We loved Winwood and so did our child. He was 3 months when we joined. Not only did he thrive there, but he was such a happy baby. We would walk in and he would start grinning with excitement to be with the caretakers. They took great care of our child and kept us informed of the progress of our baby. We can't thank Winwood enough for bringing joy to our growing boy and of course so sad when we moved away. Thank you Winwood and the infant care team, our little man will miss you. read more

I don't understand why this place has great reviews? I guess they are all old. I have not had good experiences here. We ended up leaving but the amount of tuition they charge (and it keeps increasing every few months) is crazy for what we're getting. pot holes in the parking lot go unfixed, their signage on the awning got taken down (both did) now its a blank space that looks like something should be there. The inside has not great lighting and wall colors, it looks kind of dim/depressing, instead of bright and clean. I don't know where all this tuition money is going. It could use a facelift and better playground. The school aged kids room has 2 men as the sole providers and I asked if there were ever female assistants or helpers in there and was pretty much told " i know there's a stigma against male daycare teachers." Ok?? sorry males are responsible for 75-90% of the crimes I'm worried about. And Males constitute the majority of "offending" child care providers/babysitters reported to the police (77%) So I don't think that was a ridiculous question or even something ridiculous to be concerned about. And her lack of concern towards MY concerns was unsettling. We also had multiple incidents with my preschooler, one she told me the teacher grabbed her face because she wouldn't wash her hands, and it hurt. They didn't really do anything about it except, apparently, ask the teacher if she did that and she said no. Ok....Why would a 3 year old make up something so random? The preschool teacher also had a loud bell she would ring to get the kids to pay attention which my 3 year old was scared of and she had sensory issues with loud sounds after that started happening, she would freak out at any loud sound and it didn't stop until after we pulled her out. Another incident in the preschool classroom was that they were trying to get all the kids to be quiet and so they told them that here's a monster out in the hallway of the school and if they don't be quiet the monster will come in. So naturally, my 3 year old told me about this, very scared, and was scared of monster in the school and at home, especially at bed time, for awhile. Again, told the front desk, I don't think anything was done about it. My 3 year old went here for a year. She cried almost every day at drop off. She hated going there. I thought it would ease up eventually but it never did. My school ager liked the kids but that was about it. One of the school aged teachers even apparently sat there and told the kids he doesn't like them and what he doesn't like about each one, and some kids cried. I'm just glad I'm out of this money suck. It is not up to the standards that the local competition has, and shouldn't be charging the same tuition as the local competition. I would not recommend this place. read more

My son has only ever been cared for by family, so putting him in a center was hard for us both. I did a lot of research and landed on what ended up being terrible. I then found Windwood and he's been loving It. He's engaged through the day and just walks into class most days. I love that they have cameras in the classrooms and playground that have multiple Angles. The classrooms are a good size and the teachers are super kind. They serve actual healthy food. My favorite thing is my son walks around like it's his house. Sounds kind of weird but the homey atmosphere really makes the school special. If your considering a center this is the one. read more

We love Winwood! My daughter started here when she was 2. It was a rough transition from having a nanny and me working from home to full time care at a center, but her teachers were all so patient and loving. Once she finally acclimated, we noticed so many positive changes. She started speaking more and interacting with other kids. She loves going to school. My son started when he was 3 months in the infant room. Naima, Erica and Martha are all pros when it comes to the little ones. And now in the Infant II class, we can see how much our son love his teachers. As in any setting with a group of kids, the usual kid drama (bites, fights, and accidents) happens, but the school does an excellent job of dealing with these situations and they are always more than happy to discuss any concerns that you may have. I can't recommend them enough. read more

Finding the perfect balance between love, attention, curriculum, fun, and finances is no small task. We bought a house and changed jobs where we found ourselves back at finding another perfect place for our kiddo. We had struggled to find a place that met those high standards...and then we walked into Winwood Children's Center - Fairfax. First Impression: My first experience walking into Winwood-Fairfax was refreshing. It smelled clean (and not like a convalescence hospital). There were kids books and artwork on display. When I toured the classrooms, the teachers were actively working and playing with the kiddos. The teachers seemed to enjoy what they did and were not just "caregivers." One of my main concerns for finding the right place, was curriculum and the interaction between the teachers and the kids. At this age, my kid was an absolute parrot and having her teacher be able to communicate effectively both with my kid and me was essential. I had talked with both the Director (Katy) and the Assistant Director (Heather) on multiple occasions and they were always so patient with me and happy to help with any of my concerns or questions. Also noteworthy, is they are usually the ones that would answer the phone when you call. One of the things I was most impressed with from the first meeting was the questions they had for me. Such as, in my kiddo's prior experiences, what did we like, what went wrong, and how they could do better for us. How the school manages the transitions from Infant to Toddler rooms was not handled well at other places. Winwood has an actual plan in place for handling that to make that transition as easy as possible for their growing kiddos...We signed the paperwork before I left that day and was even able to delay the start-date to help us out financially since we had upcoming travel plans. This place is highly sought after with limited availability, and even then, they worked with me beyond what they needed to do. My little girl has loved attending Winwood-Fairfax. She started in the Infant II room and is now in the Toddler room. She has learned so much and has continued to thrive and be her sweat little self. As she has grown in her independence, she loves to run down the hallway to her classroom and say good morning to her teachers (by name). She is excited to go to school everyday and you can tell she has enjoyed her time. Her teachers have been stellar and have always accommodated any additional requests we have (from diaper changes, additional food, etc). It has been eight months since attending Winwood and I have been so happy and so thankful for the staff. While I am currently 9-months pregnant, my husband has also been deployed for a few months. We are still relatively new to the area with no family or friends yet nearby. The staff has gone way above and beyond to make sure I have been doing well and have even helped me arrange some "emergency-I'm-going-into-labor" assistance with my active toddler if needed before my husband comes home. Technology: I have enjoyed the center's use of technology. There are cameras in the room and outside in the play ground that are included in the cost of the tuition. Other centers charge extra. Its nice to occasionally pop in and see my kid playing, reading a book, eating her lunch. There is also a KidsReport that gets pushed out via an app/email to let me know what has been happening along the day or even to get fun pictures or videos. Food: There is a chef (Mr. Patrick) on staff at the center that makes really awesome and healthy food. This was huge to us! Not having to pack a lunch or worry about giving her healthy options was such a blessing. We get a copy of the meal planned for each week, and can make adjustments if needed. When we first started at Winwood, my kid was just entering the transition of bottle to cup, and the staff made that so easy for us to follow suit at home. Sleeping: Once my kid turned 6-months old, I sleep trained her to be able to put herself down for a nap. You would essentially put her in the crib, turn a noise maker on, and walk out. When my kid started at Winwood, she was in the Infant II room where they used cots instead of a crib. I was nervous about it since there were no bars to keep my kid contained if she protested a naptime. Developmentally, it was the right time for my kid to start learning how to do that, and when needed, their staff would gently lay a hand on my kid and rub her back. She also ditched the pacifier for nap time too. Truthfully, as my kiddo is about to get her big-girl bed, knowing that she sleeps at daycare already without a crib is one step closer for that transition. (see picture below for extra snuggles with one of her teachers after nap-time) My little girl will be getting a sister very soon and we are so happy and at peace that she will have a spot in the Infant room when I return back to work. Thank you Winwood-Fairfax. read more

Winwood Children's Center - extra snuggles - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Glad we choose this day care for our toddler. He use to go to home day care so we were very skeptical about where to transition him where he can do more than just playing . Teachers are really good, friendly and polite. I like their system , like the have live cameras where you can watch your kids anytime you want. Bigggg plus. Also they send daily report of your kids activities. Its been 3 weeks only and my son seems to be happy and comfortable with them. And did I mention that they truly take care of your kid. I'll definitely recommend it to my friends and family. read more

I was very happy with the care my children received at Winwood from infancy to school age. Facility: Pros: Easily accessible off route 50. They keep the facility as up to date as they can. While I was there, they made many improvements including new flooring, paint, new cabinetry in the rooms, new playground equipment, new tv monitor in the lobby, and changes in décor. There is a nature trail from an adjacent neighborhood that is nice for the kids to use for a class activity. Cons: The building is old. The center backs to a trees/wooded area that is not part of the centers property which attracts mosquitos. The parking lot is small and can be crowded when there are events or during certain drop off/pick up times. Classrooms: Pros: Most of the teachers seem to genuinely care for the kids and we are satisfied and happy with the care received here. The staff was also responsible for the successful potty training of my children (thank you for your patience and diligence!). My children developed their writing skills and began reading skills here which prepared them well for Kindergarten. Special shout out to Ms. Nicky who has always gone above and beyond. She is an absolute gem. I can see Ms. Nicky making a career in child development since she is so good at it and has a passion for it. Cons: The experience my children had in couple of the classrooms were very different because of the change in staff in some of the rooms. Where one classroom seemed a bit unorganized for one child, it was well led for the other and vice versa. Food: The school is nut free! The center has been excellent at accommodating my son's allergies and were very helpful when his allergies first started presenting. They also documented what foods he was able to eat and which foods he could not and would always have alternatives for him when he couldn't eat the meal/snack. Detailed menus are sent out before each week. Technology: The school has cameras in all the classrooms as well as an app to get updates and pictures of your child. Management: I always felt comfortable talking to management about any concerns I had and they were great about addressing and taking action on any issues I brought to their attention. Special shout out to Ms. Katy for all her hard work and help over the years! Reliability: Winwood is almost always open - they do not close when Fairfax County Schools are closed. There have only been a few delayed openings or early closings due to inclement weather. On rare occasions there have been a full closing due to weather. Safety during COVID: I felt completely comfortable returning to Winwood once they opened back up during the summer of the pandemic. Temp checks at the door, health questions every morning, frequent hand washing, drop off and pick up at the front door, good protocols and communication for illnesses and any suspected COVID cases. Distance learning: They were an absolute life saver for distance learning when Fairfax County Schools were virtual. We would still be at Winwood if we haven't moved. It wasn't just a school - teachers and staff as well as other parents became family. read more

I've been using Winwood for almost a year. Aside from safety, reliability and cost are two of the main considerations I had when selecting a child care center. Safety: Teachers are attentive and the center seems well cared for, in good repair, and feels like an overall welcoming environment. Ms. Katy, the Director, is a good communicator and keeps parents "in the loop". Reliability: This is a big one for me. Fairfax County Public School District has an extremely liberal inclement weather policy. I can't afford to miss work every time school closes. Winwood has been exceptionally reliable. I can only think of one instance where they closed early due to inclement weather. Cost: For the service we receive, I believe the cost is on-par, if not better than some of the competitors. If you're looking for childcare in the area, I'd encourage you to visit their center and consider this as a viable option. read more

When our first child went to Winwood, we were very happy with this facility. We felt the teachers were knowledgeable and prepared our child very well for kindergarten. So 4 years later when our second child came through, we felt confident about sending our child to Winwood. However, the staff had drastically changed. The 3 year old room during this time was lead by two inexperienced teachers with little early childhood backgrounds. I had a lot of trust in the management that they knew how to staff the rooms. Looking back, I wish we had changed schools. The lead teacher was too controlling - at least for my child. My child started to act out and we had to create a behavior chart. That went on for months with no change until I analyzed the charts myself and told them what they needed to work on with him. They refuse to use time out corners but the lead teacher was rarely positive with my child. She also refused to hug the 3 year olds (who works in a preschool and refuses hugs?!). I am happy to say that lead teacher no longer works there. When my child moved to the 4 year old room, that lead teacher was more sensitive to the children, but the assistants never seemed to be experienced for preschoolers. Prior to starting Winwood, our youngest was a happy 3 year old with no behavior issues. After spending 2 years there, my child doesn't like school and now exhibits many behavior issues. It was only through recent therapy that we realized how detrimental his experience here was to his development. I wish we could go back two year ago and remove him from this school. Instead we were blinded by our past experiences. For future parents, please ask about their current training and the teacher's experience around children of that age. Ask how the teachers directly how they handle disciple and difficult situations. read more

We love this school. I've been very happy with Winwood. My son has been excited to go to school every day and really looks forward to it. I trust the teachers and we are really happy we chose Winwood. read more

Our two daughters have been enrolled at Winwood Fairfax for quite sometime now and they both love it. As parents, we love the well-trainer teachers and the curriculum. The staff here are very professional and caring at the same time. While the cameras in all rooms and play areas provide comfort to us that we can watch our kids whenever we want, it's the regular updates (including pictures) we get (via the school app) about our kids activities and routine that really help us prepare for our evenings. The monthly calendar of activities, Friday themes, music classes, photo sessions, book-reading sessions, movie nights, pet care, and parents night out are some of the really cool and engaging activities that our kids love. Special thanks to Ms. Katie and Ms. Heather for running a great child care center so smoothly. And kudos to all of the teachers from all classes who are part of a great team in taking care of our children and keeping them safe. THANK YOU !!! read more

We have had a wonderful experience at Winwood Fairfax! We have been going here for 5 years now and have been so happy with all of the classrooms - from infancy all the way through pre-k. My kids both love going to school and are always excited to see their teachers and friends - which really says a lot given their young ages (ages 1 and 5). Additionally, when my daughter went to her kindergarten screening this past spring, the vice principal asked what preschool she went to since she was very impressed with her counting and reading skills. When I said Winwood, her response was "Oh she's a Winwood kid!" The Winwood reputation and the skill sets that are developed from their early childhood education program are well known through out the Northern Virginia area schools - both private and public. I would highly recommend Winwood Fairfax for children of all ages. read more

We love Winwood! Our son started here when he was 3 months old in the infant room and it was a very smooth transition. He quickly made friends and loves all the infant room teachers! The center's management team of Ms. Katy and Ms. Heather are awesome and regularly update the parents and we love receiving our son's daily status report along with pictures via their mobile app! Additionally, checking in on the video camera to see our son during the day is a nice feature as well! Our nephew also attended Winwood previously and he loved it. We highly recommend Winwood - Fairfax! read more

Being a former military family, we've been with our fair share of daycare/pre-k programs. Winwood has been my favorite so far! My son in the after school program is happy, engaged and they have a little homework group with adult supervision! My daughter is in the jr. K program (different from pre-k. These kids are born after the school cut off but before the new year!) and the programming and content is outstanding. My daughter routinely comes home full of knowledge and fun facts, and is already reading, recognizing primer sight words and writing her full name! She LOVES the food there as well-they have a great menu! We love Winwood! read more

I cannot say enough, how great and amazing school is Winwood. We were very upset when we moved to Vienna and had to leave the school last Summer. My older daughter was in JR. Kindergarten program and Mrs. Samia worked with the kids and after 10 months she started reading. Now she is very successful in her Kindergarten class with amazing reading, writing and math skills as well as social activities and interactions. My younger was in Brown Bear class, socially very active, very impressive communication skills. They miss their school and teachers and we still try to take them to visit them as much as we can. Very clean, organized place with amazing teachers. I recommend this school to everybody. read more

We were waitlisted for a while. My DD had a great time at this learning center. Ms. Samia is a very organized, caring and energetic teacher and my daughter learned a lot of things in her pre K curriculum. The administrative staff is very helpful and were always very prompt in their telephonic responses. We had a great year and my daughter fondly remembers her years at Winwood. read more

When I was pregnant with my son I toured many child care centers trying to find a good fit. Winwood was definitely it! My son is now almost 2 and he has flourished here. Every day he shows me something new he has learned, just yesterday he was singing part of the alphabet to me and counting up to 6 when he was arranging his toy cars. I am impressed that he is learning so much and still having fun. Every morning when I ask him if he wants to get ready to go to "school" he always tells me yes. The teachers are so wonderful; they make him feel special and loved; it is the best feeling for a working mom to know her child is in good hands while she is away. read more