Westmoreland Children's Center, Bethesda

Westmoreland Children’s Center believes that play is essential to children’s overall development. Inventors. Problem-solvers. Discoverers. Dreamers. Children are born with a natural sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around them. They’re programmed to learn. At WCC, we know they learn best by investigating, exploring and playing. We provide fun activities and opportunities for growth in the areas of: Social-Emotional, Physical, Language, Cognitive, Literacy, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Social Studies and the Arts. Indoor and outdoor playtimes are valued components of our program. From our classrooms to our common areas, everything about WCC has been developed to help children build relationships with warm, caring teachers while they learn in a safe and stimulating environment. We provide play and learning materials that meet children’s needs for exploration and active learning. Children must move their bodies and use their senses to understand their world. That’s why we divide each of our classrooms into interest areas where children can make emotional connections with themselves, their peers and adults. Our preschool program focuses on fun and positive learning experiences for 2 to 5 year olds. Students develop social, physical, and cognitive skills through interactive, hands-on experiences. Early Childhood teaching is theme-based and always age-appropriate. WCC offers part-time and full-time programs for the school year (September – mid-June). Each class is taught by one of our wonderful lead teachers and one or more energized assistant teachers. Westmoreland Children’s Center is licensed by the Division of Early Childhood Development/Office of Child Care of the Maryland State Department of Education as a nursery school and as a child care center. Our preschool programs are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. WCC’s innovative before- and after-school program allows children to explore, discover, and make new friends through a variety of never ending fun adventures. From homework help to exciting physical activities, our program is designed so that everyone goes home happy. We believe that children need to be engaged in a comfortable; yet stimulating child care environment and this is where WCC comes in! Our program is designed for school-age children to bridge the time between school and a parent's work schedule, as well as to provide full-time child care during certain school holidays. Why is a high-quality school-age program important for your child? Children are likely to spend as many hours in their out-of school time program as in school. WCC’s school-age program helps your child grow socially, emotionally, and physically. WCC will support your child’s learning. Children in quality school-age programs tend to do better in school. We have excellent staff-child ratios which allow individual attention and children to build strong relationships with caring adults. Led by our friendly, enthusiastic staff, and featuring convenient, extended hours, our school age program is perfect for parents and children alike. Our outstanding program has the talent, creativity and leadership to set the tone for a great experience. Before Care is available from 7:30 am – 8:45 am and includes a healthy and nutritious breakfast. Our school-age program is available from 3:25 pm – 6:30 pm and includes a tasty daily snack. All our programs are a part of the USDA Food Program.