KinderCare Education
Reviews and Complaints

I have worked in the child care field for almost 30 years. Kindercare is by far the worst I have ever been employed at.

There are so many complaints that I don't know where to begin. The director at this center was all about the money and keeping upper management happy. I don't think she ever spent any time in a room unless she was giving a teacher a bathroom break. She was rude to staff and rude to parents. I believe he only reason she is still the director is because she cuts staff hours, and orders the worst and cheapest food possible for the children. There are never enough materials for the children to do art and she turns a deaf ear to staff who call the children "###, slow or ***" Something needs to be done about this center...Fire the Director!

I'm just writing this complaint because the Managers are disrespectful, not understanding, teachers are rude, do not tell the truth and only want to make themselves happy. The directors just sit in the office and talk to each other and talk on the phone to whoever-like their really working themselves.

I would never want to work there or have my child go here either. I hate this place!

The problem with KinderCare is they are a large business and they have lost sight of what is truly important. They want to make money, just like all huge businesses. I have worked for them for 5 years and have noticed that each year it gets worse. It's not so much the staff, honestly. We're just following orders because we, too, need our jobs. As far as unfriendly staff complaints, you all SHOULD say something or leave. Each center belongs to a larger district- call the District manager if your director is the clueless one. You would be surprised at how many parents do not say hi to me when I say good morning to them. Also understand we are human...we have a company that cuts corners to make money. Sometimes I am left with 18 three year-olds by myself, so, yes, I too have probably not noticed a child who has had an accident. If your child isn't coming home with art or work, it's probably because the center has no art supplies. I used to buy my own, but the company has not given us raises in two years so I cannot afford it any more. I can't speak for all centers and teachers, but the staff at our center LOVES your children. We could all be doing something else that pays a decent salary but we are there because we want to be. If we seem crabby and mean, try to remember that?

Just had an ugly encounter with the director of kindercare in greenville nc- leteisha byrd. Was talk to like I knew nothing and she was the queen of know it all. Kindercare needs to seriously look at each employee as a face of the business not some ghetto corner ***. If I were a women she would have worn an *** whipping about 30 minutes ago. I feel sorry for those kids because if she will talk to an adult like that you know she is worse with the kids. The sad thing is that the lady not in charge I spoke with first was very nice and helpful. Another case of the wrong person in charge and getting paid more to *** on people.

This is the absolute worst company to work for. I have been a teacher for 2 years at this particular center, and the teachers and staff are treated so unfairly. The director and assistant director act like they are God's gift to families, when in reality, they are nightmares. They lie to all the families just to earn trust, and they treat the children badly too. Children are switched from classroom to classroom each day, and when they have behavior issues, we are left to deal with them on our own, without they support we need from management. Maybe if these children had more stability in our center, the behavior issues wouldn't seem like such a big deal. Staff's hours are constantly cut, and most do not even get an 8 hour work day, but are forced to take 2-3 hour breaks. It's sick. When an issue comes up that you need help with, you are told to deal with it and that they won't help out. Children who have learning disabilities are forced to be ignored, because they do not want to deal with the families and don't want to invest in their futures. They are so wrapped up with themselves. How can we expect to be professional, when the management lacks that skill?

I use to work for kindercare at center 000156 the director has not been far with the hours to each teachers, she is a very cold person that only trys to impress her boss and not trying to keep the teachers happy that been thier for years that love to work childrens. as a former employe i feel the right to do something about it before they take action and try to go above the DM. our directors name is Shelly Hanes when the teachers try to talk to her in a nice restecpful way she just lies to you in your face, we *** told to just work the hours that she gives you. Can you please help my former friends at center 000156 THXS...

On a fixed income? KLC doesn't accommodate the parents at all. Per corporate they have up to 90 days to can cash multiple checks and will do it all at once and if you have delinquent balance in your accounts, it's your fault you don't have enough money in the bank. I do NOT recommend KLC. Horrible!

KLC closes the daycare for full day training for their staff, why, it's not a holiday or an observance. The training days should not be scheduled in the middle of the week to inconvenience the parents. It should be on the weekends or at night. Horrible!

My kids have constantly been sick since day1. The facility isnt very clean and smells. All the teachers say " they would NEVER NEVER put their child there" which makes me fell worst! The turn over in staff is enormous your child has no consistency with familar faces not to mention new germs to get immuned to. The menu is TERRIBLE! My child comes home plenty of days starved without being offered any alternatives. Another parent said her infant want fed tuna on buttered toasted bread. I was told they werent alternates. The staff isnt polite, no manners, noone greets you with a "good am/pm". My children constantly come home with urinated clothes without any assistance to the bathroom for proper skincare/hygiene or many incidents of noone taking them or too lazy to take them. I never recieve individual feedback on my kids educational concerns or progress;an outdated board is periodically changed with a new lesson. On field trip days the kids wear shirts that arent specifically designated for them, it was not informed by parents that they are worn, nor being sent home, and washed theyre kept at the center. Afterschool ages are not assisted with homework or encouraged with academics. It consists of minial crafts and a lot of, "do what you want time". The facilty has been provided a "clueless" subsitute director for months. Other parents whose preK kids went off to K5 were below average in their class. The assistant director sent a resignition letter home to parents the day before.

Continous issues: Kids in the infant and toddler rooms, continously put more than 4-1 while other staff come in! As a parent, you do not see this unless you stick around for more than 2 minutes. My child has become very aggressive since being at this site (toddlers fight with each other and some teachers do not pay attention, too busy changing diapers or talking to other staff). My child is always sick since starting kindercare (rooms are freezing during the day).

I would not at all recommend Kindercare daycare in any state... The problems are everywhere. MY kids attend kindercare right now trying to find another daycare. As i was picking up my kids a teacher picked up a lil toddler by one arm. Yelled at him in the process... I told the director and she didn't report anything! So i went to the district manager all they can say is sorry. Well I think theres enough reviews on here to convice parents not to bring your kids to kindercare. They really don't care. there are only two teachers that are really good at this center...

They don't report anything and they try to hide what happened with the teacher. She finally got fired but i'm not done yet i'm going to the top of the top! They think i'm just going to let everything slide well they can think again ! Were talking about OUR kids here... Their more worried about getting there money! well all i have to say is my kids are WAY more important than that... I don't know what else to do. the director that was there had to leave.. THe BEST director anyone could ask for... I don't care what head quaters has to say but i thought they should know that they will never find one like her. i'm not going to sit here and write a whole story i could go on forever... but child abuse at kindercare is there and they don't seem to take it seriously.. wow they fired the teacher barely when this happened almost a month ago...

Don't recommend this place at all!

Absolute and utter lack of care for children and staff! I Currently work at a Portland Kindercare facility, there is no attention payed to staff about concerns or complaints regarding best care practices of children. It is a "baby meat market", all they care about is the bottom line. Which is the max child capacity to teacher ratio. Children are moved from room to room all day long, whatever benefits the center. I am an infant teacher in a room sectioned for babies 6 weeks to 6 months. Our room is licensed for 8 children, my co-teacher and I take care of 8 infants. A 1 to 4 teacher to child ratio is not only hard it is absolutely unreal. Your child is lucky to even have their basic needs met i.e. diapers, feeding, naps, there is no time for anything outside of this. I am payed slightly above minimum wage and my children's parents pay nearly $1, 500 a month for a full-time child. This equates to the harsh reality that I make $1, 000 (after taxes) a month working 40 hour weeks. Thus, I am payed for taking care of one child and the center has the other three for profit. There is no support from management nor care for the childs needs by my employers. It is a get them in get them out enterprise. All centers have this problem, this is the second kindercare I have worked for. With Oregon's 10.8 percent unemployment rate I am stuck in this job. I just absolutely stress to you to never work for this company and never ever send your child into any of these facilities. I am an educated young woman of age 23, just a 12 credits shy of earning a Bachelor of Science degree at Portland State University majoring in Psychology. Once again please hire a nanny or stay home with your child, you have to work it out. Attachment forms from 0 to age 3, this means your child's attachment to you is critical during this time! Children do not need social stimulation at this time as much as they need their mother or father.

Dear Cameo and others who have had bad experiences in KinderCare, My advice is this; I have been employed in the administrative field of Child Care for over 15 years, now retired, but ALL parents and employees MUST be made more aware of the 'Parents Rights and Responsibilities' according to the California Dept. of Social Services Title 22.

A good Child Care Center will encourage parents to read this handout, which is required by law at time of enrollment, encourage parental involvement, openly allow the parents to drop in and/or inspect any part of the facility when their child is enrolled in Center and during business hours. They also have the right to observe any and all activities while their child is enrolled.

Yes, as a former preschool teacher I know it can be disruptive, but a good Director should allow for the time and use the visitations as opportunities to monitor teacher/child and parent/teacher/child interactions. There are many other rights parents/employees should be made aware of. They should ask the Center for the handout, read it, and don't hesitate to be your child's advocate. Who else will be?

I have unfortunately been personally affected by the KinderCare @ 9945 Slater Ave., Fountain Valley, CA. The 'behind the scenes' Directors' decisions make a mockery out of Directorship. The Corporate policies are altered at whim. Scheduling is critical to running a good center, however, their scheduling continuously disrupts the classrooms, moving teachers, sometimes several times a day, interrupting learning, causing undue fear and anxiety when their structure is routinely changed. This is paramount and all GOOD Directors know this.

A Child needs structure and stability to feel secure. Teachers too, are disrupted, moving from one class to another at a moments' notice, trying in instantly familiarize themselves with the children and vice versa, which is very emotional and confusing for a young 1, 2, 3, or 4-5 year old. KinderCare is stripping the children of a proper days' learning and fun, as their motto says. They are cheating the parents, by taking their money, but not giving what has been promised.

The illnesses are exceedingly out of hand and again, the Directors' do not follow the policies as set forth by Corporate. Policies are only as good as the employees who enforce them. At KinderCare, they are applied incongruously to their policies. And to Title 22 Licensing Rqmnts.

Over ratio, under ratio, weakly enforced child well-check and illness policies, Directors ( I say Directors, plural, because they have managed to maintain a extreme high-turnover in employees and directors) coming and going, never encouraged nor monitored by Corporate to supervise the Directors' lack of involvement when ratios are low, very little positive feedback to employees, highly inappropriate comments made in front of subordinates in front of other co-teachers or parents. The facility looks good from the outside, but inside is another story.

It is only because of the intrinsic devotion the teachers have to the children that the teachers stay, and the low pay and bennies, which are not quite what was promised. Parents, Employees, Call the California Dept. of Social Services! Keep documentation, take notes on ratios, dates, times, names, all occurrences of concern and report, report, report.