This has to be the most unprofessional atmosphere we have ever observed…read more The leadership or "mentors" could care less about the children. They let them act unruly in public settings with screaming, kicking one another, while these adults converse with each other or stuck in their phones. We observed these multiple afternoons from a balcony next the playground and was in shock how misbehaved the children were. These children lacked the discipline and control from 4-5:30 daily, and disrespectful to the community as well. We are so disappointed to see the lack of effort in this "School" ... This place is a day care only and should be embarrassed... Do not have your children come here.

I have had the worst experiences when it comes to childcare in the DMV. When I first applied to…read moreCelebree, I could not believe how open, transparent, and informed they were. There was a little bit of a waiting period because the school wasn't open just yet. But during that wait period, my son and I still had a chance to interact with both the teachers and the parents. Every question I had was answered with meaningful intention. They truly and honestly made it feel like a second home for my toddler. The time and attention given to each parent, child, and staff member shows how much effort is put into upholding the Celebree Values. * Communication: 10/10 They use the "HiMama" app where everything from the fire drills to the daily report is consistently uploaded daily. Recently my toddler was sick and had to stay home for a week. If I didn't reach out to the team someone from the team would reach out to check on him. * Culture: 10/10 They focus a lot on the kids and parents comfortability. If my son isn't feeling well or is just having a bad day they go above and beyond to understand what's going rather than just brush it off as an off day. They have parent events to have the parents connect with not only the teachers but other parents as well. * Curriculum: 10/10 I love the structure the curriculum because it's geared more towards comprehension and not solely memorization. For example: He knows how to count to 20 but does he know what the quantity actually looks like. * Procedures and Policies: 10/10 Safety is a number one priority for me so I spent a lot of time interviewing them about the safety procedures and policies. They have a policy in place for every and any issue you could possible think of. They have an open door policy and I can't count the amount of time I have dropped in to say hi or ask questions. * Facility: 10/10 I love that everything is always clean and childproof. The playground is on top of the roof which I know sounds like the most dangerous thing but the security around the playground is very reassuring. The structure of the multiple fences does not allow any devastating accidents. They do not leave the building outside of fire drills. The toys and books are up-to-date and well kept. Everything is very aesthetically pleasing. * Staff: 10/10 Each and every teacher has been amazing! My son is extremely excited each day to go to school so that he can see his teachers and friends. Life happens and sometimes teachers have to rotate out but the quality of care does not change. The staff makes sure know each student whether they are in their class or not. The Admin team really is the DREAM TEAM! The work like a well oiled machine the way the support each other, the staff, the kids, and the parents. * Ms. Shawn has to be one of the best support manager. She takes her time to connect with every student and parent. When I have a problem she has already began working on the solution! One moment she will bring doing Admin duties and the next she is in the classes teaching the kids. She does a lot of work to make sure the needs of everyone in the Celebree Family is met. * Ms. Jana is AH-MAY-ZING! She is the conductor of this train. Although she has worked in childcare for many years she is not jaded and somehow is able to give each child and parent consistent love and care. She brought us in and made sure we felt like family. She has even improved my parenting with all types of advice, tips, and tricks. * Mr. Mohammad and Mrs. Ayesha have been welcoming and open from the very beginning. I was hesitant because you never really get to form a bond with the owners of a daycare but they make sure to not just "show face" but actively be inside of the classrooms assisting the teachers with anything they need. I really wanted to make sure that this team of amazing people received their praises! I really appreciate each and every person that is apart of the Celebree Family.

We've been to a few daycares in the area, and Virginia Hills is by far the best experience we've…read moreever had - our children love it, and we love that they do too! The teachers are incredible, caring and genuinely want your children to succeed. This isn't just a daycare, they have a curriculum, they have enrichment activities - it's just exceptional! Can't recommend them enough!

We have been welcomed to VHP with open arms. Our toddler daughter had such a seamless transition…read moreto her new school, which I attest to the warm, caring, and organized environment. What stood out when we first explored the school is the kind, collegial relationships among the admin and staff with low turnover. The class sizes are not too big. There are flexible enrollment options for full and half day at reasonable rates for the region. Additionally, our daughter loves the music program! She has blossomed and made friends easily. And we parents appreciate the clear communication, events, and camaraderie at this sweet school.

I just wanted to share why I think Bright Horizons at Old Town Alexandria is such a great daycare…read moreoption. They offer both full-time and part, time care, which gives families flexibility depending on their needs. One thing I really liked is that they also have backup care, so you can pay for just a day to try it out and see how your child does before committing. They also do a lot to include families. For example, they held Donuts with Dads for Father's Day and Muffins with Moms for Mother's Day, where parents could come in and share breakfast with their child before drop-off. It's little things like that that make it feel like a real community. Their hours are super convenient, they're open from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM. The teachers are very engaged, not only with the kids but also with the families. There's also an app they use to send updates and pictures throughout the day, which I love because it helps me stay connected with what my child is doing. Before your child starts, they set up an intake meeting where you get to meet the teachers, learn about the classroom, and ask any questions. It really helped me feel more comfortable and prepared with my two kids.

Make sure to ask current parents what they think of BH after the change in the center's…read moreadministration before joining the waitlist. What once was a truly wonderful and nurturing center has turned into an unsafe, unhappy place to bring my children, and it revolves around the new administration, not the teachers.

We love this preschool! From the director to all of the teachers, everyone has been so loving,…read moresupportive, and invested in our children's growth and education. Our kids have gained a love of learning and know how to be kind to each other. We cannot say enough good things about this school and environment!

When our daughter was getting ready for preschool, we looked around at local options and happened…read moreto see a friend's child in the website photos! Since they trusted LCP with all of their kids, we figured it was worth checking out at least. We went in for a tour and met the directors and teachers and immediately fell in love with LCP. The teachers are devoted to their craft. They are attentive, patient, and really cared for and got to know our daughter. In the beginning, she wouldn't take to nap time after school, and Mrs. Tootle (who wasn't even her primary teacher) was wonderful enough to spend time with her and to "snuggle her" until she felt comfortable and safe to nap during after care! We still talk about those sweet snuggles 5 years later. During her time at LCP, she learned all the basics she'd need to be ready for K, along with some invaluable Bible stories, too. We would highly recommend LCP!

We loved our daughter's time in the infant room at Bluebird II. I was nervous about leaving her at…read morea daycare when I went back to work, but Bluebird turned out to be so wonderful. Ms. Tuba and Ms. Sonia took excellent care of her, along with all of the infant room teachers. Bluebird is clean, bright, safe, and all of the children there seemed so happy. There also didn't seem to be much teacher turnover, so the children form positive relationships with the staff. It's a low-tech day care, so you won't receive daily emails and pictures, which was fine for us. The teachers are hard working and our daughter was well taken care of and loved every day. We were so sad to leave when we moved to Maryland. Highly recommend!

As DOD Civilians my husband and i were in a bad spot in trying to find a daycare for our 18-month…read moreson within 5 days of arrival from Germany. I happened to walk past BBA II and just walked in to see if they had an opening (all other daycares were booked for months and very much out of our budget). The owner Susan was there that day and was very courteous, she showed me around the entire daycare and very patiently answered all my questions. She stated that she had openings available due to BBA II having larger class sizes. Initially, that did concern me since my son had only been in CDC with class sizes of less than 15; however, he adapted very well to his first class of ~22 kids (with the appropriate number of teachers/aides). BBA II provides diapers, wipes (from COSTCO), and (not the best) food. I just had to bring a bedroll for his naps. Also during warmer weathers, parents are asked to provide sunscreen and appropriate headgear since the teachers take the kids out on nature walks. The teachers have been great- especially in his 2 1/2-3 year class with Ms. Yilliam. For Holiday 2018 my husband and I put together gift baskets for each of the two aides and one teacher to show our appreciation- our son talks about the teachers as if they are his second parents! The prices are low- especially for a daycare located in Old Towne Alexandria, on popular Duke Street, and a walk away from King St. Metro. There is a daycare in my residential neighborhood that is smaller and more prestigious, we had considered them since they also had an opening and it was one block away from our house, however, they charge about $1,750/month and parents were required to provide diapers and wipes. At the time of his enrollment ~21 months ago, BBA II charged ~$1200+/mo for non-potty trained kiddos (I think more for infants); this cost lowers as soon as your child is potty-trained (which the teachers really help a lot with). My son is currently 3 years old and enjoys it here. He has learned some light Spanish (colours, alphabet, and numbers), has excellent manners (taught at home but reinforced at school), brings home art projects everyday that we have proudly hung up in our house and given as gifts, has began to learn to spell starter words, understands traffic signs... overall this school has been great for my family and my son. The ONLY negative comment I have is in regards to the food and snacks the school provides. Nothing is fresh, nothing is notably nutritious. All food appears to be canned (highly processed and filled with sodium). I wish, instead of canned peaches or crackers as a snack, they would actually provide fresh cut fruits or hummus with carrot sticks (for example); typical lunches consist of an entree of sloppy joe sandwiches, pre-made meals of chicken nuggets/chicken patties with ketchup, or canned chicken and rice soups (to name a few meals), accompanied with diced canned fruit, or applesauce; typical breakfasts consist of little pre-frozen bagels with butter/jelly, biscuits with jelly, or cheerios without milk (?)...

We've been at Childtime for about two years; both my daughter and son have been here since they…read morewere about a year old. I continue to be thrilled that we found Childtime Alexandria during our long child care search: it is a gem. We have appreciated all of the staff efforts to make us feel welcome and the kids to feel secure and loved. Literally every day, my kids come home sharing new words and songs with us. It is remarkable how much they have absorbed from teachers leading storytime and structured lessons, including animals, colors, how to write their names, and the alphabet. The teachers have been our partners in potty training and teaching table manners. Every morning is such a pleasant experience; families greet each other, and my children give their teachers a hug. I highly recommend if you are looking for an alternative to the more well-known child care centers in the Alexandria area; this is a fantastic value and will set your kids on the right path.

My boys attend Childtime through drop in care and they love it. I love the convenience of being…read moreable to have the flex option to drop in as needed. It has helped on the days when school is closed. They also have an awesome Summer Camp program.

We've been very happy with the care our daughter has been receiving at Alexandria Academy of Fine…read morearts and Science. The teachers are respectful, warm, responsive, engaging, and flexible. Our daughter clearly feels loved and valued, and she's made great friends. Kids get lots of free play, outside play, dancing time, and time to be silly kids. They do a lot of crafts too. Your kid will fall in love with the teachers and you will be happy with the teachers and the administrator.

After seven months of mostly negative experiences, we finally removed our child from the Vinci…read moreMerrifield campus. It was truly one issue after another, and I would urge all parents looking for a daycare to at least explore other nearby options that provide far better care, culture, and leadership (in my opinion). Here's why we left: 1. Constant unchanged or poorly changed diapers Staff continually struggled to change our son's diaper properly. In November, he developed a severe diaper rash, and we notified the staff immediately. However, a week later, he was sent home with chunks of poop on his clothes from a terrible diaper change (see photos). We should have left then, but as parents know, it takes time for a child to adjust to daycare, and we didn't want to disrupt him again. Unfortunately, we experienced the same issue later on in February during a period of staff turnover, when one of the teachers clearly lacked the ability to change diapers properly. 2. Staff turnover Our son had become very attached to the primary Junior Toddler teacher, but she left without any notice to parents. It took Dr. Dan almost two weeks to inform families of her departure. In the meantime, we/our son kept asking where she was during drop-offs, and no one gave us a clear answer. Throughout all of January and February, there was a constant stream of floaters and new hires (none who inspired confidence), until a full-time replacement was finally brought on at the start of March. We then heard of more staff drama within our first month at Vinci, when we were notified about a Vinci teacher getting fired for tying a toddler to a chair. Definitely should've started looking elsewhere at that point... See news article here: https://www.alxnow.com/2025/09/15/teacher-at-alexandria-daycare-fired-for-tying-21-month-old-to-chair/ 3. Leadership turnover Aside from teaching staff turnover, we also experienced three different Directors at the Merrifield campus during our seven months there. One left due to having a baby, but she candidly told us she was not coming back after maternity leave in a way that now feels like we should've read between the lines. This speaks volumes about the culture here at every level, and also makes it difficult for parents to feel connected or supported in any consistent way as it's always a rotation of new faces in new roles. 4. Outdated childcare portal The Vinci parent portal feels outdated, like something from the early 2000s, and there is no dedicated mobile app like Brightwheel to provide clear, real-time updates or communication with staff. When we switched to another daycare, the difference was night and day! We received immediate push notifications with photos, nap updates, diaper changes, weather alerts, and more, and communication with staff was seamless. Staff would frequently say nothing about our son's activity for the day and not even record diaper change times and/or whether he ate their meal. 5. Unexpected restrictions Our son was not allowed to use a pacifier during nap time. This was a significant part of his sleep routine, and we were not informed of this restriction before enrolling. As a result, he struggled with sleep at school for nearly a month, which was difficult for him and for us. 6. The culture and leadership After switching daycares, it became even more apparent how the culture trickles down from the owner. At our new daycare, the owner is incredibly warm and involved (as is her staff). She was even present in the classroom to welcome our son during his first few drop offs. Dr. Dan, the owner of Vinci, is the complete opposite. She never introduced herself to us once during our time at Vinci. We only heard from her after we emailed about withdrawing our son from Vinci due to the repeated issues we raised about inexperienced staff neglecting his wellbeing. During that exchange, she was mostly focused on us paying a 30 day notice penalty and showed no understanding for the stress and frustration we experienced. We decided we'd rather throw away thousands of dollars than keep our son there another month - especially given his constant skin irritation from unchanged diapers, lack of experience in their staff, and growing lack of communication about his day's activity. Ultimately, we are SO happy we left Vinci, and I would strongly recommend any parents considering Vinci tour at least a few of the other daycares in the nearby area (A Child's Place, Lady Bug Academy, Carousel, etc).

I would strongly not recommend Vinci. The staff turnover is constant, the owner treats children…read morelike problems to be solved, and their teachers rarely updated the parent portal with any significant information which let me wondering what my child was doing all day.