I was referred to Starchild by trusted sources who praised its reputation from 15 years ago, but my experience was disappointing. While the curriculum for older kids seems promising, the infant and toddler programs are overhyped and underdelivered. Despite advertising features like sign language or Spanish, only Japanese was offered for babies, which felt less practical for my one-year-old.
I delayed enrolling my daughter to save money by transitioning her to the toddler room after her first birthday, but I was still charged the infant rate because of undisclosed milestones like walking and holding a sippy cup. For $1,500 a month, I expected more transparency and support. Cameras are outdated, staff play favorites with babies, and my daughter--who has ASD--was often overlooked because she's quiet and immobile. Babies would crawl and walk over her (literally walking) while teachers played on their phones. The solution was to put her in a bouncer for hours away from the mobile babies. These issues led me to withdraw her and find a better daycare offering one-on-one care and inclusive pricing.
Management and billing practices are equally poor. I had a $3,000 balance due to their billing error, unresolved credit for missed weeks, and unauthorized charges. Despite repeated attempts to resolve the issue, my concerns were ignored, and my account was sent to collections without any proper notice--no voicemails, no letters to my house, and no emails. After the manager who initially promised to address my concerns left the company, I was referred to a different billing manager, who also failed to respond to my emails. The lack of communication and professionalism across the board is unacceptable.
In hindsight, Withdrawing my child was ultimately the best decision. It led me to a daycare that better supports her needs without outdated cameras or unjustified fees. Starchild may do well with older children, but for infants and toddlers, and children with disabilities it's simply not worth the money. There's no extra attention given to babies or children with special needs. For $1,500 a month, I expect teachers to maximize opportunities for one-on-one interactions, especially during downtime--not leave my baby in a bouncer for two hours while doing paperwork so they can leave early or playing on their phones. Firing one manager didn't resolve the systemic issues at this school because the entire staff fails to follow through. read more