Based on 18 reviews
About
We are a small school providing excellent care for children aged two months to five years. There are two adults always present. We provide comprehensive care to ensure physical, social and academic growth of each child. We have a structured curriculum inclusive of a preschool program for 2-5 year olds complete with circle time, themes, art and crafts, music, outside play and pretend play. The children in our care enjoy individual attention all throughout the day, with lots of hugs and love! We encourage positive interaction between the children in our care by setting reasonable limits and gentle reminders. We take pride in the work we do and it shows in the development of the children as well as the referrals we get. We are conveniently located near a major route for the ease of drop off and pick up. We provide lunch and snacks.
We have two openings coming up in August ages 2 months to 4 years.
Disclaimer: the licensing status was checked when this listing was created. We do our best to keep information up-to-date, but cannot guarantee that it is. You should verify the license/permit/registration status before enrolling in any child care program.
Parent Reviews
Amy K.
Verified Parent
Posted 3 months ago
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My son has been going to Little Gems for over a year since he was four months old. Miss Smita and Najara provide excellent care for the little ones! I'm kept up to date on their activities, meals, how he's adapting and behaving on a daily basis. I recommend for anyone looking for a daycare from infant through prek ages.
Response from the provider:
Thank you Amy!!
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Laura C.
Verified Parent
Posted 8 months ago
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Ms. Smita has provided daycare for my son that has consistently gone above and beyond my expectations. She loves and cares for the children immensely and also keeps high expectations for them including learning play skills, pre-academic skills, and social skills. Ms. Smita is an excellent communicator and always keeps me updated on what is going on with my son. She creates and implements lesson plans with fun and exciting crafts or special... more
Response from the provider:
Thank you so much Laura!
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Mary A.
Verified Parent
Posted 8 months ago
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Ms. Smita runs a darling in-home daycare in a safe and quiet neighborhood in Gaithersburg. The children are well cared for and very happy. I love the cleanliness and that she prepares the kids healthy meals. My son is always so happy to see her. His happiness leaves me with a sense of calm and ease when I drop him off in the morning. The City is building a very nice park right behind her house as well! We are very happy with the care at Little... more
Response from the provider:
Thank you!
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Lisa S.
Verified Parent
Posted 1 year ago
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Smita runs an excellent day school. She provides a hot lunch every day, plans enrichment activities and posts updates for parents. The kids spend plenty of time playing outdoors and burning energy. She juggles all that while also accommodating the stage 5 clingers that just want to be held. she runs a tight ship too! the kids all know how to clean up after themselves and follow her routines and rules. highly recommend!
Response from the provider:
Thank you Lisa!
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Anjali N.
Verified Parent
Posted 3 years ago
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We have had both our daughters at Little Gems (one is still happily there) and we are extremely fortunate to find such a caring, dependable, loving, educational and most of all fun environment for our girls. As another reviewer noted, Ms. Smita provides daycare services, but it has certainly been a home for our kids. She provides great activities for kids and ensures everyone (even the babies) are engaged at all times. She always includes... more
Response from the provider:
Thank you!
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Andrea C.
Verified Parent
Posted 3 years ago
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We LOVE little gems! Ms. Smita and the other teachers are amazing and my kids have learned so much since being with her. She also does such a great job finding fun ways to keep the kids engaged and encourages play while keeping structure and consistency. Those that recommended little gems to us also said their kids didn't need pre school and were kindergarten ready when they turned 5. We waited over a year for a spot and it was definitely worth... more
Response from the provider:
Thank you!
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Niki F.
Verified Parent
Posted 3 years ago
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I am so truly thankful for Ms. Smita. She has a remarkable way with each child and nurturing their development and learning through a fun and engaging environment. There is not a rating high enough to capture my endorsement and gratitude.
Response from the provider:
Thank you!
1 out of 1 thinks this review is helpful
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Sara H.
Verified Parent
Posted 5 years ago
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We have loved our experience at Little Gems. Smita gets to know your child so well—and she celebrates each one for his/her uniqueness. I really appreciate the insights she shares with me about our child’s behavior, rhythms, and personality traits. She is both wise and reassuring, and her ability to connect with children is wonderful. We know that our child is safe, happy, and loved every day. I highly recommend Little Gems to any family who... more
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Kim L.
Verified Parent
Posted 5 years ago
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Smita is a fantastic caregiver. My daughter was with her for a year, from 11 months to 2 years old. She acclimated so quickly and grew to absolutely love her time there. Smita is extremely knowledgeable, experienced and confident in all situations. I recommend her wholeheartedly for all ages!
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Melanie W.
Verified Parent
Posted 6 years ago
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There is no one like Ms. Smita. She cares and loves your children like she does her own. Her ability to connect with the children is amazing. We love how she included the kids in circle time from infancy until toddler. Communication is key and she kept us in the loop all the time. She has had such a profound impact on our lives.
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Diyana S.
Verified Parent
Posted 8 years ago
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Both our daughters attended Little Gems about 7 years ago, and still keep going back to visit - that should say it all. We were so fortunate to have found such a caring and nurturing environment to leave our children during the day. We never had to worry about them at all - we knew that they were safe and were in the good hands of Smita and her assistant. It was not just a 'daycare', it was home away from home for our kids. Mr. Thakkar and the... more
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Meena R.
Verified through Facebook
Posted 8 years ago
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I have had both my children at Little Gems with Smita since 2009. In 2008, when we were looking for a daycare, we were given Smita’s name. My husband and I visited Smita’s Little Gems. We were happy to see the positive and happy environment for the kids. We signed up for her program and stuck with her until our daughter went to school. I still have my son at Little Gems. Smita and her assistants provide a caring and loving environment for... more
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Elna W.
Verified Parent
Posted 9 years ago
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I had both my children at Little Gems. It is truly like a family. Not only do the children learn to help each other, the older children learn how to be compassionate and care for the younger kids. The group together completes an array of projects that help hone their fine motor control etc. We were extremely pleased with Little Gems and would highly recommend Little Gems!
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Manju S.
Verified through Facebook
Posted 9 years ago
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Smita does an amazing job of caring for children. She gives them a lot of affection, yet at the same time she provides the right amount of discipline. My daughter loved going to her daycare, where she would read, do fun activities and eat healthy food (including a lot of fruit). When you leave your child with Smita, you are leaving them in the best and most caring hands possible.
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Michael K.
Verified Parent
Posted 9 years ago
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Ms. Smita daycare is a wonderful place for your child. She takes great care of the children. All three of my kids went to Ms. Smita and they were in tears when they said their final goodbyes. I was crying too. She is a wonderful person, teacher, and provider.
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Lisa S.
Verified Parent
Posted 9 years ago
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Little Gems is the gold standard of childcare. Smita and her staff care deeply about the children in so many ways. Since Little Gems is a small, in-home daycare with eight kids, Smita is able to pay close attention to each child's development and temperament. She is happy to share her observations and questions so that she can work closely with each parent to encourage the most appropriate care for each child. It is extremely helpful to know... more
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Kim L.
Verified Parent
Posted 9 years ago
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When my husband and I were exploring day care options before having our first child Little Gems was by far our favorite and top choice. Unfortunately there wasn't space available when we needed it, but Smita kept my contact information and thankfully called me when my son was ~6 months old saying she'd have a spot opening in a couple months if I was still interested. I was tentative at first, having gotten my son settled in another home care... more
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Lisa B.
Verified through Facebook
Posted 9 years ago
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Both of my children attended Little Gems before they began school. I live in Frederick, MD and am a teacher for Montgomery County Schools. I cannot say enough about the quality of care my girls received while they attended here. The balance between structure and having fun is absolutely perfect. Smita is like no other caregiver I have seen. Not only did she teach them social skills but she also taught them curriculum so that I did not have to... more
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Contact This Program For Free
Home-based
Hours
7:30am - 5:30pm
Ages
8 weeks - 5 years
Kindergarten
No
Accreditation
No
Meals Provided
Yes
Transportation
No
Facilities
• Playground
• Indoor Gym
• Multipurpose Room
• Computers
• Library
• Indoor Playroom
