. S and ms. T) for making child care such a great experience for my child. Pricing: pricing is as affordable as it can be for daycare and is very reasonable for the quality of care that the kids recieve. Bottom line: send your child here!! They will enjoy it.

I am in love with this center and all of the wonderful teachers here. My son has been going here…read moresince he was 4months he is now almost 2. He can count from 1-10 and he knows the ABC's by sight. The Joy of Learning Center has been an amazing place of growth for my now Toddler. He knows all of the teachers here he walks from class to class saying goodbye to each one when we leave.