Waldorf is a census-designated place in Maryland, approximately 23 miles southeast of the nation's capital. With 72,413 residents, it's sometimes referred to as a “bedroom community,” where many residents commute to work in Washington, DC, particularly the Joint Base Andrews employees. Waldorf is home to 167 licensed daycares, including 38 child care centers and 129 family child care homes. Full-time care for infants in a Waldorf daycare center will cost an average of $14,040 annually ($1,170/month). In a home daycare, the cost of care for babies is 25% cheaper, with an average of $10,660 annually (almost $890/month). The price for a 4-year-old is similar in a center-based and home-based preschool ($8,840 and $8,320 per year, respectively). Tuition rates vary by location and by age, so if you'd like to estimate the cost of daycare in your zip code, click here to use our daycare cost calculator. All Waldorf child care providers must adhere to the Maryland State Department of Education's Office of Child Care (MSDE OCC) laws. A license is required for all formal child care programs (except for informal child care such as relatives or friends offering occasional babysitting for not more than 20 hours in a month). Directors of child care and preschool programs with more than 40 children are required to have a bachelor's degree in early childhood education or a related field. They must also complete orientation training in core knowledge areas such as first-aid, CPR, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, emergency preparedness, and Medication Administration Training (MAT). For both child care centers and in-home daycares, the OCC conducts unannounced inspections in all licensed facilities at least once a year. Those visits review all elements of licensing, such as health, safety, and fire inspections to determine if all the requirements are continuously satisfied. Many child care providers and preschools in Waldorf also follow the NAEYC accreditation standards and are committed to providing a high-quality, research-based, early learning program for children. NAEYC accredited programs must be committed to meet quality criteria in ten areas, including: 1. The relationship between all children and adults to encourage positive interaction as a community member; 2. A curriculum that is well planned and effective in fostering children's learning and development; 3. An effective and appropriate teaching approach that supports positive education and development; 4. A variety of assessments on children's learning and development which is used to improve the program and curriculum; 5. Promotion of nutrition and healthy choices for a better quality of life and learning; 6. Employment and support of staff with qualifications in child development and early childhood education who are expected to create a high-quality learning environment; 7. Collaborative relationships with each child's family to foster growth in all settings; 8. Connecting families with agencies and institutions in the community that are necessary for children's health, development and learning; 9. Safe and quality design and maintenance of indoor and outdoor physical environment appropriate for activities and services; 10. Effective implementation of policies, procedures, and systems that supports effective leadership and management.