Kiddie Academy of Rutherford — Attraction in Rutherford

TLDR; Daycare teachers seem to lack resources to properly care for the kids here, standard isn’t as high as promised and seems like a bit of a money grab.

Our toddler kids attended KA from last November for 6 months. We signed up originally based on their promising curriculum, and we liked the old directors Andry and Monica. Our kids did develop some biting behaviors so understandably it was a frustration to deal with, and it was challenging to correct because they were not biting at home. Initially we’ve had productive meetings and plans of action with Andry and Monica, but half way they both left, and a number of teachers left with them. When the owners stepped in was when things started going downhill. It seemed like some of the teachers left there were frustrated and did not enjoy working there, some other eventually also left. We were unsure if the plans of action were properly implemented. Documentation of the biting became inconsistent. They started blaming our kids for some completely age-appropriate behaviors repeatedly that other kids were also doing, like pushing chairs around and climbing onto tables. Our kids were repeatedly strapped into chairs for extended periods of time despite us bringing this up and the center confirming this wasn’t age appropriate. There was always a rotation of different teachers in their room everyday. A lot of time it seemed like the promising curriculum was very loosely followed and there wasn’t a lot of structured activities to keep the kids busy and engaged. Anytime we looked at the camera the kids seemed to just be loose and running around on their own in circles in the classroom.

We offered many solutions that we researched, and worked with the owners and new director Savannah to implement, but it just didn’t seem like they were able to direct resources to help our kids. Savannah was very nice and communicative but it seemed like she didn’t have power over the owners on management. We’ve talked to other daycares and daycare workers and the proper way to address biting is usually to have one teacher shadow the kids for a period of time, and they were not able to allocate resources to do that. In fact, at one point the owners asked us to pay $1000+ a month to split costs and hire an additional aide to shadow them. When we consulted resources on this ask, everyone was shocked at this being asked, as mitigations like this should have been covered within our tuition. Nevertheless, we agreed to it (after negotiating the costs down a little), not wanting to change their environment, but in the end they even failed to hired anyone, and this wasn’t communicated to us. One day at pick up we were ambushed with the kick out notice, there was no prior communication that if their behaviors didn’t correct by X time, they would be expelled, which according to KA’s handbook is the proper procedure. We had asked repeatedly to be told if they’re at risk of being expelled. We were given 2 weeks despite Savannah mentioning she’d give us a month notice as we’re both working parents and it’s challenging finding a new daycare quickly.

I had spoken to corporate and was told this shouldn’t be the regular course of action and they apologized for my experience. I held off on giving a negative review on Google until my kids have been in their new daycare for a few weeks, and it’s been night and day. The new daycare was able to immediately assign someone to shadow them properly to reduce biting, and had lots of structured activities throughout the day to engage the kids. Their biting has improved with the new daycare. The shocker is that our new daycare is actually even cheaper than KA, but clearly has higher quality curriculum and management. The teachers were well-intentioned, we especially liked Miss Maria, but it was clear to us as parents that the teachers were not properly supported by the owners. The owners did reach out to discuss our experience again after we talked to corporate but we declined to avoid further...

We are so thrilled with Kiddie Academy and the care they've given our daughter. BEFORE we found Kiddie Academy we had our daughter in a different daycare and to be totally honest we were all a bit traumatized by the experience. It was our child's first experience getting care from anyone other than family and it was very negative. Our daughter was being emotionally neglected and we felt like horrible parents for putting her in that position. We then looked at 4 new daycares and were very honest with them about our bad past experience and our new expectations for our daughter's new daycare. My husband and I knew Kiddie Academy was the right place for our daughter right after our first visit where we toured the space and met the Director, Ms Savannah and our daughter's main teacher Ms Jennifer. The atmosphere was so welcoming, the kids were so happy and friendly as were all the other teachers. Ms Savannah listened to all our concerns, she was patient with us and assured us that our experience at Kiddie Academy would be different. And that has proven to be 100% true. We loved that we got to visit what would be our daughter's new classroom that day. It was clear that Ms Jennifer was experienced, in command yet compassionate and really cares for each and every child and their specific needs. One thing she said that really struck me was "Welcome to my classroom". This may seem like a small thing but it was HUGE. Other daycares just treat it like glorified babysitting and bounce from space to space. But Ms Jennifer really takes pride in her classroom and her students. I love that the teachers make their own lesson plans and have autonomy so they can feel a sense of ownership, pride and joy in their work. They are NOT just cogs in a larger machine. Every day when we drop off our daughter every person we see smiles and wishes us a good morning. I think every teacher knows our daughter not just the teachers that work with her daily. We've seen our daughter blossom in just a short time. She's tried new foods at daycare (things she would never try at home). She's come out of her shell and become more social. She also naps better at daycare than at home. It's so important that you feel completely comfortable and trust the people looking after your children, especially as first time parents. We couldn't be happier with our decision to send our daughter to...

After touring many daycares, I chose Kiddie Academy of Rutherford for its outstanding care and education. Ms. Ronnie, the director, is exceptional, going above and beyond to make parents and children feel comfortable. Her leadership creates a structured, nurturing environment that stands out compared to other facilities with fancy names or bold claims about making kids “ahead of the pack.” The reality is, a daycare’s quality depends on its management and staff, and Ms. Ronnie is a true difference-maker.

The staff’s attention to detail is impressive, with daily summaries that keep me informed about my child’s activities and progress. This level of communication sets the daycare apart from others I considered. The WatchMeGrow app is outstanding, allowing me to log in anytime to see how my child is doing. The peace of mind this provides is invaluable, easing the anxiety of leaving my child in someone else’s care.

The daycare’s curriculum focuses on developmental skills essential for kindergarten and beyond, including cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Research indicates that high-quality daycare programs can enhance problem-solving, peer interaction, and academic outcomes, though long-term impacts depend on factors like family environment and individual differences (NICHD Study). This facility seems to align with these findings, providing a balanced approach that supports my child’s growth without overpromising a competitive edge. The notion of being “ahead of the pack” is complex, as development is influenced by multiple factors, but this daycare creates optimal conditions for reaching potential.

The combination of Ms. Ronnie’s leadership, attentive staff, detailed communication, and innovative tools like the WatchMeGrow app makes this daycare exceptional. I highly recommend it to any parent seeking a nurturing, educational environment for their child, and I’m excited for the amazing...