Shenandoah University Child Care Center

My child lasted a day because he refused to go back. Let me explain. Prior to this my son attended an accredited Montessori for a year, so he’s well adapted to routine and a school setting. With any new environment we make sure he knows he can speak up and express his concerns. First issue: the bathroom is not private. Our child is used to privacy, to include no other child looking at him while he uses the bathroom. He explained that he was not allowed to use the bathroom by himself, and that the door was intentionally left open by the staff-bathroom is in plain few from the main play area where other kids (including children of opposite gender) can watch. He also expressed being uncomfortable that the child that was in there with him looked at his private area-there are no dividers between toilets/urinals. My child is being raised to know his body is his and no one has the right to look or touch and he has every right to privacy. Second issue: he came in with a water bottle, with filtered water from home-this is what he’s used to. When he asked the staff if he could get his water they refused and offered a cup and tap water from the sink. Third issue: nap time is TWO HOURS. Have yet to meet a 4 year old that naps this long. And for the children that don’t nap, the space doesn’t lend itself for any options for quiet activities. My son said he begged for them to call us to come get him, which when I dropped him off I also told one of the employees that if he was having a hard time or there were any issues to call us, but they did not call. Fourth issue… they claim you can pick up and drop off at any time since after all we’d be paying full time tuition-to then turn around and say, except during nap time. The whole point for us to sign him up here was because I would be dropping him off at lunch time on my way to work. When the issues were brought up the response was: 1) bathrooms are open for safety. If he needs to go by himself we can work with that but a staff member still has to watch him 2) no other child brings water from home so it’s not something we’re used to. 3) no real explanation as to why I wasn’t called or why naps are so long. staff seems friendly but I’m sure there’s home daycares with better care and policies in place. Look elsewhere.

The best of the best.