Feedback on Huckleberry Cheesecake?

[Anonymous]

Can anyone share some feedback on Huckleberry Cheesecake? I had high hopes but was honestly not very impressed by the tour.

[Anonymous]

How old is your child?

We were there for our first and are expecting again and will definitely send #2 there. Relative to others centers, there is little turnover in staff, and we like that the owners are the directors and very engaged. Kids also got a lot of outdoor time. We especially liked the infant and 2s classroom. (We went to DCPS so never got to the preschool room, but people seem to like it.) I think the 1s classroom was fine but the weakest of all of them.

Happy to answer specific questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old is your child?

We were there for our first and are expecting again and will definitely send #2 there. Relative to others centers, there is little turnover in staff, and we like that the owners are the directors and very engaged. Kids also got a lot of outdoor time. We especially liked the infant and 2s classroom. (We went to DCPS so never got to the preschool room, but people seem to like it.) I think the 1s classroom was fine but the weakest of all of them.

Happy to answer specific questions.

I'm looking for infant care and didn't get a great vibe. Center seemed small and cramped. Didn't see a lot of books or high-quality educational toys for the kids. Staff looked like typical "day care workers"--not a lot of smiles. Definitely didn't get the feeling that these people loved or really even liked their jobs. If you have more specific examples about why you like the program I would like to hear them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old is your child?

We were there for our first and are expecting again and will definitely send #2 there. Relative to others centers, there is little turnover in staff, and we like that the owners are the directors and very engaged. Kids also got a lot of outdoor time. We especially liked the infant and 2s classroom. (We went to DCPS so never got to the preschool room, but people seem to like it.) I think the 1s classroom was fine but the weakest of all of them.

Happy to answer specific questions.

I'm looking for infant care and didn't get a great vibe. Center seemed small and cramped. Didn't see a lot of books or high-quality educational toys for the kids. Staff looked like typical "day care workers"--not a lot of smiles. Definitely didn't get the feeling that these people loved or really even liked their jobs. If you have more specific examples about why you like the program I would like to hear them.

We were there when DD was a baby a few years ago. She started in the 1s classroom and stayed through several months of preschool. Of the 2 classrooms we experienced, I think my favorite was the 2s classroom. The 1s classroom was fine. The staff has very little turnover at that level, though the preschool rooms seem to have more turnover, possibly because people are actual preschool teachers and get other jobs teaching elsewhere. The staff in the baby room have been there for a long time. They are loving and dedicated. I know people who have sent multiple children there, sometimes even paying double tuition (which is steep). The kids get a lot of outside time, but you have to be okay with the city aspect of that outside time. There is no playground on site, and no windows until preschool. We were there through the transition from their previous location, and the new space is a huge improvement.

The directors are wonderful, and the community is very tightly knit. DD is still close friends with someone she met in the 1s room several years later, though we are all in different places in life. We have also run into a few of the teachers out and about (we live in the same neighborhood), and DD is always excited to see them and tell them what she's up to. If I had another baby tomorrow, I would move heaven and earth to send that baby there, even with the price tag, because in my experience, it is totally worth it.

We were at another center for close to a year before getting off the waiting list, and I found the Huckleberry staff to be much more loving and nurturing than the previous center.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you toured other centers? I think you will find that many if not most of the centers downtown are going to be "small and cramped." The World Bank has a pretty amazing center at 19th and Eye with a playground outside and everything, but if you don't work for the Bank, you're out of luck. It's definitely the exception.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old is your child?

We were there for our first and are expecting again and will definitely send #2 there. Relative to others centers, there is little turnover in staff, and we like that the owners are the directors and very engaged. Kids also got a lot of outdoor time. We especially liked the infant and 2s classroom. (We went to DCPS so never got to the preschool room, but people seem to like it.) I think the 1s classroom was fine but the weakest of all of them.

Happy to answer specific questions.

I'm looking for infant care and didn't get a great vibe. Center seemed small and cramped. Didn't see a lot of books or high-quality educational toys for the kids. Staff looked like typical "day care workers"--not a lot of smiles. Definitely didn't get the feeling that these people loved or really even liked their jobs. If you have more specific examples about why you like the program I would like to hear them.

We were there when DD was a baby a few years ago. She started in the 1s classroom and stayed through several months of preschool. Of the 2 classrooms we experienced, I think my favorite was the 2s classroom. The 1s classroom was fine. The staff has very little turnover at that level, though the preschool rooms seem to have more turnover, possibly because people are actual preschool teachers and get other jobs teaching elsewhere. The staff in the baby room have been there for a long time. They are loving and dedicated. I know people who have sent multiple children there, sometimes even paying double tuition (which is steep). The kids get a lot of outside time, but you have to be okay with the city aspect of that outside time. There is no playground on site, and no windows until preschool. We were there through the transition from their previous location, and the new space is a huge improvement.

The directors are wonderful, and the community is very tightly knit. DD is still close friends with someone she met in the 1s room several years later, though we are all in different places in life. We have also run into a few of the teachers out and about (we live in the same neighborhood), and DD is always excited to see them and tell them what she's up to. If I had another baby tomorrow, I would move heaven and earth to send that baby there, even with the price tag, because in my experience, it is totally worth it.

We were at another center for close to a year before getting off the waiting list, and I found the Huckleberry staff to be much more loving and nurturing than the previous center.

This sounds like it was written by the center director masquerading as a parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old is your child?

We were there for our first and are expecting again and will definitely send #2 there. Relative to others centers, there is little turnover in staff, and we like that the owners are the directors and very engaged. Kids also got a lot of outdoor time. We especially liked the infant and 2s classroom. (We went to DCPS so never got to the preschool room, but people seem to like it.) I think the 1s classroom was fine but the weakest of all of them.

Happy to answer specific questions.

I'm looking for infant care and didn't get a great vibe. Center seemed small and cramped. Didn't see a lot of books or high-quality educational toys for the kids. Staff looked like typical "day care workers"--not a lot of smiles. Definitely didn't get the feeling that these people loved or really even liked their jobs. If you have more specific examples about why you like the program I would like to hear them.

We were there when DD was a baby a few years ago. She started in the 1s classroom and stayed through several months of preschool. Of the 2 classrooms we experienced, I think my favorite was the 2s classroom. The 1s classroom was fine. The staff has very little turnover at that level, though the preschool rooms seem to have more turnover, possibly because people are actual preschool teachers and get other jobs teaching elsewhere. The staff in the baby room have been there for a long time. They are loving and dedicated. I know people who have sent multiple children there, sometimes even paying double tuition (which is steep). The kids get a lot of outside time, but you have to be okay with the city aspect of that outside time. There is no playground on site, and no windows until preschool. We were there through the transition from their previous location, and the new space is a huge improvement.

The directors are wonderful, and the community is very tightly knit. DD is still close friends with someone she met in the 1s room several years later, though we are all in different places in life. We have also run into a few of the teachers out and about (we live in the same neighborhood), and DD is always excited to see them and tell them what she's up to. If I had another baby tomorrow, I would move heaven and earth to send that baby there, even with the price tag, because in my experience, it is totally worth it.

We were at another center for close to a year before getting off the waiting list, and I found the Huckleberry staff to be much more loving and nurturing than the previous center.

This sounds like it was written by the center director masquerading as a parent.

I promise that that's not the case, but I suppose I can see why you would think that. Just a parent who was very satisfied with our experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old is your child?

We were there for our first and are expecting again and will definitely send #2 there. Relative to others centers, there is little turnover in staff, and we like that the owners are the directors and very engaged. Kids also got a lot of outdoor time. We especially liked the infant and 2s classroom. (We went to DCPS so never got to the preschool room, but people seem to like it.) I think the 1s classroom was fine but the weakest of all of them.

Happy to answer specific questions.

I'm looking for infant care and didn't get a great vibe. Center seemed small and cramped. Didn't see a lot of books or high-quality educational toys for the kids. Staff looked like typical "day care workers"--not a lot of smiles. Definitely didn't get the feeling that these people loved or really even liked their jobs. If you have more specific examples about why you like the program I would like to hear them.

We were there when DD was a baby a few years ago. She started in the 1s classroom and stayed through several months of preschool. Of the 2 classrooms we experienced, I think my favorite was the 2s classroom. The 1s classroom was fine. The staff has very little turnover at that level, though the preschool rooms seem to have more turnover, possibly because people are actual preschool teachers and get other jobs teaching elsewhere. The staff in the baby room have been there for a long time. They are loving and dedicated. I know people who have sent multiple children there, sometimes even paying double tuition (which is steep). The kids get a lot of outside time, but you have to be okay with the city aspect of that outside time. There is no playground on site, and no windows until preschool. We were there through the transition from their previous location, and the new space is a huge improvement.

The directors are wonderful, and the community is very tightly knit. DD is still close friends with someone she met in the 1s room several years later, though we are all in different places in life. We have also run into a few of the teachers out and about (we live in the same neighborhood), and DD is always excited to see them and tell them what she's up to. If I had another baby tomorrow, I would move heaven and earth to send that baby there, even with the price tag, because in my experience, it is totally worth it.

We were at another center for close to a year before getting off the waiting list, and I found the Huckleberry staff to be much more loving and nurturing than the previous center.

This sounds like it was written by the center director masquerading as a parent.

I promise that that's not the case, but I suppose I can see why you would think that. Just a parent who was very satisfied with our experience.

Why don't you provide an email address for the OP so she can contact you in person?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old is your child?

We were there for our first and are expecting again and will definitely send #2 there. Relative to others centers, there is little turnover in staff, and we like that the owners are the directors and very engaged. Kids also got a lot of outdoor time. We especially liked the infant and 2s classroom. (We went to DCPS so never got to the preschool room, but people seem to like it.) I think the 1s classroom was fine but the weakest of all of them.

Happy to answer specific questions.

I'm looking for infant care and didn't get a great vibe. Center seemed small and cramped. Didn't see a lot of books or high-quality educational toys for the kids. Staff looked like typical "day care workers"--not a lot of smiles. Definitely didn't get the feeling that these people loved or really even liked their jobs. If you have more specific examples about why you like the program I would like to hear them.

We were there when DD was a baby a few years ago. She started in the 1s classroom and stayed through several months of preschool. Of the 2 classrooms we experienced, I think my favorite was the 2s classroom. The 1s classroom was fine. The staff has very little turnover at that level, though the preschool rooms seem to have more turnover, possibly because people are actual preschool teachers and get other jobs teaching elsewhere. The staff in the baby room have been there for a long time. They are loving and dedicated. I know people who have sent multiple children there, sometimes even paying double tuition (which is steep). The kids get a lot of outside time, but you have to be okay with the city aspect of that outside time. There is no playground on site, and no windows until preschool. We were there through the transition from their previous location, and the new space is a huge improvement.

The directors are wonderful, and the community is very tightly knit. DD is still close friends with someone she met in the 1s room several years later, though we are all in different places in life. We have also run into a few of the teachers out and about (we live in the same neighborhood), and DD is always excited to see them and tell them what she's up to. If I had another baby tomorrow, I would move heaven and earth to send that baby there, even with the price tag, because in my experience, it is totally worth it.

We were at another center for close to a year before getting off the waiting list, and I found the Huckleberry staff to be much more loving and nurturing than the previous center.

This sounds like it was written by the center director masquerading as a parent.

I promise that that's not the case, but I suppose I can see why you would think that. Just a parent who was very satisfied with our experience.

Why don't you provide an email address for the OP so she can contact you in person?

I'm not about to post my personal email list on DCUM? Is that your smell test for who's sockpuppeting, whether someone will provide contact information?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old is your child?

We were there for our first and are expecting again and will definitely send #2 there. Relative to others centers, there is little turnover in staff, and we like that the owners are the directors and very engaged. Kids also got a lot of outdoor time. We especially liked the infant and 2s classroom. (We went to DCPS so never got to the preschool room, but people seem to like it.) I think the 1s classroom was fine but the weakest of all of them.

Happy to answer specific questions.

I'm looking for infant care and didn't get a great vibe. Center seemed small and cramped. Didn't see a lot of books or high-quality educational toys for the kids. Staff looked like typical "day care workers"--not a lot of smiles. Definitely didn't get the feeling that these people loved or really even liked their jobs. If you have more specific examples about why you like the program I would like to hear them.

We were there when DD was a baby a few years ago. She started in the 1s classroom and stayed through several months of preschool. Of the 2 classrooms we experienced, I think my favorite was the 2s classroom. The 1s classroom was fine. The staff has very little turnover at that level, though the preschool rooms seem to have more turnover, possibly because people are actual preschool teachers and get other jobs teaching elsewhere. The staff in the baby room have been there for a long time. They are loving and dedicated. I know people who have sent multiple children there, sometimes even paying double tuition (which is steep). The kids get a lot of outside time, but you have to be okay with the city aspect of that outside time. There is no playground on site, and no windows until preschool. We were there through the transition from their previous location, and the new space is a huge improvement.

The directors are wonderful, and the community is very tightly knit. DD is still close friends with someone she met in the 1s room several years later, though we are all in different places in life. We have also run into a few of the teachers out and about (we live in the same neighborhood), and DD is always excited to see them and tell them what she's up to. If I had another baby tomorrow, I would move heaven and earth to send that baby there, even with the price tag, because in my experience, it is totally worth it.

We were at another center for close to a year before getting off the waiting list, and I found the Huckleberry staff to be much more loving and nurturing than the previous center.

This sounds like it was written by the center director masquerading as a parent.

I promise that that's not the case, but I suppose I can see why you would think that. Just a parent who was very satisfied with our experience.

Why don't you provide an email address for the OP so she can contact you in person?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old is your child?

We were there for our first and are expecting again and will definitely send #2 there. Relative to others centers, there is little turnover in staff, and we like that the owners are the directors and very engaged. Kids also got a lot of outdoor time. We especially liked the infant and 2s classroom. (We went to DCPS so never got to the preschool room, but people seem to like it.) I think the 1s classroom was fine but the weakest of all of them.

Happy to answer specific questions.

I'm looking for infant care and didn't get a great vibe. Center seemed small and cramped. Didn't see a lot of books or high-quality educational toys for the kids. Staff looked like typical "day care workers"--not a lot of smiles. Definitely didn't get the feeling that these people loved or really even liked their jobs. If you have more specific examples about why you like the program I would like to hear them.

We were there when DD was a baby a few years ago. She started in the 1s classroom and stayed through several months of preschool. Of the 2 classrooms we experienced, I think my favorite was the 2s classroom. The 1s classroom was fine. The staff has very little turnover at that level, though the preschool rooms seem to have more turnover, possibly because people are actual preschool teachers and get other jobs teaching elsewhere. The staff in the baby room have been there for a long time. They are loving and dedicated. I know people who have sent multiple children there, sometimes even paying double tuition (which is steep). The kids get a lot of outside time, but you have to be okay with the city aspect of that outside time. There is no playground on site, and no windows until preschool. We were there through the transition from their previous location, and the new space is a huge improvement.

The directors are wonderful, and the community is very tightly knit. DD is still close friends with someone she met in the 1s room several years later, though we are all in different places in life. We have also run into a few of the teachers out and about (we live in the same neighborhood), and DD is always excited to see them and tell them what she's up to. If I had another baby tomorrow, I would move heaven and earth to send that baby there, even with the price tag, because in my experience, it is totally worth it.

We were at another center for close to a year before getting off the waiting list, and I found the Huckleberry staff to be much more loving and nurturing than the previous center.

This sounds like it was written by the center director masquerading as a parent.

I promise that that's not the case, but I suppose I can see why you would think that. Just a parent who was very satisfied with our experience.

Why don't you provide an email address for the OP so she can contact you in person?

I'm not about to post my personal email list on DCUM? Is that your smell test for who's sockpuppeting, whether someone will provide contact information?

New poster here. Plenty of moms/dads post the first part of their name and write "at gmail dot com." It's a common practice on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

I am the first PP (not the person who replied to you that you think is the center director, but I am pretty sure I know who that is, and I assure you it is an actual parent). We were very happy there. My daughter had Ms. Marcia in the infant room who was just amazing--so loving, so helpful to us as we were first time parents--my daughter was completely attached to her. We also liked the other 3 caregivers, but we didn't know them as well because Ms. Marcia was our primary.

We also, like PP, had a great experience in the 2s. room (strawberries). I think there's been some turnover since we left, but the 4 teachers who were there when we were there (two of whom are still there) coordinated really nicely various activities around the weekly theme. I also really

Like I said before, I think the 1s (raspberry) room is the weakest. Just seemed a bit chaotic, maybe because we were coming from the infant (blueberry) room, which was much more calm. But we had a terrific experience in the other rooms, and based on that, I can definitely recommend the center.

We were a different center before we went to Huck and did not have a good experience there, so I think OP is good to be doing research. OP, if you got a bad vibe and it doesn't feel like the right center for you, I'd just keep looking to find something that suits you, which may be a nanny share. I found the Huck space to be more inviting than a lot of the other centers I toured.

[Anonymous]

I don't have a child there, but someone on a mommy listserv posted a story about how she was at the playground and the caregivers (from this center) were a bit harsh with some of the kids, pulling one roughly by the arm and scolding another who had soiled his pants harshly speaking with him and saying he'd just have to sit in it until they got back. I don't have a child there and had heard they had a good reputation but thought I'd share that story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a child there, but someone on a mommy listserv posted a story about how she was at the playground and the caregivers (from this center) were a bit harsh with some of the kids, pulling one roughly by the arm and scolding another who had soiled his pants harshly speaking with him and saying he'd just have to sit in it until they got back. I don't have a child there and had heard they had a good reputation but thought I'd share that story.

Not defending any harsh comments you might have heard, but if they're at the playground, what other option would they have other than have the kid sit in it until they get back to the daycare? I mean, they aren't going to take extra pants and undies to the park just in case someone has an accident.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a child there, but someone on a mommy listserv posted a story about how she was at the playground and the caregivers (from this center) were a bit harsh with some of the kids, pulling one roughly by the arm and scolding another who had soiled his pants harshly speaking with him and saying he'd just have to sit in it until they got back. I don't have a child there and had heard they had a good reputation but thought I'd share that story.

Not defending any harsh comments you might have heard, but if they're at the playground, what other option would they have other than have the kid sit in it until they get back to the daycare? I mean, they aren't going to take extra pants and undies to the park just in case someone has an accident.

Oh puh-leez. There is a way to treat a child who has soiled his or her pants so they don't feel bad about themselves or punished by their caregivers. You know, like saying things like "it's ok, you had an accident and accidents happen. As soon as we get back we'll get you into dry clothes." And sorry but if it's a BM you should never make a child sit in it. An assistant teacher could take the child back, the director could come out and take the child back to the program and change him/her etc. Between this story and the other story on DCUM a while back about the Huckleberry Cheesecake teachers ignoring the kids when they were outside because they were too busy on their phones, I will never consider this program. Those are major red flags that staff are just run of the mill day care workers and have no passion or interest in being early childhood educators.