Springfield is a residential community in Fairfax County, Virginia. It's home to a significant commercial district around the Springfield Interchange and a variety of outdoor recreational activities surrounding Lake Accotink Park and Accotink Creek. Quality child care and early education are available in one of the 188 daycare and preschool programs in Springfield, VA. While it's more affordable than other nearby towns like Alexandria or Arlington, the average child care price in Springfield is quite high, up to $16,380 per year for full-time infant care in a center. Daycare rates for older children decrease with an annual cost of $9,100 for 4-year-old preschoolers (full-time care in a center). Home-based daycares are more affordable than child care centers for babies ($13,520 per year for full-time infant care) but slightly more expensive for preschoolers ($11,960 per year). To find out the average cost of daycare in your zip code, click here to use our daycare cost calculator. Professional child care providers provide age-appropriate early learning activities and a safe environment, which are crucial in the first five years of a child's life. Early childhood educators implement well-planned activities with a long-term positive effect on the way children think, learn, and in the future success of a child. In Springfield, VA, child care facilities caring for up to four children operate with Fairfax County Permit, and larger daycares with more than four kids must have a State License. Those regulations ensure that caregivers commit to the welfare, health, and development of children in their care. Daycares and preschools are inspected to ensure the implementation of legal requirements so that parents can have peace of mind while they are away from their children. Springfield has a total of 175 home-based daycares, including 97 with a Fairfax County Permit, and 78 State Licensed Family Day Homes. There are also 13 State Licensed Child Day Centers. The average cost of infant care is $260 per week for in-home daycares compared to $315 per week in daycare centers. Parents spend less for older children with a weekly cost of $230 in home-based programs and $175 in centers. Regulated child care facilities provide children with ample space to learn and play and offer a safe environment. Providers, assistants, and substitutes, as well as all adults with access to the facility, undergo thorough background checks. They must also pass health screenings to ensure that they are physically capable of handling children safely on a day-to-day basis. They also satisfy educational requirements and training, which vary based on each position. Those credentials typically have a positive impact on the quality of care and early education for children. There are child care and preschool programs that cater to different preferences, according to lifestyles, beliefs, and specific needs. Springfield has twenty before and after school care programs that serve families during non-traditional hours. More than half of the 30,000 residents speak a foreign language, including Spanish and various Asian languages. Thirteen language immersion or bilingual daycares support the diverse community where children can learn a foreign language. These bilingual child care programs can also help children learn about other cultures and the world around them through stories, music, arts, dance, and many other fun activities. Health and allergies are another concern that parents may consider when choosing a daycare. Nineteen peanut-free daycares have specialized training in serving proper food for children with an allergic reaction to peanuts or food containing peanuts. There are various assistance programs to help low-income families afford safe and quality child care. Those include the Fairfax County Office for Children's Child Care Assistance & Referral (CCAR) and the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Program from the Virginia Department of Social Services. Twenty facilities in Springfield accept government subsidies.