We will have our oldest child at this Fisher's Landing KinderCare for 9 years come this fall, our…read moresecond child here for 6 years as he started a few months after he was born.
The reason we've been at this specific care center for so long is the staff and how it is run. If there is ever sickness exposure, an injury, something between two kids, etc, we are always made aware via the app and email, we have never hesitated to speak directly with the staff about our children's situation, let alone the Director if we ever felt her input or support would be helpful. Big or small, Director Megan and the staff have taken it seriously, listened to all sides, and made necessary steps to address. It is also our top priority to take our kids somewhere where the staff's priority is safety and making sure the kids are cared for, something we haven't had to question for 9 years.
I also appreciate that the areas where we would like to see improvement are really nothing we'd consider a "big deal" or a "make or break". First, we've at times felt there's a bit overcommunication or it is dramatized when a kid isn't "perfect" all day. What I mean is, if my kid pushed my other kid, I do appreciate being informed, but I don't necessarily need a staff member to flag me down with wide eyes and say "it was a rough day" and then proceed to tell me that's why. Other staff, typically that have children of their own, are usually a bit softer on that front, informing us of the situation, how they addressed it, and ask if we have any questions. They don't look the other way, they don't allow it to go unaddressed or let me go uninformed, but it's not dramatized and the first thing I hear when I'm seeing my kids for the first time that day at pickup. Second, KinderCare is not a free-for-all, let kids go at it, facility, however I will say I wish there was sometimes a bit more structure in the School Age classroom. It's a challenge with that many different ages, grades, schedules in one room but I know my kids have done better when it's either summer when there's a full curriculum, or when the classroom goes through projects or other planned activities after school/on short days.
The last thing I want to say is while no center is perfect, I just appreciate the heck out of this staff and their Director. Whenever we've heard any wild story from our kids, or our kids are the ones who are at fault, I feel like their team is our partner in finding a solution. They care about each of these kids and are additional cheerleaders for them. Our kid's first teacher at this KinderCare from almost 9 years ago is still a close friend and our go-to babysitter.