Center for Young Children University of Maryland

Ramsey George Jabaji

5 out of 5 stars★★★★★

Truly believe the CYC is the crown jewel of the College of Education @ Maryland. My daughter has truly thrived at CYC the past two years. She came from another daycare setting that we loved, and CYC certainly seems like the gold standard of what to expect of daycares. The teachers have been truly wonderful and cannot say enough good things about CYC.

Xin Jing

5 out of 5 stars★★★★★

We are so grateful for our daughter’s experience at CYC. Everyone we have met there — teachers, staff, special educator, music class teacher Mr. M and his family and student assistants — has been professional, friendly, and caring. Our daughter really enjoyed the student assistants, and going into CYC each day felt like the start of a happy day for her. We also want to thank the special educator for her careful observations and thoughtful feedback. Her professional insights helped us better understand our daughter’s growth at school and gave us a different perspective on how she was developing. We especially want to thank her Pre-K teachers, Ms. McKnight, Ms. Baker, and Mrs. Fowler. Ms. McKnight is very gentle, thoughtful, and observant. She noticed the little things about our daughter each morning and helped her feel comfortable, welcomed, and more confident. Ms. Baker helped our daughter through some things that were hard for her at first, like music class and fire drills. She supported her step by step, and we really appreciate her patience and consistency. We also appreciate the care she gave our daughter at nap time and the way she helped her feel safe and settled. During the time Mrs. Fowler was in the classroom, we also really appreciated her kindness, attentiveness, and warm smile. She was always cheerful and caring, and our younger daughter liked her very much too. All three teachers made a real difference in our daughter’s Pre-K year. We are very thankful for their kindness, patience, and care, and for the warm and happy environment CYC provides for children.

Emily McNally

5 out of 5 stars★★★★★

CYC is such a wonderful place - the teachers genuinely care for the kids, and kids have so much fun while learning. The kids get to help choose a "study" and then they become "experts" in the topic over a few months (my kid studied sculpture and cars/trucks this year). They learn a lot about the subject, but also do math, literacy, science, and social studies through the lens of their topic. The school also does an amazing job with music, outdoor play, social/emotional skills, and building community. It's one of the more expensive options in the area, but it provides an amazing experience and is definitely worth the cost. I've never worried about my child's health, safety, happiness, or learning while at CYC.

Pierre Campbell

5 out of 5 stars★★★★★

An amazing and caring staff that centers inclusion and promotes the curiosity of young children using the scientific method. Working with faculty at UMD, the children get to take part in research and get to learn social-emotional skills that will help them foster strong relationships and appreciation for the diversity in the world. The music teacher Mr. M is amazing and has helped my child have a true appreciation for many genres of music, especially ragtime music and Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin. If your kid can go to school here, I highly recommend the CYC

Nikiah Campbell

5 out of 5 stars★★★★★

Attending the CYC for 3 years (pre-k3, pre-k4, and kindergarten) has been an overwhelmingly positive experience for our child, and our family. We felt supported by teachers, administrators, and the special educator. The staff are truly experts in their field and make valuable contributions to early education both inside and outside the classroom. The interns and undergraduate "helper teachers" are passionate about their experience, and it is clear the children genuinely bring the interns/undergrads joy as they learn best practices in early childhood education. We are grateful for the warm and inviting environment that helped our child understand how incredible school can feel!