A Brighter Day Early Learning Academy

Google Review As a first time mom, I was extremely nervous about having to put my child in daycare. I found ABD while researching my options online and I could not be happier with my decision to enroll her here. My daughter started when she was 4 months and I’ve never had to worry whether she was in good hands with the staff. I received daily reports on what she did every day and letting me know what was to come. As she advanced to the 1yr old class, the good communication with the staff didn’t decrease even though I wasn’t getting the daily reports anymore. She was doing so well and learning so much that she mastered the curriculum for her class months before her second birthday. I spoke to Mrs. Kelia and the following week she went and observed my daughter in class and made the decision to go ahead and move her up to the two year old classroom. My daughter will turn two in December and she can count to 20, knows her alphabets, colors, most of the phonetic sounds of the letters, some sign language, and has a very good vocabulary. The daycare is always having fun and educational opportunities for the kids. My daughter loves all the staff members and is always excited to go to daycare. All of the staff is always nice and friendly. Recently, I had to bother them a little bit to get some documents for my job, and Ms. Litt, Mrs. Kelia, and Mr. Watkins were extremely helpful with getting me what I needed in a timely fashion. Mrs. Erica has been an angel on earth for my baby, so much so that I always joke that my daughter thinks she’s her other mother. The cost is reasonable in comparison to the others in the area and is a great value for what you receive. I would 100 percent recommend ABD to anyone looking for a daycare for their child.

I want to start by saying that some of the recent reviews do not reflect this facility in the way it truly deserves. When my family and I moved to Georgia, I had just a degree, a dream, my spouse, and our kids. I toured many centers looking for a safe, loving environment for my children , and left each one feeling that something just wasn’t right. That all changed the day I attended an information session at A Brighter Day Learning Academy. From the moment I walked in, it felt like a warm hug , and it still does to this day. The Watkins family pours their hearts and souls into every part of their program. They invest deeply in the children, the parents, the staff, and the community. They lead daily with faith, grace, and integrity. My children have grown both academically and socially since joining ABD. They used to be shy and hesitant to engage with staff, but now they run into class with smiles on their faces. When I sign them in, get in my car, and drive away, I have complete peace of mind knowing they’re in the best hands. They come home with full bellies and buttered cheeks! The meals are balanced, diverse, and nourishing. As a parent of a child with asthma, allergies, and eczema, cleanliness and safety are non negotiable for me. My son simply wouldn’t thrive here if the facility wasn’t exceptionally clean. The staff sanitize toys continuously throughout the day and ensure that classrooms are spotless. While hand, foot, and mouth disease has recently spiked nationwide, something no childcare center is immune to, ABD takes every precaution possible to maintain a healthy environment. Because of ABD, my one year old can already count, identify colors and animals, make animal sounds, and drink from a cup. I’ve been shamelessly busy and unable to devote as much time to him as I’d like, but ABD has filled that gap with so much love and learning. The Watkins are constantly looking for ways to grow and improve their program. They welcome constructive feedback and value every parent’s voice. They know every child by name and face, and every child lights up when they see them. The standards at A Brighter Day are high, appropriately so, and that’s what makes it such a special place. I wholeheartedly recommend visiting ABD and meeting the director in person. You’ll feel the difference the moment you walk through the door.

My son has been attending A Brighter Day since he was just 4 months old he’s now 2 years old and we’ve had nothing but amazing experiences! Every teacher, from the Little Lamb room all the way through the aftercare program, shows so much love and care for every child. They all know my son by name and treat him like family. I recently had another baby who started at 6 weeks, and his teacher Ms. Jasmine is truly wonderful! Can’t forget about Ms.Erica in the youngest 2’s now (she has been at the center since opening). The owners Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins, are such a blessing. They pour love and life into every family who walks through their doors and are always providing helpful resources and support to parents. Finding this daycare has truly been a blessing a hidden gem right here in Stone Mountain. I plan to keep my kids here for as long as I can (maybe until they’re 12! 😂). Highly recommend A Brighter Day to any parent looking for a nurturing, family-oriented environment.

DO NOT RECOMMEND : This facility has changed drastically and not for the better. I am a concerned guardian ---not exactly sure what's happened to this once amazing center. To start, as a guardian, I nor anyone else was informed that respected staff/teachers longer worked there. (I used to see a few teachers every day and they were the best to my child). When you arrive, there's usually no one sitting at the desk downstairs to greet you- the receptionist/director is chilling in the 3 year olds classroom. Speaking of ,that teacher has a terrible attitude- nervous to keep her around my children. She acts like she doesn't want to be there but since her and the director are so close, there will be no penalties to her actions. They cannot keep a teacher for the younger classes. They have a high turnover rate. I've witnessed the director humiliate an employee but I quickly left to not embarrass that employee any further. About a year ago, they had some very nice, trustworthy teachers- not sure what happened there. I will be removing my children because on top of all that, tuition has risen, staff has been decreased and my children aren't comfortable. My children complain that they are starving once we pick them up. It is just not a loving, safe, trusting environment anymore. They've gone from happy and excited about school to nervous and anxious to the point where they don't want to go in that center. My kids change in behavior is concerning. If you bring your concerns to the owner and director, they will trivialize it - if you can even get a word out. They want to show the outside world that they are saints when they are really wolves in sheep's clothing, and its truly unfortunate. They will smile in your face and gossip behind your back. This was once a respected school. Save your money, energy and time. For your childrens' sake - don't choose this school.

The directors at this daycare truly have a beautiful vision and care deeply about the success of their center. The directors are hands-on, hold their teachers to high standards, and are very active in the daily care of the kids. Another big plus is that the daycare is affordable, for many families. However, while there is a lot to love about the people and potential of this center, there are a few areas that we wish would be improved. I have noticed more screen time than preferred, especially at an age where children benefit most from hands on, interactive play and learning. Communication has also been a concern. For example, when my child’s second teacher resigned, we were notified the week after and were handed a letter without any explanation. While the Director did apologize for how that was handled, I believe proactive communication would go a long way in maintaining parents’ trust. Another area worth mentioning is staff turnover. I completely understand that turnover can happen for many reasons, but consistency in caregivers is so important for young children’s emotional development. Despite the salary, if teachers were appreciated and cared for they would stay. My child also experienced hand, foot, and mouth twice within 4 months. I recognize this is not entirely the center’s fault since it is often an unfortunate part of childcare settings and parent responsibility as well, but it highlights the importance of ongoing communication and cleanliness protocols. Lastly, and I say this from a place of care. Being for the community also means investing in quality. Often centers hesitate to raise prices out of fear of losing enrollment, but when funds are allocated toward staff, facility improvements, and resources for children, that is an investment in QUALITY, not just overhead. Families who value quality care understand the difference and are willing to pay for it when they see the impact on their children’s growth and happiness. As parents, we would be willing to pay an increase so long as those funds are invested in the teachers who care for our children every day, in better resources, and in continued education for the staff. Overall, this daycare has caring leadership and tremendous potential. Our child has grown and learned so much here. With stronger communication, more consistency, and continued investment in staff and the environment, I truly believe it can grow into the high quality center the directors envision. If they work on these key things.