Fort Hill Child Development Center

Such an awful experience attending this daycare for my 6 going on 7 month old son in the infant room. They practiced the “cry it out method” and after 4 days dismissed us for “crying too much”, although we were told that it would take at least 2 weeks for adjustment and possibly couple of months. The daycare prioritized the teachers having “fun” on the job versus being a professional institution caring for children. My son was left balling his eyes out on the floor or in the crib alone (as seen on the camera stream), rather than trying to build a connection with him and show comfort. The environment is extremely chaotic in the hallway and in the classrooms with constant whirlwind of adults / kids going in and out, buggies, etc. Management told me that they’ve never had to dismiss a child before, not truthful. I connected with other families in the neighborhood who have had an issue with the center and dismissal. We were like the 6th. It’s incredible to me that the wait lists would be 8-12 months long considering this type and lack of care. That wait list is handwritten clipboard paper table entry which the center is hard pressed to honor. At our tour we were told our start date would be in April of following year, it was noted so on that wait list table. I called in January of the new year to confirm and begin our paperwork - they told me paperwork is done just 1 month ahead, to call back in March. When I called back then, I was told our start date is November!!! Adjustments were made in the classrooms to get us accepted by mid-April, but then an excuse was made to dismiss us 4 days later. They are the most expensive in the area. If you go to this center, make sure you have a back up care plan for your child/children.

My daughter loves coming here. At least once a week she doesn't want to leave and throws a fit (working on that). She often comes home with different hair styles, braids, or pony tails that the teachers put in her hair. She loves that. Also, DINOSAURS! There's a playground for the kids to run and play which is nice and a gym inside for when it's raining.

So we were able to tolerate the cats running around the school and the odor of cat urine that seemed to attach itself to our child ever day she attended but neglecting to use the insect repellent that we provided and sending our daughter home covered in a dozen of huge welts all over her face, arms, and legs in unacceptable. And apparently parents are not allowed to have any input on the standard of child care they expect to receive for the money they pay the facility to provide. There is zero staff accountable for negligence. The Health Department needs to investigate this place.

(For Fort Hill at James Mark, downtown Charleston) Very clean, and wonderful staff. Always engaging my 18m old in new activities and learning games. FANTASTIC Program!