Discovery Time Learning Center (Del Ray)

[Anonymous]

Well this black woman isn't poor, I don't live in public housing and I'm educated. I work in childcare because when I tried to look for nanny work, no one would hire me because I've never been a nanny or didn't speak Spanish. Yes the pay sucks, but I love babies and enjoy going to work everyday to see them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same reason daycares in Crystal City have a hard time staffing quality people at the corporate daycares. Only the true workforce dregs will take daycare worker pay in those areas. And In Alexandria you are getting uneducated, non-English speaking immigrants or poor black women from the nearby public housing.

If it wasn't for the poor black women and non-English speaking citizens of this area, there wouldn't be any teachers. Who really wants to work for $9.25- $14 an hour in this expensive area. What's wrong with people who just have experience providing care for children because sitting in a classroom can only get you so far. Most of them are taking classes anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same reason daycares in Crystal City have a hard time staffing quality people at the corporate daycares. Only the true workforce dregs will take daycare worker pay in those areas. And In Alexandria you are getting uneducated, non-English speaking immigrants or poor black women from the nearby public housing.

Hope you aren't raising kids or teaching!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same reason daycares in Crystal City have a hard time staffing quality people at the corporate daycares. Only the true workforce dregs will take daycare worker pay in those areas. And In Alexandria you are getting uneducated, non-English speaking immigrants or poor black women from the nearby public housing.

You are an IDIOT!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same reason daycares in Crystal City have a hard time staffing quality people at the corporate daycares. Only the true workforce dregs will take daycare worker pay in those areas. And In Alexandria you are getting uneducated, non-English speaking immigrants or poor black women from the nearby public housing.

This is true in some places, but definitely not true at Discovery Time, based on what we've observed (we have one child there, though it hasn't been that long).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't believe they left that toddler in the high chair for two hours! That is child abuse.

Yes my child is in that class and I know this situation because I spent lots of time in that class what I observed was a "busy" toddler who did nothing but bite in that classroom, the teachers did all they could do they shadow him made him their special friend etc.. from what I observed the days I was there he bit at least 4 times a day so the teacher in the class placed him in the high chair with crayons and paper and different activities, although the child in a high chair sounds bad the child was not in any danger nor upset. The only thing wrong in this situation is that the owner should have terminated that family after the first bite!

You are not a parent. No parent sits around their child's daycare room for hours upon hours "observing" for days and days.

Plenty of parents sit in classrooms to see how the day of their child goes. If they aren't in the classroom observing they will watching the cameras that is placed in most preschool classrooms!

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised no one has made a mention of the new Director, Ms. Collette. I have a child there and think she's fantastic. It seems like things have turned around and are solidly taking shape according to the owner's vision. The infant room teachers are established and I know each of them by name. It's a great team, and my baby is well-taken care of.

Just curious what other parents have thought since Ms. Collette has come on-board.

[Anonymous]

I LOVE Ms. Collette!!!!!!! We only just started in the 2's room and infant room this week but we are pleased!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the update 14:06 and 20:24, we are on the wait list for an infant this spring and would like to keep an eye on how things are going. we met the new director when we toured but i think it was her first week.

(and hopefully we can leave aside the racist comments on this chain going forward! there were some pretty insulting comments there...)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't believe they left that toddler in the high chair for two hours! That is child abuse.

Yes my child is in that class and I know this situation because I spent lots of time in that class what I observed was a "busy" toddler who did nothing but bite in that classroom, the teachers did all they could do they shadow him made him their special friend etc.. from what I observed the days I was there he bit at least 4 times a day so the teacher in the class placed him in the high chair with crayons and paper and different activities, although the child in a high chair sounds bad the child was not in any danger nor upset. The only thing wrong in this situation is that the owner should have terminated that family after the first bite!

You are not a parent. No parent sits around their child's daycare room for hours upon hours "observing" for days and days.

well, can't vouch for whether this poster is a parent or not, but there are video cameras in the classrooms, and parents can access them real-time (per our tour at least, i am not a current parent of a child at this facility). I thought i read in the Alexandria Child Services report that this (looking at the video feed) is how the parents of the biter realized the situation with their toddler. Aside from this situation, the cameras in the classrooms do make me feel more comfortable, although assume it would be quite distracting to have this access while at work!

[Anonymous]

My DD used to go there before we got a spot at a center closer to our house and I watched the live stream all the time. It was wonderful to be able to check in every so often to see what she was doing. The company that they used even has an app so I could watch on my iPhone. Our new center doesn't have that, which is a drag. Although i'm probably more productive at work now, too.

[Anonymous]

I am due with my first baby in January and am considering Discovery Time. I have a couple questions...does anyone have an infant currently enrolled in the program? Any feedback? Also what are the costs and is there a waiting list? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

The cameras are AWESOME!!!! Although I'm sure other places must have this too, but I haven't heard of any.

[Anonymous]

tons of daycares have cameras it isn't a new idea.

Is there a playground yet?

[Anonymous]

16:49, there is a wait list. I'm also on the wait list so can't help with feedback! I'm also interested how things are with the new director. And it's still very new.