We chose an In-Home Day Care provider who's been caring for children for over 20 years. She's licensed, her record with the county checked out and she was personally recommended. However, this didn't prevent our child from being harmed. It was not a serious injury (dislocated elbow - also referred to as Nursemaids elbow)and is not an unusual injury for children under four. However, it meant a trip to emergency room to have the arm X-rayed and adjusted. I had actually witnessed her lifting other young children in her care off of the floor with only one arm. And the care giver admitted that she knew something was wrong with our baby's arm but said she didn't think it was serious because the baby didn't cry all day so she felt there was no need to tell us about it until we picked him up later that afternoon. Needless to say we didn't take him back and we reported her to the county.
I've been at home with the baby ever since, but I need to get back to work. I'm looking into day care centers at the moment. I'm not willing to put him in another In-Home/Family Day Care situation. Does anyone have their children enrolled in Appleseed or New Horizons? I'm looking for something in the Richfield area.
Thanks to everyone for your feedback and suggestions regarding day care. We're currently looking at Appleseed Montessori, which I checked out earlier this week. I'll be looking at a few others that Beth suggested before the end of the year as well. Thanks again for the advice.
I'm so sorry to hear that your son was hurt, that had to be awful. I don't know much about centers, but I have heard nothing but terrible things about New Horizon centers. When I was looking into daycares (centers v. in-home) everyone I talked to said stay away from New Horizon. I have heard nothing (good or bad) about Appleseed. Good luck and I hope you find somewhere safe and loving.
I would not reccomend New horizons. My personal experience was not good, and I have a coworker that took her children out at another center. I am looking for home care as well for my four month old.
I second Jessica's recommendation for Ebenezer Intergenerational. My son is in their preschool program, and the staff is amazing. It might be the wrong direction, but maybe peace of mind is worth a little bit of hassle?
At any rate, the staff is tremendous, the programming is out of this world, and I honestly cannot say enough good things.
We actually moved our son to Ebenezer on Jessica's recommendation! :) (Thanks again!)
Good luck, and I'm so sorry to hear about your peanut's bad experience.
I worked in a New Horizon, and was left as a teacher when I was only an aide and never supposed to be alone with the children. If you want a place that cares about the children and cares how they are run, I would look into churches. Any of the big names like New Horizon and Children's World are usually not run well. Everything is run by the corporation, and the director is just there to do what they are told and most things are never really checked up on. They hire anyone.. the teachers I worked with were nice in front of the parents, but from what I saw when the parents were gone, I would NEVER leave my son with any of them for even 2 minutes! Nothing was done the way it was said. My son is now going to Ebenezer Intergenerational in Burnsville. That is probably the wrong direction for you, but I looked at almost every daycare center, and none compared to this one. He has been there for 4 months now, and I love it as much as he does. I am very impressed with it. In Eagan, I have heard the Intergenerational Learning Center is good. Otherwise, I would look at a Montessori. Good luck!
I would caution you about New Horizon. My husband and I looked into center care (specifically New Horizon) and we were not pleased with the facility and the staff. One of my co-workers had her daughter enrolled and had so many problems she removed her daughter from their care and reported them to children services. Her daughter was left on several occasions in a bouncy chair facing a wall. My co worker picked her daughter up to find her diaper so loaded with urin it was sagging and cold. Ava (her daughter) had such severe diaper rash she was bleeding and was taken to the DR. I have witnessed the teachers yelling at the children saying they were naughty and going to get spanked and their parents were going to be angry at them. I could go on for quite a while, however, I dont want to drone on :) I would stay away! We found a wonderful in home provider, I would just keep searching the website and hopefully someone responds! Best of luck to you!
S., I am so sorry to hear about your baby's injury. It sounds like it was accidental, but no one should be picking children up by the arm like that! When you saw her do that in the past, did you say anything about it? I am glad your son is ok, and glad you reported her.
I have 3 kids of my own and I have been a home daycare provider for 15 years, plus taught in centers for several years before that. I worked as a sub for New Horizons, so went to several different locations. I, personally, would not want my child at any of the locations I went to, but that was several years ago, so they may have gotten better (but by everyone else's responses, it doesn't sound like it). Large chain center have one goal, to make money. It doesn't really matter to them how they do it, they just want to make money. Kids do not come first, from what I have seen. I used to work at Kinderberry Hill near Southdale in Edina, not sure if they are still there or not, this was quite a few years ago. They were VERY good, high quality, a place I was proud to work at. Ironically, they are run by the same corporation as New Horizion, but are their "top of the line" centers. At the time I worked there, all staff was teacher qualified and they had low ratios. It was a nice place to work, so staff stayed around longer than at your typical center. I also worked at St. David's School for Child Development and Family Services and they are excellant. I worked in Mtka, but they have a location in Richfield. I highly recommend them, as well. High quality care, wonderful preschool program, great place to work.
I just want to say that some home providers give us a bad name, although it does sound like your provider did not intentionally hurt your child. Home daycares can be a wonderful option for child care. Good luck.
S.
DONOT use New Horizon I have nothing but complaints about those centers because for 1. my daughter attended one and I have a huge list of what went wrong and 2. I worked as traveling photographer for preschool pics and was in New Horizions all over the state and could give you a list of the terrible things I saw.
I'm a picky parent you could say and I have tried several centers as well as working as a traveling photographer in daycare centers. I'll give you a quick list of one's I liked.
Especially for Children
KinderKare
Montessori Schools
Hiring a Nanny
Hiring another SAHM that only has her own kids plus yours
Hi,
I am sorry to hear about your little one.
Personally, I think that everywhere you can find bad/ good comment for the same daycare.
I was traumatized when I had to put my baby on a day care, I heard so much bad thing about everyone of the day care-child care providers that I was almost thinking into quit my job and stay with my baby (which I cannot afford).
The reality is that everything is depending of how you look at everything.
My recommendation is to “pre-select” some of them and then go with your baby to each one of those pre-selected. Most of the centers have one day free if you are looking for a daycare.
Try to analyze the interaction with your baby, and then follow your instinct.
Even thought for most of the parents the New Horizon doesn’t work well, for me was the best option for my baby. When I went there, I felt that everybody have a good chemistry with me and with my baby, which is the most important factor for me.
Actually, was the only center that I felt that way, I went also to others centers like the Children care, knowledge center, Kinderberr, etc and I didn’t like what I saw or felt on those centers.
Today, everyday that I left my baby on his daycare he is smiling; every time that he sees his teachers, he wants to go with them, which is a good sign. I also try to go and check from time to time (different hours) to see how they treat with the babies when it is not suppose to be a pick time hours, and they are always playing or taking care of the babies.
So my recommendation is that you have to make your own research, go to some pre-selected centers, ask A LOT OF QUESTIONS and follow your instinct. Even though you can hear bad things for ALL Centers, you have to put your baby in one of those.
Good luck!
I love Fraser in Richfield-they integrate children with special needs and those with typical needs into one classroom. Check them out at www.fraser.org. Both my boys go and I have felt comfortable leaving them there since day one. It is so much better in so many ways than your typical daycare center.
