Ethel Mason Child Development Center

Not only did I attend this daycare as a child, I put my own children here because of it. My children are now grown and if I had to do it again, I WOULD NOT SEND THEM HERE!! I am a veteran of Media. My entre family resided in Media at one time, owned several properties and the center was in walking distance. The original teachers were still there! Ms. Harper is an angel period. Sherri or Cheryl the head teacher who runs the place is not actually nice. Shes a bully. I showed up on instinct a few times and once found my 6 week old child left unattended in a playpen, screaming at the top of his lungs in a room unattended. I was a young mother at the time and certainly did not know then what I know now. I caught the owners husband yelling in my 2 year old son's face and she went on to tell me my child would always be a behavioral problem. 20 plus years later it still rings in my ears as some of the most disrespectful, unwarranted, unprofessional and abusive words a caretaker could utter. This place hopefully has gotten better but because the staff opts to watch TV pretty much all day, they're clearly in the wrong business trying to appease any parent who cares deeply about their child or CHILDREN. 22 YEARS LATER....SHAME ON YOU!!!

I waited 5 months for a spot to open for my 1 year old. When he finally started it seemed to be going ok. I’m a new mom, I’m in my 20’s and Im a widow/my son lost his father during the pandemic, I work full time, this is both of our first times navigating daycare. They were aware of all of this. On day 2 I was accidentally 3 minutes late for pick up, I apologized profusely, I felt really bad, an administrator began to reprimand me really harshly infront of my son. Day 3 I let him sleep in because my son didn’t feel well, we arrived at 10am I was reprimanded again, harshly infront of a classroom full of kids while my child who was sobbing and clinging to me was ignored until they finished telling me off (no drop off time was ever specified) I was told he needs to be in by 10am. Day 4 I brought him at 9:30am the time I said I’d normally drop him off. I was told this was ok. I was greeted by the director who begins to reprimand me again, very harshly infront of my sobbing child and a room of children. She’s ignoring my son who’s freaking out. Now she says he needs to be there at 9am. I ask if I can speak to her privately because I feel uncomfortable having this conversation infront of the kids who stand their silently staring at us everytime this happens. We go to the office, she calls the other administrator in. I say I totally understand that not being on time is a huge issue but if they have an issue, I’d appreciate it if she could speak to me privately rather then infront of my child and the other kids. They became really argumentative and then the director tells me my son has no idea what is going on (when he watches me being reprimanded). Then she says she’s going with her “gut instinct” and that I need to take my son with me and he can’t return. I had to go to work, now I suddenly have no childcare. She kicked my 1 year old out of daycare, a week in, after I waited 5 months, because I asked they not yell at me infront of the kids. Im back at square one, looking for childcare. I wasted nearly half a year because I thought I found something. This has caused me immense stress. When I said my biggest concern is my son being flopped around from place to place before he can adjust, after he develops attachments to peers and teachers . She waved her hand at me and said “he’ll be fine” I’m disturbed by the experience I had here. The administrators feelings are clearly the priority at this facility, the children or at least my child’s best interest didn’t hold a candle to that. It seems they expect their feelings to be catered to first and foremost. My son was thrown out of daycare literally because the directors tummy told her to do it. I will say The young woman who worked in his room was incredibly kind, concerned, and compassionate. We both liked her the most. It’s very sad that my son seemed to form an attachment with her and now he’ll have to start again somewhere else. My baby has been through enough. He didn’t deserve this. I’m writing this review because I checked reviews when I was trying to find childcare. I was apprehensive when I saw their ratings but the other bad reviews were really short. As a mom I’d really want to know if someone else had an experience like mine. So I thought I should definitely share this.

I guess it depends of what kind of parent you are to check if this is a good fit for you. They won’t email you pictures of your kid of post in social media or weekly emails , but they are very competent, friendly and truly care about the kids. For what you pay, I think that it’s very good value. The are always willing to help. The follow COVID protocols and are lovely people.

Just letting you all know I went to just ask for information on the place and the front lady was really short with me. On top of being unprofessional. So im not sure I want to bring my kid to place the comes highly recommended by the school but, not by my standerds.

Ethel Mason is an amazing place because of the amazing and dedicated teachers, many of whom have been there for decades. I am very grateful we found this facility.