Daycare nightmare -- warning about Bright Horizons - Reston Commerce Metro and Simon Center

[Anonymous]

This post was previously deleted because someone objected to my naming the teacher. I have ### out the teacher's name.

We have had 2 horrible daycare experiences recently. I've gone back and forth about whether to write this. I decided to post because people come here looking for reviews and I would want to know these things about places we are looking at. And maybe the parents of the Simon Center kids might find this.

We removed our child from the toddler room at Bright Horizons Reston Commerce Metro Center. We adored the infant room teacher there, and still do. 2nd day after moving up to the toddler room, the teacher gave our 16 mo child laundry detergent in a drinking cup. (Yeah, I know.. WTF) The only reason we knew about it was that she sent us a photo with a caption about how she passed out cups of laundry soap, hand soap and dish soap to the toddlers and she had to help because our child tried to drink the laundry detergent. (You know, like kids do when you hand them something in a cup) A few days before this happened, I had a discussion with the director regarding concerns I had about ### being a good fit for toddlers (doing other non-age appropriate activities, yelling because a kid knocked food on the floor) She assured me that ### has been working with kids for many years and everyone loves her. When we brought the laundry soap issue to their attention, they said their process was to counsel, reprimand then terminate -- because there were no other issues in her file they would only counsel her. Our doctor examined our child and found throat irritation consistent with drinking detergent. When the director talked to her, ### did not see the problem or danger with giving toddlers laundry detergent. We did not feel safe leaving her in ### care and further did not feel safe leaving her at a center where issues and complaints weren't documented or followed up on. It's a lovely facility and they have some very wonderful teachers, but they lost our trust.

We filed a complaint with the state: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/facility/search/cc.cgi...tion;Inspection=88975;ID=42034

This started us on a path of looking at other local centers and schools. After much looking, we enrolled our child in another at Robert Simon Center and withdrew her after 2 days. An adult in the class next door held a kid to the window and screamed at him. Our child's teacher observed it and spoke to someone about it. The administrator blew me off when I brought it up. The following morning the assistant in our child's class (Dolphins, the first class when you walk in), repeatedly yelled at a kid (his first name begins with L) and eventually said "I'll show you" grabbed him, buckled him into a chair and dragged him to the wall and walked away. I was in the classroom at the time. The lead teacher had not yet arrived. The other assistant in the class didn't flinch. Again the administrator blew it off and told us we wouldn't be refunded. (We stopped the check and they accepted enrollment fees)

Look, I get it. Watching kids is hard stuff. But a "see something, say something" policy needs to be encouraged. I was just as shocked that no one did anything, as I was that these things happened. Spend time in the class. Dress down (blend in, stand out less as a parent) hang out, get to know the people that spend so much time with your kid. Really observe.

[Anonymous]

This is so sad!

[Anonymous]

What is the common denominator here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the common denominator here?

Honest answer. This happens in all daycare centers. Not all the time. Not in every class. But in every center.

[Anonymous]

If these are NAEYC accredited centers you should report this to NAEYC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If these are NAEYC accredited centers you should report this to NAEYC.

If the Bright Horizon Daycare in Reston is NAEYC accredited they have to self-report.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the common denominator here?

terrible childcare?

[Anonymous]

I think you may have overreacted to the first (although still, wtf). the second sounds abusive and horrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you may have overreacted to the first (although still, wtf). the second sounds abusive and horrible.

NP. Overreacted to the laundry detergent in a cup to a 16 month old? I'd be furious. I have three and my youngest is just about to turn two. I'd like to think I'm pretty relaxed as far as most crap but that is *crazy*. Just no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If these are NAEYC accredited centers you should report this to NAEYC.

If the Bright Horizon Daycare in Reston is NAEYC accredited they have to self-report.

They may not so this parent should still complain. They take it it seriously.

[Anonymous]

It is so disappointing that you have had a string of back luck! My children attend Simon Center and we have found it to be a wonderful environment with excellent, loving staff and care. We have had NO bad experiences there and my kiddos just love it!!! Best wishes finding the care you feel you can count on!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the common denominator here?

Low paid, nonprofessional staff. Lack of accountability.

[Anonymous]

My goodness, these situations are enough to make anyone quite upset! I'm sorry you experienced them, that would be very stressful. I can't speak for Bright Horizons at all, but I do want to offer a different perspective of the Simon Center as both of my children are there, one of whom is in the first class when you walk in. My son (almost 4) and daughter (almost 2) have been at the school since they were 5-6 months old. One of the first things we actually loved about the school are the huge, nearly full wall windows in the rooms - we wanted our kids to be in a place with a lot of natural light, and in fact know that when the space was built out into the childcare space (they moved locations a few years ago) that was a priority for the school as well. That two classrooms you reference are right next to the entryway to the building - I have had the experience multiple times where when we are walking towards the school in the morning, the kids already in the classes see us through the windows and line up waving at my children, who both get excited because they see their friends and can't wait to get into their classroom. I've also had it at the end of the day when picking them up, where the teachers see me coming and will pick up my daughter (in that front class) to see me through the window and she gets excited and waves and wiggles and then meets me at the classroom door once I get in. I have also seen it in the mornings at drop-offs (which sometimes are hard depending on the mood of the kids, the weather, the rotation of the earth) where teachers will pick students up to look out of the window when they are crying or upset to use everything that they can see as a distraction to calm them down. Obviously, I wasn't there to see what you observed, but perhaps there may have been another explanation than what it appeared? The other thing I will say is that my kids love the teachers and the assistants... my daughter runs in the front room and throws her arms around their legs every morning when we do drop off - which is a lot, because she is quite shy with people she isn't sure of (including her grandparents when she hasn't seen them in awhile) - and this was true in the beginning, drop-offs were hard, and they would take her, talk to her, and stand her in the window to show her distractions outside. I could go on and on, with examples of experiences and why I truly love the place, but will spare you (though feel free to reach out with questions!) Ultimately, I am happiest to share that my kids are truly thriving - my son is currently educating me about the life cycle stages of the lady bugs growing in their class (they recently went from larva to pupa I've been told - they'll be ladybugs in apparently 10 days) and my daughter started doing yoga moves when she was 15 months because they have a yoga instructor from nearby who comes in periodically and teaches the kids stretches and simple poses before they go down for their naps. Again, everyone is there at different times and observes different things - but in my experience over the last 3.5 years there, I've gotten to know the teachers and the assistants, I know they love my kids and that my kids love them, and I'm very happy with our choice to go there. And let me say we screened upwards of 10 places before making the decision to enroll my son there

I hope that you find a place that you feel comfortable and safe with - at the end of the day that is the most important thing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My goodness, these situations are enough to make anyone quite upset! I'm sorry you experienced them, that would be very stressful. I can't speak for Bright Horizons at all, but I do want to offer a different perspective of the Simon Center as both of my children are there, one of whom is in the first class when you walk in. My son (almost 4) and daughter (almost 2) have been at the school since they were 5-6 months old. One of the first things we actually loved about the school are the huge, nearly full wall windows in the rooms - we wanted our kids to be in a place with a lot of natural light, and in fact know that when the space was built out into the childcare space (they moved locations a few years ago) that was a priority for the school as well. That two classrooms you reference are right next to the entryway to the building - I have had the experience multiple times where when we are walking towards the school in the morning, the kids already in the classes see us through the windows and line up waving at my children, who both get excited because they see their friends and can't wait to get into their classroom. I've also had it at the end of the day when picking them up, where the teachers see me coming and will pick up my daughter (in that front class) to see me through the window and she gets excited and waves and wiggles and then meets me at the classroom door once I get in. I have also seen it in the mornings at drop-offs (which sometimes are hard depending on the mood of the kids, the weather, the rotation of the earth) where teachers will pick students up to look out of the window when they are crying or upset to use everything that they can see as a distraction to calm them down. Obviously, I wasn't there to see what you observed, but perhaps there may have been another explanation than what it appeared? The other thing I will say is that my kids love the teachers and the assistants... my daughter runs in the front room and throws her arms around their legs every morning when we do drop off - which is a lot, because she is quite shy with people she isn't sure of (including her grandparents when she hasn't seen them in awhile) - and this was true in the beginning, drop-offs were hard, and they would take her, talk to her, and stand her in the window to show her distractions outside. I could go on and on, with examples of experiences and why I truly love the place, but will spare you (though feel free to reach out with questions!) Ultimately, I am happiest to share that my kids are truly thriving - my son is currently educating me about the life cycle stages of the lady bugs growing in their class (they recently went from larva to pupa I've been told - they'll be ladybugs in apparently 10 days) and my daughter started doing yoga moves when she was 15 months because they have a yoga instructor from nearby who comes in periodically and teaches the kids stretches and simple poses before they go down for their naps. Again, everyone is there at different times and observes different things - but in my experience over the last 3.5 years there, I've gotten to know the teachers and the assistants, I know they love my kids and that my kids love them, and I'm very happy with our choice to go there. And let me say we screened upwards of 10 places before making the decision to enroll my son there

I hope that you find a place that you feel comfortable and safe with - at the end of the day that is the most important thing!

+1 I am also a parent of a child in the Dolphins room and we have not once ever doubted our decision of placing our child in their care (after doing extensive research and talking to other parents at the Simon Center). This is the FIRST negative thing I've ever heard of or read about it. I think it is somewhat comical that the OP suggests that parents should "spend time in the class" yet their child had been enrolled there for two whole days. We DO spend time in the class, LOTS of it. And take it from those of us with experience at the Simon Center that those teachers/assistants adore the children. We see it through our daily interactions with them, through all of the pictures we get of the various activities our kids are doing and engaging with the teachers, and actually talking at length and getting to know the staff on a personal level. Sorry your experience was so very different.

[Anonymous]

We have been at the Simon Center for 3+ years and have also found the care to be excellent. The staff (who are neither underpaid nor non-professional), children, and parents are all very happy, and there is a lot of open dialogue between teachers, parents, and administrators. You are definitely right that parents should spend time in the classrooms and get to know the staff, and make sure they are comfortable and happy with their children's care.