- 703.560.7676
- annandale@carouselchild.com
- Mon - Fri: 6:45am - 6:00pm
For parents of toddlers and preschoolers, it’s natural to wonder: “Is my child really ready for kindergarten?”
The good news is that school readiness doesn’t have to come from worksheets or drills — it begins with play, curiosity, and everyday moments at home and school.
At Carousel Child Development Center, we’ve spent over 37 years helping Annandale and Fairfax County children grow into confident, capable learners. Here’s how you can turn ordinary play into powerful preparation for school success.
When children build with blocks, mix paint colors, or pretend to run a “store,” they’re developing problem-solving skills, creativity, and focus — all essential for future learning.
🧠 Fun at home: Try a “build a bridge” challenge using paper, cups, or LEGO. Ask: “How can we make it stronger?”
Conversations are one of the strongest predictors of school readiness. Whether you’re driving through Annandale traffic or cooking dinner together, talk with your child — not at them.
📚 At Carousel: Teachers model rich language during play, circle time, and storytime — helping children express ideas and expand their vocabulary naturally.
Kindergarten success is about more than letters and numbers — it’s about learning to take turns, follow directions, and care for others.
🤝 At Carousel: Our classrooms emphasize empathy, teamwork, and independence — helping children feel secure and connected in group settings
Pouring milk, putting on shoes, cleaning up toys — these “little” moments help children develop coordination, confidence, and responsibility.
🌟 At Carousel: Our teachers guide children to care for themselves and their classroom — building the self-help skills that make big school transitions smoother.
At Carousel, we believe that learning should feel like home. Our HighReach Learning Curriculum combines hands-on exploration with early literacy, math, science, and creative expression — all through play.
Children who feel joyful and confident about learning are the ones who walk into kindergarten ready to thrive — and that readiness starts right now, in the little moments you share each day.
When children play, explore, and connect, they’re not “just playing” — they’re becoming ready for a lifetime of learning.
Come see how Carousel helps children grow from playful to prepared.
Carousel Child Development Center. Providing child development and care for infants, toddlers, and pre-school children