Geyer Family Branch - YMCA of Montclair — Local services in Montclair

We enrolled our child in this program after spending a long time on the waitlist, hoping it would be a nurturing and supportive environment. Unfortunately, from the very first appointment through the enrollment process, the experience was anything but smooth—or professional.

Our child was placed in the Raccoon class, taught by Ms. Zalene K. Miller (who goes by Ms. Z) and Ms. Ashley. From day two, Ms. Z began criticizing our child harshly. Keep in mind, our child had not even turned three yet and was still transitioning from a school they loved. Instead of supporting this emotional adjustment, I found myself comforting Ms. Z and having to explain basic child development to her. It felt like the roles were reversed—she needed guidance more than the child did.

Our biggest concern was Ms. Z’s harsh and punitive disciplinary style. She frequently used isolation—placing children in the corner—and used deeply inappropriate language like “you’re no good.” Witnessing this kind of treatment toward such young, vulnerable children was nothing short of heartbreaking.

We also observed troubling issues during pick-up. Several times, we saw children with visible injuries—such as a little girl with a swollen hand—but no explanation or incident report was provided. Understandably, parents were shocked and upset when they discovered these things on their own.

Supervision was equally concerning. During pick-up, staff were often distracted—chatting among themselves or scrolling on their phones—while children ran around in the heat or were left unsupervised in the gym. The lack of engagement and oversight was clear and alarming.

We ultimately made the decision to withdraw our child after noticing a concerning change in behavior. It was clear this environment was neither healthy nor nurturing.

To any parents considering this program: please do your research and trust your instincts. We wish we had recognized the red flags sooner.

Don’t waste your time trying to resolve issues with the director or assistant director. They may appear cooperative at first—offering to switch classrooms—but it’s just surface-level. At the end of the day, all the children are lumped together in the gym or playground during extended care, and your child is once again under the supervision of the very teacher you were trying to avoid. It’s a cycle of empty promises designed to protect staff, not your child.

After withdrawing, we reviewed the program’s records and discovered that there had already been reports made to DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services). That was the final confirmation we needed that this was not a safe or appropriate place for our child.

Don’t choose a program based on convenience. This is your child’s well-being, emotional development, and trust in adults we’re talking about. You might save a few hundred dollars—but the emotional damage could leave scars that last a lifetime. To this day , every time we pass by the program , our child don’t even want to come close...

I believe the name of the woman who handles the tours and enrollment is Justine. And the lady at the front desk that I just interacted with is Carol. Having lived in the neighborhood for a few years we were excited to explore the facility as a possible daycare option for our 5 month old. Even if it meant putting our names on the waitlist. Well, after submitting the online ELC interest form and calling a couple of times, with no response back, I decided to stroll down the block and inquire within. I didn’t intend to tour right then but I was hoping to schedule a future tour, to be able to compare all my Essex county infant daycare picks & make an educated decision.

I explained to Carol that I made many attempts to contact the Montclair YMCA Learning Center regarding their Infant program & never got a response. In my opinion, Carol was cold, and seemed uninterested in providing any information. She called Justine and informed her that I’ve not had anyone reach back out to me, then returned from the call to tell me that there’s a wait list, that the wait is a year long and that unless it’s close to the time for enrollment, I would not be allowed to tour. When I asked Carol about the weekly cost, she said she didn’t know and didn’t want to “bother” Justine and call again cause she’s busy and has meetings. I think if I was a white woman Carol would have called her back immediately and would’ve been much more pleasant in her interaction with me.

Whomever set up that process didn’t think it through because now based on what Carol shared- I’d have to wait close to 1 year to view the facility, with zero clue as to how it looks or differentiates from other day care centers and with no concept of the cost. Why would I be interested in putting my name on a wait list when you’ve provided me zero info and you’re saying that it’ll take close to a year for you to share any info? Very poor...

I’ve been very disappointed with my experience at the Geyer Family YMCA daycare. It feels as though the focus is more on financial matters than truly caring for and supporting the kids. Instead of working with us to resolve challenges, they seem quick to send my kid home rather than offering the help and understanding that families really need. I was especially disappointed with the leadership, as the director didn’t seem to effectively address these issues or create a supportive environment. I hope they take this feedback to heart and make improvements to better support the children and families who rely on their services.

Reply: It's disappointing that instead of acknowledging the issues raised, the Geyer Family YMCA daycare has chosen to deflect and dismiss concerns rather than take accountability. Claiming that the resources provided are sufficient feels like an excuse rather than a real effort to support families. When parents bring forward concerns, the expectation is that they will be heard and meaningful solutions will be offered—not that the problems will simply be brushed aside.

Families deserve a daycare that prioritizes the well-being and care of their children, not just the financial bottom line. I truly hope they take this feedback seriously and make necessary improvements to better support the kids and parents who rely on...