Smart Kids Child Development Center #9

Our family ultimately withdrew our child from Learning Jungle (formerly Smart Kids) due to ongoing concerns related to supervision, communication, cleanliness, and documentation. Over time, we experienced repeated issues communication from the director Latrina Bell which was often inconsistent, dismissive, and at times unnecessarily rude. Concerns that were brought to Ms Bells attention were met with defensiveness rather than solutions, which made it difficult to feel like true partners in our child’s care. From a care standpoint, our child frequently came home with wet or soiled socks, paint under her nails, and signs of inadequate hygiene, which raised concerns about attentiveness and daily care practices. We also dealt with repeated illness, including Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease. One of our most serious concerns involved supervision and safety. According to a publicly available report from the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education dated 10/28/2025, the facility was cited for a supervision violation in which a child was left alone asleep in a classroom for an unknown amount of time. This report, along with additional violations related to documentation, medication authorization, emergency preparedness, sanitation, and staff records, have played a significant role in our decision. We also experienced ongoing challenges regarding outdoor play during cold temperatures. Our child was taken outside in temperatures around 28-38 degrees, and despite repeated conversations, concerns were met with rigid responses rather than collaborative problem-solving. Communication on this matter was inconsistent with the Regional Director Colleen Shuter, and showed very performative behavior in which further eroded trust. There were also situations where care decisions were made without our clear knowledge or consent, which is unacceptable to us as parents. While we won’t detail everything here, these moments contributed significantly to our decision to leave. Ultimately, we felt our concerns were not handled in a professional or family-centered manner. Based on both our personal experience and the facility’s documented compliance history, we determined this environment was not the right fit for our family. We encourage families NOT to no look their way. families please review their state inspection report. (Which is free to view by the public) Too many times we had to question about inaccuracies. communication practices, documentation, cleanliness, and how leadership responds when concerns are raised. For our family, this program was not aligned with the level of care, professionalism, or partnership we expect

As a parent, my experience with Smart Kids/ Learning Jungle was awful! I would NOT recommend them. Communication was often dismissive, and when concerns were raised, they were not handled with professionalism or care. On more than one occasion, my child came home with visibly dirty socks as well as multiple fallings out of chairs, which raised concerns about cleanliness and supervision. I will be attaching a photo to reflect what we experienced. I also noticed that one of the reviews is written by a staff member. Families may want to keep this in mind when considering reviews, as it is not reflecting a parent’s perspective. As a parent, my review is based solely on my direct experience with Smart Kids/ Learning Jungle, which included concerns around communication, professionalism, and how issues were handled when raised.

Very good people. Wholesome environment.