Children of America New Britain — Local services in New Britain

I recently started teaching HS so I needed to find a daycare that opened at 6:30 am for my two boys (ages 2 and almost 5). We chose COA for the indoor play area (which seems to be for show since I NEVER saw the kids playing in there), and I liked the cost of COA. It was just one disappointment after another.

My youngest son cried EVERYDAY when I dropped him off, and when I picked him up, he would be lying on the floor alone looking SO SAD. It was AWFUL. The daycare acted like it was because he was "new to daycare" but I kept telling him that he loved his old daycare (Abacus- opens at 7 am). He LOVED it there.

They also feed the kids processed mush. The food was so disgusting and unhealthy. They wouldn't let me bring in alternatives for my kids without a doctor's note.

We also picked up our kids one day and the kindergarten teacher told us to bring water because "the water is brown and undrinkable!" The faucet/toilet water was brown. The township had NOT been notified and parents were NOT told to bring in water for our kids. WHAT DID MY KIDS DRINK FOR 2 DAYS????? WE CALLED THE TOWNSHIP, and according to the daycare, the problem was caused by a "leaking fire hydrant."

We STILL kept our kids here despite all of these red flags. Then on a Tuesday afternoon in October (after 2 months of being there), the kindergarten teacher tells me that she is concerned with my son's behavior. She tells me that he has been showing the kids his karate moves during recess. I ask her, "Was he kicking/punching them?" No, she says. "Are they hitting him?" "Not directly, but he is getting hurt," she responds. Puzzled, I ask, "What is happening then?" She says, "The kids just aren't responding well." I ask, "So you're telling me he's awkward???" She says, "Yes, he's awkward. Could you please tell him not to show off his karate moves anymore? The other kids don't like it." THEN she adds that my son had been hysterically crying both Monday and Tuesday during school. She couldn't figure out why. Apparently, he told another boy to shut up.

So I get in the car and start talking to my almost 5-year old. I ask him why he told a kid to shut up (he NEVER talks like this), and he says, "(boy) wouldn't let me play." This didn't surprise me, because he had told me that this same kid wouldn't let another boy play. Then I ask why he was crying so much. He told me that it hurts his feelings that the other kids don't let him play and he hates school.

The teacher had told me that the kids were very clique-y since they had been together since they were babies. Well, apparently, they were blatantly excluding him. As a high school teacher with 90 students each semester, I know when students are being mean, and I do NOT tolerate it. This teacher had 8-10 kids. It's not very hard to tell the bully that everyone plays together. It also wouldn't have been very hard for her to help my "awkward" son to feel included.

At any rate, I refused to ever bring my sons back to this school. NO child should CRY HYSTERICALLY (her words) to the point that she couldn't understand what he was saying and NOT immediately notify the parents. We never brought him back.

We changed schools to Chesterbrook Academy. Our boys were SO NERVOUS to start. They both kept saying, "I don't want to go to school. I hate school. What if the kids are mean to us?" (This is coming from 2 boys who got along with EVERYONE at Abacus.) Now, they love school and have SO many good friends.

COA also charged us for 2 weeks, since we didn't provide notice. It was honestly $1000 well spent.

I hope this saves another family from...

prepare for a long sappy post: My kids have NEVER been to daycare. my oldest is about to be 5 and my youngest is 1. As a single mom, it was very hard to ever leave my children, especially in daycare. Back in august i finally had to give in and sign my kids up because my job required me to work full time. I toured more than 15 schools within the areas and none of them i liked. I either got a weird vibe, or didn't like a staff member, or something wasn't clean enough. When i took my first tour of this COA location, i instantly fell in love. The staff were warm and welcoming, the kids had smiles on their faces and laughs were coming from every room. They answered every silly mom question i had without even hesitating. They accepted both my children with open arms and happy faces and even my kids fell in love. My main concern was my oldest being able to see his younger brother throughout the day... they said absolutely no problem. Whenever my oldest would ask to "check on his brother" they let him. They always call me to let me know whats going on with my kids throughout the day, even if its something small, they call, or even to just ask my permission or thoughts about something about one of my kids...they call. i LOVE THAT. The send out letters and announcements all day long. i love that. they send you pictures of your kids throughout the day.. i love that.. they still to this very day answer all my dumb mom questions and make sure to reassure me that they are not dumb. I can watch the cameras ALL DAY LONG. i know exactly what my kids are doing THE WHOLE TIME. that is amazing. the director recently changed.... and let me tell you she is even BETTER. Shes always caring for the kids and loving on them and making sure they have whatever they need to feel happy while they are there. So much to the point where my kids before they leave for the day make sure they say hi or bye to her, my youngest smiles to the end of the moon when he sees her. Instantly stops crying when he sees her. Ms. Carly, thank you for making my sons adventure in COA amazing. And to all the teachers there that my kids see and hangout with all day, Ms Debbie, Ms Dawn, Ms Paula, Ms Heather, Ms Christina, Ms Siani, Ms Sarah Ms Koch Ms Rakiya.. i cannot thank all of you ENOUGH for making my kids first experience in school/daycare one of the BEST. I cant thank you enough for making it so easy to drop them off everyday and not feel any type of negative way about it. Thank you for always making sure my kids are happy and well taken of, and most importantly THANK YOU for treating my kids as your own while i cant be with them. If there are any moms or dads out there questioning where they should send their kids... COA New Britain is the ONLY place is recommend within the surrounding areas. and i know thats just one single moms opinion, but I am the crazy mom with all the questions comments and concerns and this adventure with COA has been nothing but PERFECT. Heres to multiple years to go with this amazing school and even better staff!!!! 5 FRICKEN STARS AND IF I COULD GIVE MORE...

As a parent to three (very) energetic boys, COA has been an incredible source of support for my boys and me since we moved to the area. Stepping into the facility, I immediately felt at ease in the warm and welcoming environment. The cleanliness and organization of the facilities, along with the spacious rooms, provided the perfect backdrop for my boys' adventures.

One of the most reassuring aspects of COA is the dedicated and caring staff. Paula is the first warm and friendly face my boys and I see every time -- always so pleasant and lovely. Christine has handled every situation I've thrown at her with professionalism and grace, and with a response time that far exceeds anything I have ever experienced from folks in this industry. The entire staff's passion for childcare shines through in everything they do, and I've been deeply grateful for the positive impact they've had on my boys. From the nurturing guidance to the personalized attention, it's clear that they truly have my children's best interests at heart. The COA team is even helping me potty train my youngest! You read that last sentence correctly -- they are not only helping him learn to use the toilet but also teaching me best practices that I didn't even know, despite having potty-trained my two other boys!

Communication with parents is excellent at COA, which has been especially important to me as a parent juggling multiple responsibilities. The regular updates on my boys' progress, coupled with the approachability of the staff, have provided me with invaluable peace of mind. Even when my boys have been a tad under the weather, the communication from COA is so clear and timely that it is easy for me to act on their recommendations. I especially appreciate it when Paula or other members of the staff at COA call me to ask if everything is ok when we have not arrived within our usual arrival timeframe.

Nutrition is a top priority at COA, and I'm grateful for the nutritious snacks and meals provided to my boys. Knowing that they're getting the fuel they need to thrive during their time at COA is incredibly reassuring.

COA's focus on social and emotional development is truly commendable. My boys have learned important life skills such as empathy, cooperation, and mindfulness. My personal favorite is the mindfulness calendar COA makes available, with a different conversation starter for each day of the month. This is an absolute game changer in terms of the quality conversation I would have if I asked my boys "How was your day?".

In terms of flexibility and convenience, COA has been a lifesaver for me as a parent. The extended hours and additional services offered have made it much easier for me to balance work and parenting responsibilities. The gentle reminders to bring in additional diapers or wet wipes are handled with grace and understanding (and plenty of warning).

In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend COA to fellow parents. The caring staff, enriching programming, and supportive environment make it an ideal choice for anyone in need of...