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

[Anonymous]

Simon Center parent here. The OP sounds slightly off her rocker, to be honest. It's hard not to believe that OP is the common denominator problem here. She pulled her kid out after two days at both centers, she's filed a complaint with the state, and taken the time to post all this on DCUM. Disgruntled much? My recommendation is to stay home with your child because that seems likely to be the only place you will find adequate childcare. You really have no context to base the accusations other than a brief observation, you don't know the relationships between the teachers and these children that they have watched grow from infant to toddler, and having spent a total of a few minutes there in the two days your kid was enrolled, you have essentially zero experience with the incredibly professional, loving, and involved administration and staff. We know it, we see it, we live it...day in and day out. Our children are thriving, are loved, and are excited to arrive and completely devastated to leave each day. I strongly suggest that readers take the OP's account of what happened with a grain of salt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the common denominator here?

Seems like the common denominator is a helicopter mom who overacted to two situations. My children were in a NAEYC accredited Center, like Bright Horizons and Simon Center. They are the BEST! The standards that they have to live up to are amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the common denominator here?

Seems like the common denominator is a helicopter mom who overacted to two situations. My children were in a NAEYC accredited Center, like Bright Horizons and Simon Center. They are the BEST! The standards that they have to live up to are amazing.

X1000!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the common denominator here?

Seems like the common denominator is a helicopter mom who overacted to two situations. My children were in a NAEYC accredited Center, like Bright Horizons and Simon Center. They are the BEST! The standards that they have to live up to are amazing.

X1000!

Didn't she say her child actually had chemical burns in her throat? If true, she is hardly overreacting. Maybe your standards are a little low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the common denominator here?

Seems like the common denominator is a helicopter mom who overacted to two situations. My children were in a NAEYC accredited Center, like Bright Horizons and Simon Center. They are the BEST! The standards that they have to live up to are amazing.

OP, ignore this poster. In no way would it ever be appropriate to hand a 16 month old a cup of laundry detergent. (what was the purpose??!! did they ever explain?) Your child had injuries, as verified by your pediatrician. You did the right thing by reporting the incident. If the provider has been there for years, perhaps she has become complacent or not as knowledgeable about child development. You are absolutely in the right in this scenario.

In the situation at the Simon center, it is not as clear cut to me, but I wouldn't blame you if you were feeling a bit hypervigilant at that point.

Good luck op.

[Anonymous]

Op what was the teacher trying to accomplish when she gave your child a cup with laundry soap in it?

That does seem like an terrible plan. Did they ever explain it?

[Anonymous]

I worked in daycares during college. Until you spend all day/every day at them, you have NO WAY of knowing what goes on there when parents aren't around.

[Anonymous]

Was surprised to read about OP's experience at Simon Center. Have always been amazed at the professionalism and caring nature of all the teachers (and the engagement of the administrators). The love my son has for his teachers and the love they show back to him has always been a source of comfort for me. Hope the OP is able to find that level of comfort for his/her child.

[Anonymous]

I am very surprised with the flood of "positive" reports from families--one on top of the other. It seems incredibly suspicious to me, especially given that the OP is reporting their child DRANK DETERGENT AT DAYCARE. I'm sorry but that is completely insane! Op, thank you for reporting this issue. Please please please report the other issues to NAEYC. It is NEVER appropriate for a child to be screamed at. You have high standards and justifiably so. Just because two centers didn't work out doesnt' mean your standards are too high. There are plenty of crappy day cares out there. I hope that Jeff can review this thread for sock puppeting, seems that might be going on. Thanks again for sharing your experience with other families so they can be aware.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I worked in daycares during college. Until you spend all day/every day at them, you have NO WAY of knowing what goes on there when parents aren't around.

+1. I swore then that my kids would never spend so much as an hour in daycare. I've seen too much horrific stuff in too many "great daycares". I wouldn't leave a young child with a nanny either. Some things are just not worth the risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I worked in daycares during college. Until you spend all day/every day at them, you have NO WAY of knowing what goes on there when parents aren't around.

+1. I swore then that my kids would never spend so much as an hour in daycare. I've seen too much horrific stuff in too many "great daycares". I wouldn't leave a young child with a nanny either. Some things are just not worth the risk.

Great for you - I'm so glad you have that option. Not everyone is so lucky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I worked in daycares during college. Until you spend all day/every day at them, you have NO WAY of knowing what goes on there when parents aren't around.

+1. I swore then that my kids would never spend so much as an hour in daycare. I've seen too much horrific stuff in too many "great daycares". I wouldn't leave a young child with a nanny either. Some things are just not worth the risk.

I"ve never worked in daycare, but my office overlooks an purportedly well respected day care facility. I have plenty of opportunity to observe the daycare workers interacting with the kids. I'm sure the parents of many of those kids also swear that those workers love their kids--and I"m sure that they do like them, but some of the behaviour is pretty eye-opening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Agree. Bright Horizons has a policy that lesson plans have to be posted for parents and that they need to be seen be the director. Since this Bright Horizons center has shown such terrible judgement, I would not trust that they would report themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I worked in daycares during college. Until you spend all day/every day at them, you have NO WAY of knowing what goes on there when parents aren't around.

This is absolutely true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I worked in daycares during college. Until you spend all day/every day at them, you have NO WAY of knowing what goes on there when parents aren't around.

+1. I swore then that my kids would never spend so much as an hour in daycare. I've seen too much horrific stuff in too many "great daycares". I wouldn't leave a young child with a nanny either. Some things are just not worth the risk.

I"ve never worked in daycare, but my office overlooks an purportedly well respected day care facility. I have plenty of opportunity to observe the daycare workers interacting with the kids. I'm sure the parents of many of those kids also swear that those workers love their kids--and I"m sure that they do like them, but some of the behaviour is pretty eye-opening.

This is true. Of course people who put their children in daycare feel that the providers love their children. The parents need to feel that way so that they can feel good about the choice they have made for their child.