I wrote this almost two years ago and chose not to share it. I've talked to friends since and they encouraged me to share our story. I feel like they really wronged my daughter and I would hate to see it happen to someone else.
We did not have a good experience at this school. I've felt compelled to write about our experience just so other parents don't have to go through the same thing.
We put our daughter, a week into turning 3 into this daycare. We thought the layout and endless activities would but fun but quickly realized they rely heavily on that appeal and not an actual age appropriate curriculum.
Our vivacious, outgoing and friendly little girl
quickly started shelling up and crying every time we dropped her off. My heart would sink every time I dropped her off, when I'd pick her up I'd try to get more information from her teacher but she would always say great and be busy with the other kids. It was very difficult to communicate with them to figure out what was going on. With our daughter being three, there was only so much we could get out of her in words but the sadness in her eyes when we were leaving said enough.
She would say the boys would hit her, tell us stories of the girls forcing her into giving them her hair clips or bracelets. We noticed how the other kids seemed bigger than her, but thought maybe she was just small for her age. We were new at all of this but the red flags were pilling up left and right. We tried to handle it at home and equip her with skills to handle the new setting and kids. But we noticed a change in her, she cried at soccer with her friends when she normally was so excited and the first to lead the group. She didn't want social settings, she was changing before our eyes and not progressing or blossoming like we were hoping to see.
She caught a nasty cold there that kept her out a couple weeks, was a blessing actually. And then landed the parent teacher conference, we were informed they had gotten rid of 3's class right before our daughter joined and they failed to mention that. So much to our shock she was trying to survive a new school with 5 year olds!! 2, just turning 3 with 5's going on 6 is a HUGE HUGE HUGE gap. They also had just broken up a group of very boisterous physical boys from our daughters class (hence her mentioning getting hit a lot). We were shocked and upset, it was eye opening to where the issue lied. Our little 3 year old, was trying to not only navigate a new unfamiliar environment but survive the physical strength and mental games of 5 year olds. No shame to them, they're kids and she was just in their way and easy to manipulate. It broke our heart that we didn't get to the bottom of it sooner than we did but we immediately pulled her from the school.
She went into a new daycare that was completely different than Wings. It felt peaceful and structured. Our daughter was in a class with all kids her age with curriculum for her age group. It was a light and the end of the tunnel and she is now thriving. Wings really set her back though and changed her which as her mother really upsets me.
So please, I would not suggest sending your freshly turned 3 year old that's never been in a childcare setting there. It may be great for 4 or 5 year olds, particularly boys.
And I will say, 2 years later it may have changed and they may have structured it better but do your due diligence as a parent and poke holes in anything bothering you. read more