Kiddie Academy

I am a former daycare assistant and I know what is and what is not OK and what I witnessed was NOT okay. My daughter likes to be hugged? What toddler doesn't, especially being in a new setting where mommy and daddy aren't around. I witnessed hour after hour, the daycare workers waltzing past her, pushing her out of their way, and overall being ROUGH with the kids. I don't expect you to pick her up 10 times a day, but I expect you to pick her up ONCE and show her that she is OK. I saw a child, being picked up like  sack of potatoes and taken to the changing table. If you truly do not like working with children--DON'T. I understand you have 5-6 running around wanting your attention, but being rough with kids at this age is NOT OK. ''

During lunch, I witnessed my child crying since she didn't want to eat what was given to her, but that does not mean to pick her out of her chair, make her throw away her food after 10 minutes, and go sit in a corner? Your schedule says 30 minutes is allocated to that meal, so give her the full 30 minutes. I saw numerous things such as this being done throughout the 2 days, not only to my child but to numerous other children. After witnessing my daughter being deprived of water, after we had specifically told the teachers that she still drinks milk out of a sippy cup, and not a regular cup, you did not offer her water until PM snack.

Day 2, after my husband logged into their camera to check on our daughter, who was fast asleep, he called me angrily. He told me that the daycare worker had physically flipped over a child that was laying on his cot from his back right onto his face, and that is when we were DONE. We were not waiting around for this to happen to our child.

Our situation is one that allows us to be able to take our time and search for a daycare when we feel we and our daughter are fully ready, but I would NOT recommend this location to any family, co workers, friends, etc.

Kiddie Academy of Burlington, MA: Kristy Lee is a teacher at this place and she’s a bully. She’ll scream at the kids and treat them good or bad based on their “cuteness” factor. Kristy is not a naturally warm or nurturing person. This is a warning: if you have to send your child here, don’t placed them in Kristy Lee’s classroom.

My two kids have been at Burlington Kiddie Academy for going close to 2yrs now and I have been very happy with the experience. Logistically, the the facility is new, hours are better on the late end than most of the other local facilities, and this is also one of the few day cares that prepares meals for the kid's lunches (very allergy-conscious). And while no day care is perfect, I've had no issues in scheduling time and discussing any issues I have had with the appropriate staff. Personally and most importantly for me the teachers have been great for both of my kids in providing both a good learning environment and a caring environment. My daughter goes out of her way at the end of the day during pick-up to track-down teachers and give them hugs.... while others won't let the kids go without a hug & kiss. My son's teacher in particular has been exceptional, helping him through his special needs diagnosis and learning.

All that said I'd highly recommend anyone considering a day care to tour the school and see if it's a fit for you.