Panda Hugs Learning Center

When I first put my children at Panda Hugs, I was so satisfied. The teachers were AMAZING. I had such a peace of mind while at work. After only being there for a couple of months, a new director was hired. This is when everything went down hill b/c 60% of their employees walked out. She was very condescending & didn't last long. Shortly after, they brought in a whole new director. Just when I thought things couldn't get worse, they did. My tuition then increased by $30 a week, simply b/c my child was checking in before 8am. We thought this was unfair b/c most working parents have to be at work by 8am. It felt like they took advantage of that but we let it slide. Around this time, my daughter was switched to the potty trained toddlers. To our surprise, it was a male teacher. This did not sit well with my husband & I even though we were already familiar with him. That same male teacher was previously the caregiver for my other daughter who was an after schooler. I never had an issue with this since they were older kids & didn't require as much hands on attention. I would never discriminate just b/c he was a male. However we did not feel comfortable with him taking care of our 3 year old girl. She still needed assistance in the restroom so we didn't like that it was a grown man helping her. My husband spoke with the staff about how he felt, they responded with, "that's the only person we have". We were then told that the female teacher from her previous class would be assisting her to the bathroom but we were still not 100% satisfied. My daughter lasted 2 months with that man before he was arrested for child abuse. It broke my heart to see my baby girl in the video all over the news. She was just sitting there nonchalantly drinking her juice while witnessing the poor little boy being abused. This is why i strongly believe that the kids were already used to this, it was normal to them. We did speak to the owners & staff about the incident right after it happened. They took NO accountability, they just kept saying that you never know how an employee will turn out after you hire them. Yet, it seems like everyone in the facility was aware of the abuse & did NOTHING. Lastly, my children are on the ELC program which helps me pay for childcare. ELC confirmed with me that Panda Hugs was reimbursed for the days of hurricane Milton, & they were supposed to reimburse the parents. That never happened. I have honestly lost all hope in daycare & caregivers but unfortunately I am a mom that has to work to survive. If you can afford to keep your babies at home, please take my advice & do so.

My name is Lakisha Pearcey, Panda Hugs Academy has been an absolute blessing in my life and my child's life. During one of the most challenging seasons I’ve ever faced, this place provided nothing but care, support, understanding, patience, and love—not just for my child but also for me and my situation. Their unwavering kindness and dedication gave me the strength I needed to get back on my feet. As my life began to improve, I truly realized how special this academy is. The staff at Panda Hugs Academy go above and beyond to ensure children are fed, clean, well-rested, happy, and thriving in a nurturing learning environment. Their genuine care and commitment to the well-being and development of every child are unmatched. If you’re looking for a place that prioritizes your child’s safety, comfort, and education while treating them with the same love and attention as family, look no further than Panda Hugs Academy. I can’t recommend them highly enough—they are worth everything and more! Thank you to all the staff and management for all that you do for the children. Lakisha Pearcey

My child has been coming here for 3+ years, and she loves it. However, last week the daycare was open for 1 day because of the hurricane, understandable. Some of us lost A LOT during Hurricane Milton 😔. I simply asked about last week's tuition will they work with us? I was told by Elisa that the owner said NO and you know that you are responsible for tuition every week with no empathy. This was very disheartening with everything going on.

My child is 4 years old and has been coming here since she was 6 months old . I’ve never had any problems at all. Until about a month ago .. a new director came in and all the teachers have quit and my child now hates going to school. I expressed my concern to the new director about the children not having a teachers in the classroom and she was so nasty and told me if I had a issue with how she is running her business that I can unenroll my child and that her paychecks will still be the same. I cried my heart out in frustration because how can someone be so cruel. I don’t even feel safe bringing my child here anymore after a lack of compassion from the direction.

My son goes here since August 2023 and he loves going to the daycare. His favorite mams are Shakira ,Noemi and Daisy Mam. He has learned a lot and has enjoyed the place. My child is enrolled here since the age of 8 months. I am also glad to have found this place. I like open door policy of the daycare. Love this place ❤️ 💕