Coming from a person who's had more then a year experience working here.. please don't send spend your money on this facility. Not saying it's an overall horrible place but even for a daycare that charges more then what they pay their workers, there's definitely happened more bad things here then good. If I could rate working here 0 stars I would but I can't unfortunately. The infant rooms are a solid 9.5/10 but from the pre toddler rooms that call each other names and argue in the rooms in front of babies to toddler 1's where the woman gossip about how wasted they're going to get on the weekends to toddler 2's which fairly have caring enough staff but some temporary staff that go into that room never clean. Two's ? Good Lord.. don't even get me started. One of the leads in that room currently talks to the kids worst then if they were prisoners poor babies. Pre School is also a fairly well staffed room but Pre-K? The lead goes from room to room talking junk about each room to other rooms as if they cared, talks junk about the boss just talk junk about the staff to the boss, she's okay with the kids, just wished she didn't speak so explicitly in front of them. But from kids fingers being cut, to kids getting stitches in their eyebrows to the Director arguing with parents over brightwheel and sending out COVID payments just to get them returned from the banks because they didn't take off "taxes" and sending them back into the accounts of the staff is crazy. And let's not forget how 75% of the staff, take drugs definitely not off the clock :) Hopefully Gina starts making better choices on how she hires people or at least not hire the same kind of people in the new daycare she has in Shelton. P.S. Gina, there's still sheet rock falling off behind some shelves in a couple classrooms if you happen to notice which I'm sure you haven't which was supposed to be resolved the week that you closed in August where you barely did any adjustments to the classrooms. read more

I was once a worker the over work their staff. Gina is incredibly rude. Fights break out between staff and yes I mean physical while children are in the room and it's a horrible place not only to work but to send your children they don't believe in not yelling they yell at the kids all the time and it isn't okay read more

I rate this center a 1star for several reasons that there isn't enough space to type it all in but I will summarize. I had my infant there from the end of April 2022- the beginning of August 2022. She caught RSV and then Covid from a staff member within one month of each other. This delayed her much needed surgery for tubes to be placed in her ears. Gina, the owner, refused to make some sort of financial agreement due to my child getting sick at her center. I recognized that they NEVER wipe down the toys or wash the floors. Gina had several discrepancies from the initial zoom meeting to the time my baby was enrolled. Most of the staff are in their 20s so most don't know what they are doing. One staff kept my baby from me as she was crying and screaming for me. She snapped at me saying that she was trying to put her socks on because I had complained about that. Mind you, I never complained: I politely asked on the Brightwheel app that they put her socks on when they notice them off. Her socks always came back dirty upon pick up. The center is overall dirty and that's why my child kept getting viruses there instead of staff wiping down everything constantly to prevent the spread of infection from child to child. My baby would come home with dried boogers on her nose which means they had been sitting on her face for a while. I noticed the same with the other babies. I feel some of the staff care about the babies and others, it's just a job for them. Gina is also a classic gaslighter and will constantly make excuses when a complaint is made. She only cares about the money. Not once did she reach out and ask if my child was ok when she had RSV and Covid. Do not send your child there. I also noticed in the cameras that some of the staff do not engage with the babies at all. They clean the high chairs and put away the toys and feed the babies but no real engagement. I had to question if they actually do any sort of educational curriculum because I never saw it in the cameras and nothing was coming home. After that conversation, pictures were posted on the Brightwheel app that they would read and do Art. I think that Gina lied to parents about her program being so exceptional just to fill her rooms. I am so glad Gina kicked me out of the center because I was already unhappy and this was due to me being upset for my child contracting covid and missing her surgery. Gina made a list of reasons why babies get sick at daycares and not once took accountability for her staff passing it to my baby and other babies. She wanted 100% tuition while my baby was out of the center with at least 7-8 days being out for each virus! It's unsustainable as a working, single mother. Gina's comment was "I didn't bring Covid to the center!" She is an emotionally immature individual with questionable Narcissistic traits. She doesn't know how to speak to parents who have concerns and she doesn't train her staff well but I can see why because if she lacks the necessary skills than neither will her staff. I did enjoy working with Jenn and Jaz but overall, was not happy with Gina or some of the other staff. read more

I just want to say that for a child under 12 months, I don't think it's a nurturing atmospher. There is no interaction. The child's basic needs are taken care of. The children are put on the play mat, fed, changed, and put in for naps. There is no interaction. Toddlers need eye contact, to be spoken to and played with. More than their basic needs being tended to. Watching the adult walk back and forth and the baby watching, waiting for acknowledgment is just heartbreaking. read more

My son has been attending this daycare since October 2014. The staff did wonderful with his transition and even encouraged me to call and check on him. There is an open door policy and there were many times when I took advantage of it and he was always happy and being taken care of. Gina is the director has always been reassuring and available. She has always answered any of my questions and has continued to keep me updated on any changes and how my son is learning. There are many teachers there and I can name a few that have done a wonderful job with my son. Ms. Carol, Ms. Jen, Ms. Kathy, Ms. Shelia, Ms. Megan, Ms. Ashley, Ms. Jia and many more. Any contact that my son has had with all the staff here has been a positive one. My son has learned so much being here and I could not be happier with my decision to have him placed here. I can go to work and have peace of mind that my child is taken care of by the staff here as he was their own. He is shown to love and share, and what it is to have friends and feelings. Most importantly he is learning number, shapes, and colors. There is a curriculum that is followed. A great environment to have a child in. read more

I planned on using Once Upon a Time for daycare for my daughter. However our pediatrician was concerned about allergies and strongly advised me not to have my child attend a facility with rabbits. I even rehomed our dog. I told the director more than a month in advance and kindly asked for my $300 deposit back and she refused. She had zero compassion or understanding. Beware most of the positive reviews are written by employees who are just trying to win brownie points with a heartless boss. I don't recommend this daycare. read more