PSA / complaint about Kinderhaus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would note though... on the website: "If no space is available for your child's age group, your child's name is put on a waiting list and the Director or Assistant Director will call you as space becomes available."

I might not agree that is the way to run a business (should call back everyone, perhaps), they are saying they will call you "as space becomes available".

^^ [though I do see elsewhere on the website that it says to call for a tour. So, sorry - I take back my explanation. I just am such a fan of the center and the care that my child got there that I was trying to figure out a reasonable explanation.] ^^

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I paid $ to be on their waitlist and I never heard from them, ever. (By contrast, I did hear from one 3 years later to ask if I wanted a spot in their 3s program). You’d think eventually I’d make my way to the top of the list and be called as a courtesy. I agree that it sounds like a scam and the AG should investigate these so-called waiting lists.

This is not a problem specific to Kinderhaus. When I was pregnant, I applied to many many waitlists - never heard from any of them, except for one which called when my child was 2+ years and offered me a spot in their infant room (???). It's a problem all over the area - not enough quality day care for the children who need it.

[Anonymous]

It's true, like many daycares, KH isn't great with admissions. But Debbie is very on top of running her school, which is what matters. Hiring another administrator means either higher costs for families or one fewer teacher/less salary for teachers. I'm glad the focus is on taking care of the children and not trying to get more staff.

In the meantime, try email. It's easier for them to get back to you when they're not taking care of kids... unlike phone calls

[Anonymous]

2 years later and Kinderhaus is one of the few centers that never called me back about our daughter's spot on the waitlist. But they were the fastest to cash my waitlist check--not exactly cheap at $100 a pop so it's a total racket. Honestly, the center was crummy when I toured after submitting my check and I regretted even plunking down money for a place I hadn't seen. The teachers and kids looked miserable. I keep meaning to complain to Mary Cheh or someone else on the council to get these daycares to stop exploiting parents on their ridiculous waitlist fees.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like they messed up but it is an amazing place

[Anonymous]

Their mistake was cashing your check instead of throwing your application, check and all, into the shredder. They should not be considering for admission someone who just mails in a check without caring enough to tour the center, talk to the director, find out about how children are cared for, how teachers are treated and compensated, getting a sense of wether kids are happy and engaged, etc: all things you can't really learn from checking out their website. Parents who don't really care where they send their children will invariably end up being a pain in the ass for any daycare provider.

[Anonymous]

I know this thread is old, but in trying to lookup info about KinderHaus I found it and am confused why so many people are shocked that someone would send in a waitlist application without touring first. Don't know what their website said last year, but as of right now - they very explicitly request that someone sends in a waitlist application before you even tour:

"After the Center receives your Wait List Application and fee a brochure will be promptly mailed to you. Once you receive the brochure please call the Center to schedule a personalized tour of our facility. Scheduling tours can be three to four weeks from the initial contact with the Center. Tours are typically the mornings of Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays. "

Frustrating? Absolutely. But given the nature of lengthy waitlists in DC why would you fault someone for at least taking a chance to get on - and then figuring out when to schedule a tour later?

[Anonymous]

Former director here. Part of a director’s job is to make sure that enrollment will be full in the future. It is short sighted and unprofessional to not acknowledge a person who is inquiring about your school. Personally, I would never consider a school where no one takes a few minutes to get back to me in a timely manner when I have left a message.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this thread is old, but in trying to lookup info about KinderHaus I found it and am confused why so many people are shocked that someone would send in a waitlist application without touring first. Don't know what their website said last year, but as of right now - they very explicitly request that someone sends in a waitlist application before you even tour:

"After the Center receives your Wait List Application and fee a brochure will be promptly mailed to you. Once you receive the brochure please call the Center to schedule a personalized tour of our facility. Scheduling tours can be three to four weeks from the initial contact with the Center. Tours are typically the mornings of Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays. "

Frustrating? Absolutely. But given the nature of lengthy waitlists in DC why would you fault someone for at least taking a chance to get on - and then figuring out when to schedule a tour later?

They did not actually require this in our case. And they did eventually call me back after I called a couple times (not a unique issue to this daycare, at all, I’ve had my kids in 3 different daycares in DC over the years plus been on other waitlists and it’s often difficult to get a call back) and scheduled a tour for me prior to getting in the waitlist. I handed them the check after the tour as I’d decided to get on the waitlist. My child has now been at the CP location for a few years and we’ve had a great experience. One of the things I like most is the low teacher turnover. Other centers we’ve been at had so much turnover it made my head spin. For teachers to stay for 15, 20, and more years, that says something good to me about how they treat their staff.