Little Darlings Children Center INC is a child daycare & preschools daycare located at 499 N Orange Ave, Umatilla, Florida FL. Find contact info, location details, and similar daycares nearby.
What Parents Say
Little Darlings Children Center has received highly polarized reviews. While a small number of parents praise the owner Miss Cindy and report their children love attending, the majority of reviews describe serious concerns including physical abuse allegations, staff misconduct, poor hygiene practices, high employee turnover, lack of transparency about health issues, and dismissive management responses to parent concerns.
Not a Safe or Supportive Environment At first, I was impressed with the center and trusted them to be patient with my son, who has sensory and social challenges, that they were well aware of before he ever started going there. That changed quickly. Within two weeks, he was treated harshly by a staff member, had his approved comfort toy taken away, and was left alone in a dark room after an incident. I also noticed scratch marks on his stomach resembling an adult hand, with no report or explanation. When I picked him up, he was terrified, and in a dark room unsupervised. He was extremely relieved to see me and leave. The same staff member was rude and even cussed in front of children. I was overcharged and never received a follow-up from the director in regards to any of this. This place seems to care more about money than the children’s well-being. I would not recommend this center to any parent, especially those with children who need patience and understanding.
I was getting ready to go back to work after being on maternity leave, and looking for daycare to put my 2 month old in. My sister in law helped me find this daycare and I went to tour it. I liked it and came home to tell my husband. We agreed, and put her in the following Monday. She was there for 3 days that week. Things went great the first week. My husband dropped her off the next Monday and things were good. I called at noon to check on her and they said she was doing good. An hr later, they called me telling me that I needed to come and get her due a case of hand foot and mouth disease going around the infant room. I called my husband and he went to go get her as I was farther away and he could get to her faster. He went to pick her up, and they told him that it had been going around for over a week. So when my husband dropped her off they didn't say anything, nor when I called at noon. I was told she couldn't go back for 7-10 days. As that was the rough estimate of how long it generally lasts. My husband and I decided to pull her out after that. When I went to get her stuff, I spoke with one of the ladies and explained why I pulling her out. She told me that it had just started that day. We'll the people there need to get their stories straight because that's not what they told my husband. Not to mention that they took a wk and half to cash the first check we gave them. I just don't think that it was very professional. Someone should have said something so we could have decided to bring her in that day.
Sent my son here awhile back. He came home all the time talking about how he was being yanked around by the arm. Picked him up one day crying and was lied to, I was told he didn't want to go home (he only ever cried when I dropped him off) when he got in the car he stated Ms Kristen yanked him up by his arm there were VISIBLE red marks and ADULT nail marks. He hates the "yellow school" and everytime he sees it on our travels he gets scared and asks me if I'm sending him back. Do yourself a favor and avoid this daycare. It was VERY hard to transition him to elementary school & a new after school care program due to the issues we had here. Everyday I regret not pulling my son out of this daycare quicker than I did.
My child moved to 2 year old class and since then has been coming home more and more with diaper rashes and frequently picked up with bowl movement dried onto her back side. I requested times of changes on her paper instead of tally marks to prevent and narrow down when she's sitting in her fieces and for how long. The owner respond with the statement "they have 15 children and they're to busy to write down a time" as well as kicking the child out, trespassing the parent for not letting the owner talk down and disrespecting the protective parent like she does her employees on a daily basis. Stealing the over paid money claiming balance is zero. Trying to steal her large newn and expensive pack of diapers. Basically the staff she has stays because of the bond and loyalty to the children. In any other business she wouldn't be able to keep staff.
The only people I trust with my girls. I have known the owner for 10+ years and she is very kind! My girls LOVE this center and teachers!!