Complaint Review: KinderCare Learning Center - Fountain Valley California

I was looking at enrolling my son in a KinderCare.  But if there are teachers there like you that don't even take proper care of their own child, I don't think I want my child attending kindercare. 

"I've been there 2 months and during most of that time, my baby was enrolled in the infant class. She has never been so sick in her life! She started with two fevers of 103.6 in 2 weeks, then she got bronchitis and an ear infection, then she never got better from being sick so she ended up with Pneumonia! After that finally cleared, she got pink eye--TWICE!!!! "

In less then two months your baby that hasn't been sick and all of a sudden started being plagued by all of these ailments, you "watched" your daughter sobbing at a teachers feet and got her switched to the said toddler room for a price decrease...  It seems you weren't taking too good of care of your daughter yourself?  You fit right in with the crappy group you are bashing.

Cameo - Really you are so wrong about so many things. First of all you were one of the many employees who called out ALL the time for every little bump bruise and scratch to you or your child. Fountain Valley like all other centers do their best. And yes we were short staffed however we all worked as a team..well.. everyone but you. Most people know the first few months to a new school requires you to build immunity to all kinds of sicknesses. Also you did you fair share of "screaming" at the children. I was in the room a lot with your daughter and she very rarely took naps. As a mom who works there you try not to let your child see you to avoid making them upset. You on the other hand would keep looking trying to catch her eye so she would see you and want you. Almost like you need your daughter to be upset and needed her to want you. Also the whole chin and tooth thing. I saw her hit her chin ON THE TABLE and the teacher handling it did her best especially with an over protective psycho mother like you to deal with. At least she has a sane father. And last but not least Laura has to be one of the nicest and amazing people to work for. How dare you even use her name to describe the center. Yes the center has issues but I think you have more. Leave names out of it and grow up. Oh and what was it that you wrote on your resignation letter??? Oh I dare you to post that!!! Because you know it contradicts everything you wrote here... Advice to other parents looking for care: Every center has its issues just know to tour them a few times and at different times of the day and see if it works for your family. Also talk with parents who go there. They can be the best help in finding care.

I worked for a Kindercare in Central Pennsylvania for over a year and from the first month, I could see that this "center" did not have the children in its best interest. We were also, as other KLCs, having our "ratios" maintained by juggling teachers from room to room as well as switching the children from room to room. This routine always causes so much confusion and frustration that the teachers are short-tempered and the children start biting, fighting and more. By the time parents arrive, we try make it "look good" as we've been instructed. Lying to parents about their child day is a golden rule so they believe their child has had the perfect daycare experience. Full time employees are sent home early so the college kids can take our hours. Less pay for the college kids makes it financially smart move for KLC to save money. Often a 40 hour a week worker is lucky to get enough hours to qualify as full time. Complain and you get your hours cut more often or extra dirty duties suddenly pop up or you hear criticism flying your way in retaliation. I cannot even begin to get into the dirty conditions of the less than safe equipment and toys. Nothing is sanitized as they claim they are. Carpeting in my center hadn't been cleaned at all, not in over a year! We request "hand-me-downs" when it came to bouncers and other items that KLC refused to buy. Broken rocking chairs were unsafe. Toys that have mold inside of them did not seem to be of much concern. They claim to have a "curriculum" but no parent can count on it being utilized more than 5 minutes a day. Kindergarten aside, the kids are "maintained" and that is about it. When a 2 year old almost had her finger cut off by a heavy metal door and an inattentive teacher, the door, noting changed, and they sweet talked their way out if it. If that parent knew that the door problem persisted with no changes or even a harsh talk to all employees to prevent it from happening again, well, they claim no lawsuit, no harm, forget it. KLC fakes it well. There are some wonderful people working there who try very hard to make it better but as hourly employees, they are not heard in any useful way. Finally, the worst event was when MRSA was diagnosed and we were told NOT to let any parent know. This was the final straw for me as I knew of a sibling who ALSO had MRSA in another room and there was no doubt that it had spread. We did NOT sterilize anything in the rooms nor did we do anything to help it NOT affect others I the center. When another employees expressed concern, they were told that KLC policy stated that no one is permitted to tell ANY parent. The implication was clear that our jobs would be on the line if we did. I left shortly thereafter. I would rather live under a bridge with my child in MY care than let Kindercare touch my child. I pray to God that someone would open a full investigation into the safety of this place before another child gets hurt, sick or worse.

Not all Kindercares are neglectful but they are all out for profit. Janaua, you may have found a caring CD and AC. There are a few out there like that. I was in a great Kindercare with happy, caring staff as well. The problem being is given the fact that the State ratios and guidelines I dont feel are very good for the well being for the children. I left Children's World as an AC (now Kindercare) in a Phoenix center because I would not allow my own child to be left there. Most of the parents seemed so happy there and the kids seemed ok. The parents also were so blind to a lot of things. First of all have you ever seen the ratios of these rooms? Having 29 kids in a 3's room with 3 teachers is ridiculous. In the 4's it's worse. They have 45 kids with 3 teachers. This is the AZ state ratio and what Kindercare follows. It causes a lot of chaos and stress on the kids and teachers. Kindercare follows whatever the State guidline says. NAEYC recommends much lower ratios. Some Kindercares are NAEYC certified and I for the life of me don't understand how they received it. The one I worked at in AZ was certified yet our ratios were that of the state ratios and not NAEYC ratios. Still even being certified it was chaos and too many kids in the rooms. The stresses on the CD and AD to perform and keep current families there and enroll as many kids as possible is ridiculous. The ones who paid on Monday morning like they were supposed to and had their kids there full time were treated like gold so they would stay. We did everything we could to keep that wonderful relationship even to the extent of checking on their sick kids if they were gone for surgery, illness etc. It's all to keep the family happy with us, nothing more, nothing less. Yes, you may have a good CD and AD but they still follow the guidelines that all Kindercares and that is skimping on materials, food for your child and paying the staff bottom of the barrell pay. They are hoping that the CD is so wonderful that the staff are loyal to her and accept the horrible pay.

Please do not assume that all kindercare's are the same, my children go to a kindercare in AZ and I have never felt so relieved in my life. The center Director has a great support staff and all the parent's I have spoken to have said this is the most family oriented center. I've been invited to pop in at anytime which I have done numerous times and each time (no matter what hours of the day) I see my center director. She has children of her own and is completely devoted to every child in the center...I have seen children cry becase they have to go home. Please note that it all depends on the Center Director and the way she is as a person. We have so many family events and I get calls at work in the event that my child does get hurt. I have a 2 year old and we all know how many times a child can get into things. I have received incident reports even for a scratch that I knew was from home, but the teachers state that they noticed a scratch or a bump at drop off and was hoping that I would let them know if my daugh gets hurt at home. My older son was in the hosp for an operation and low and behold the the CD, AD and third in charge arrive bearing gifts for my little boy. Like I said it all depends on who is running the center...my CD is a sweet caring individual and it reflects on her staff and her children that I have met thus far. Please search and do trial days before enrolling.I was told by this center director that I should tour her facility a few times before enrolling, because she said it is something she would do as a parent.