23 answers

Opinion of Afterschool Care Center That I Visited...

I am starting to look at after-school programs for my son this fall when he starts kindergarten. I visited a martial arts based program this morning. It is a family based business that has three adults working there. Their enrollment runs from about 80-90 kids. There is no school today apparently so there were less kids there. I saw about 30-40 kids while I was doing the tour. The guy I spoke to was the only adult that I saw walking around. The kids kept coming up to him asking questions, so I suspect that he was the only one there. Another guy came in the door the same time that I did and was apparently picking up a child. He said that he was picking up "Johnny". The owner said OK and the guy left with the child. (I'll get back to this one shortly). Anyway I asked if there was a list as to who could pick up your child. He said yes and used the guy that came in with me an an example. He had never seen the guy before. He said that the child's mother had call and said that her boyfriend would be picking up the child. I then remarked that he did not check the guy's ID to confirm that it was the boyfriend. He said no, but the child identified the guy as the mother's boyfried. The owner indicated that the doors are always kept locked to prevent kids from getting out...(Really? I was able to walk right in). He said that the kids were never allowed in the lobby...kids kept coming in the lobby asking the owner questions. Needless to say, I got a real bad vibe about this, so I am running away from this one. However, I am asking for opinions on this...I was just horrified that the owner did not know this other man and did NOT physically check his ID. I really don't care if the child seemed to know him...children can be too trusting. I just got a lot of red flags on the place... Would you have been as freaked out about this?

What can I do next?

So What Happened?™

Thanks for validating my fears here. For clarification, this place is not registered as a license daycare facility...it is labeled as an "after school program with martial arts". I didn't realize that there was such a difference. I am looking at several options.

Featured Answers

is this an actual daycare center or is it just an afterschool martial arts lesson? 2 totally different things. I would think if it is an afterschool lesson that might be run a little more lax. but if it is an actual daycare/afterschool program they are allowed by law to have no more than I think its 12 kids at a time per adult. different laws different states but no state in the US is going to license a center giving 80 kids to one adult. i would skip this one

1 mom found this helpful

my issue is the adult to kid ratio that would have made me hit the door running I would not have even gotten to the pick up part ... just my opinion.

1 mom found this helpful

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No ID checks, no possible way one adult to 30-40 kids can be safe let alone structured and already seeing that the safety precautions promised aren't followed=no way my child attends.

1 mom found this helpful

I would contact the state on this one. Not only should you RUN from this place, but I would feel an obligation to have it checked out by the authorities!

1 mom found this helpful

is this an actual daycare center or is it just an afterschool martial arts lesson? 2 totally different things. I would think if it is an afterschool lesson that might be run a little more lax. but if it is an actual daycare/afterschool program they are allowed by law to have no more than I think its 12 kids at a time per adult. different laws different states but no state in the US is going to license a center giving 80 kids to one adult. i would skip this one

1 mom found this helpful

my issue is the adult to kid ratio that would have made me hit the door running I would not have even gotten to the pick up part ... just my opinion.

1 mom found this helpful

RUN, don't walk, to another option!!!

1 mom found this helpful

Yes, I would have been freaked out and definitely would not have registered my 5 yr old there either!

1 mom found this helpful

Yes. Move on and find another place. Our son goes to a program run by the city and school district in the summer and even though they recognize me from previous summers, I still am asked for ID at the beginning of the summer. If they don't recognize you, you will definitely be carded.

I'm not sure you'll find a place that's locked from the inside because that's not safe from a fire safety standpoint. However, you should feel confident your child will be safe overall. If you're questioning it in any way, red flag. Lack of appropriate staffing levels is also a red flag.

Yes, I would've been freaked out by it and completely appalled!

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