Discovery Time Learning Center (Del Ray)

[Anonymous]

I don't know the original poster either, but my DD was in that room so some of what she talked about (foot and mouth breakout, biting) did happen.

FWIW, it sounded to me like her kid may have been the biter who was in the toddler room. My DD was bitten five times in just a few weeks (and she wasn't the only one getting bitten). It felt to me like the staff and director weren't taking it seriously enough since it kept happening. The biter never broke the skin, but my DD had multiple teeth-shaped bruises for a few weeks there.

She also brought up issues about there not being enough teachers. I never saw an issue with the ratios. There were always two or three teachers in the pre 9 a.m. combined classroom of toddlers and 2 yr olds. I never counted the kids, tho, so I guess the ratio could have been off.

Anyway, we had a good experience at Discovery Time and my daughter loved it there. We recently took her out and switched daycares after we got off the waiting list of a center closer to our home. But I would have kept her in DT without hesitation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know the original poster either, but my DD was in that room so some of what she talked about (foot and mouth breakout, biting) did happen.

FWIW, it sounded to me like her kid may have been the biter who was in the toddler room. My DD was bitten five times in just a few weeks (and she wasn't the only one getting bitten). It felt to me like the staff and director weren't taking it seriously enough since it kept happening. The biter never broke the skin, but my DD had multiple teeth-shaped bruises for a few weeks there.

She also brought up issues about there not being enough teachers. I never saw an issue with the ratios. There were always two or three teachers in the pre 9 a.m. combined classroom of toddlers and 2 yr olds. I never counted the kids, tho, so I guess the ratio could have been off.

Anyway, we had a good experience at Discovery Time and my daughter loved it there. We recently took her out and switched daycares after we got off the waiting list of a center closer to our home. But I would have kept her in DT without hesitation.

Thanks for posting. What about restraining the child for hours at a time?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone knows why licensing was there today?

[Anonymous]

Something I haven't seen mentioned is they have webcams so parents can view kids anytime they want. It looks like one of the DSS violations was reported because a parent saw something on the camera and reported to director/owner. It seems like it was "self-reported" which I take to be the center alerted DSS. The employee in question of the violoation was also terminated.

A friend has her son there and is really happy. We have met w/the owner a few times before opening and really liked her and the plan. We just haven't had time to tour the new facility and make a decision to move our son. Honestly we love our current school so much it's making the decision really hard.

[Anonymous]

I agree that the oldtownmom's post was likely by the parent of the biter in the toddler room (I also have a child there). The biting incidents ceased at the same time, I doubt it's a coincidence.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP who had the bitten girl in the room. The lady on the Old Town Mom's list said her son was kept on a high chair for several hrs one day and he'd been stuck in the chair for other long periods. I really don't know anything about that allegation.

FWIW, they did have a couple of highchairs for kids in there and some other kids sat at the tables. I saw kids sitting in the high chairs at mealtimes (when I watched the video feed sometimes). But I don't know if they sat in them at other times. I only really watched my DD on the video feed and wasn't paying much attention to the other kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that the oldtownmom's post was likely by the parent of the biter in the toddler room (I also have a child there). The biting incidents ceased at the same time, I doubt it's a coincidence.

A biter deserves to be strapped in a high chair for extended periods? Are you implying the treatment is in anyway ok? Not the old town mom parent but I appreciated that she shared her story. I don't know why people here are trying to lesson it by demonizing her toddler? It's a toddler not a four year old. There are appropriate ways to handle biting that don't end up as violations.

Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that the oldtownmom's post was likely by the parent of the biter in the toddler room (I also have a child there). The biting incidents ceased at the same time, I doubt it's a coincidence.

A biter deserves to be strapped in a high chair for extended periods? Are you implying the treatment is in anyway ok? Not the old town mom parent but I appreciated that she shared her story. I don't know why people here are trying to lesson it by demonizing her toddler? It's a toddler not a four year old. There are appropriate ways to handle biting that don't end up as violations.

Wow.

I agree! I read the OTM post and feel for the mother. We are at an in-home daycare and my son just went through a biting spell. But it only lasted 3 days. My daycare provider took action and kept my son close to her so she could immediately intervene. My point is, why did Discovery Time let the biting go on for so long? The teachers should have done something much sooner. And restraining the toddler in a high chair for HOURS is not appropriate discipline.

I toured Discovery Time at their last open house. My son is 2 years old so I was looking at the 2s and 3-5s room, which seems ok, given the low enrollment which means more attention toward the students. But it just does not offer the enrichment and extra curricular programs you find at other preschools (music, spanish, cooking, gardening, yoga, soccer, gym etc.).

Btw I read here that the preschool teacher recently left? Has she been replaced?

[Anonymous]

I wonder what the story is with the poster. It's something to take into consideration, but then I see that she had removed her son from the previous daycare as well. That does make me wonder. Plus, there were several follow up posts on the OT Moms thread, with posters stating they have had good experiences.

Has anyone else here sent their child to Discovery Time?

[Anonymous]

Current discovery time parent here. I don't know the details about the child being restrained and for how long, but my experience would be that if the director or owner knew anything about it they would be horrified friends as they should). That is to say if it really happened as reported (I honestly don't know anything about it).

It is the center that is going through some growing pains, but that is to be expected given it is just a few months old. I have found the director and owner to both be very responsive and wanting to create a really positive environment for both children and parents. They are adding new staff as they add new kids, and to my knowledge the preschool teacher has not been replaced. The owner seems to fully understand child development, and biting is developmentally normal at that age. There are things that teachers can do but prevention is the easiest way (and in only to be honest) to stop. And for the record my child was neither the biter or the bitten child. As far as ratios, I think they follow these very closely and make arrangements to make sure everything is in check.

I think in a few months things will be settled down, with kids and teachers and they will be in a better routine. The owner really does seem to have a clear vision of what she wants for the types of teacher she wants, the environment she wants to create, in the curriculum and learning that they want to go on.

[Anonymous]

Also a Discovery Time parent here. I can't speak to that situation since my child is not in the class. However, upon enrolling they tell you that the policy is if your little one bites three times, your child can be removed from the program. I understand that the Director worked with the family even though it happened more times than that. It's a hard situation on either side, but as a parent, I am pleased that they followed the policy (especially since the policy was presented to us even though my child doesn't have teeth!).

In my own experience with the Director, I could never imagine her speaking to anyone like the OTMoms original poster described, so I take that into account for the rest of her post. I know the ratios are strictly adhered to because they go to great lengths (teacher shuffles for lunch breaks and morning/afternoon times) to make sure it is taken care of. I watch the camera quite a bit and I've never seen any child restrained in a high chair without an adult standing beside them giving them food. One time we saw something we weren't sure of, though no child was endangered, and we mentioned it to the Director in passing. She immediately reported it to the authorities and as someone previously mentioned, the teacher is no longer there. I stop by occasionally to feed my child and observe, and I'm always pleased with what I've seen. When it comes to our children, vigilance is necessary.

I also want to commend the Director for calling a parents meeting immediately after the latest DDS report. Within a week, she was explaining face-to-face to us every infraction and how she was handling each one. We were able to ask questions, provide ideas (some of which were implemented the next day) and complete paperwork that had been noted in the DDS report. The director is definitely a woman of action!

We are pleased there. Our child is growing and learning and happy...what more could we want? Actually, one of the reasons we love it there is the community of families that is growing. If you want a place to drop off and pick up your kid without getting involved, then there are other lower cost options that are just as safe. But if you are looking for a place where all the teachers (not just your child's teacher) know your kid and parents interact with each other, then this is a great place. It takes a village, and we're happy with this village!

[Anonymous]

I don't have a kid at Discovery Time, but we are planning on enrolling our child later in the year. I saw the original post on Old Town Moms and was very concerned, but since then there have been at least 5 parents chiming in with positive reports. I'm not trying to discount the original, negative experience at all, but the additional reviews led to me the conclusion that I'll stick with my plan to enroll my child...and just monitor things very carefully in the beginning. Its quite rare for a daycare to have cameras (the only other place I know of is St Anthony's), so that alone continues to make me more comfortable with Discovery versus some of the of the other options we have.

Also, the DSS report does have quite a few infractions, but nothing that was very concerning like ratios being off. It sounded like growing pains to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone just posted an extremely detailed account of her child's (terrible) experience at Discovery Time Learning Center on the Old Town Moms listserv, and the reaction, or lack thereof, of the owner/director when confronted with the problems. I found her post painful to read, but don't want to go into too much detail since it's not my story to tell. But, agree with PP to check out the DSS inspection violations in June and July.

I just read that as well. I don't know the poster, so who knows how much merit to give it, but it is certainly worth taking into consideration. I forwarded it to my husband (we are on the list for a future date).

I just read it also. I believe it has merit. The owner/director is a hothead and inexperience when it comes to managing a program. I am going to start looking for another location for my child I don't see this program lasting long.

[Anonymous]

Today, we heard that Ms.Florence is no longer with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Today, we heard that Ms.Florence is no longer with them.

For the benefit of those considering this daycare, who is Ms. Florence? Thanks.