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April 2024 by Emily Sorenson
We miss this daycare! We recently moved and transferred our kiddo to another facility close to where we live but it is nothing like the experience we had at Wallingford Kindercare. The teachers were all so friendly and our kid loved being here all the time, he always had a smile on his face coming into the center in the morning and couldn't wait to get to his classroom because he was having so much fun and clearly loved the teachers. Amanda, the center director, was always responsive, friendly, welcoming, and took time to get to know everyone. She was an integral part of our experience in Wallingford and you can tell she truly has a passion for what she does.
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February 2024 by Annaliese Taylor
Kindercare Wallingford has been nothing short of wonderful. Our daughter has been attending since she was 4.5mos and she is now turning 3. Her teachers have been wonderful and caring, the admin team has been super validating and responsive with any concern I have. Even during a period when there was high staff turnover Kindercare leadership responded with additional staff and management on site to evaluate cause of turnover and correct issues with employee satisfaction. My daughter has made really close friends and even though the center is big they have made it still feel like there is a sense of community. I also cannot say enough positive things about the Learning Adventures programs (cooking, phonics and music) highly recommend!
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February 2024 by Emily Mugler
Incredibly efficient, accredited daycare with staff who love my kids just as much as I do, develop them, and give me true peace-of-mind so that I can do my job during the workday. The recent change in management has been super positive for staff and families alike. These people really love what they do and they are really good at it. I also love that their playground is covered so that my kids can play outside even on rainy Seattle days.
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February 2024 by julia anderson
My two children have been at this KinderCare since my oldest was 9 months old and now my youngest is just over a year old (a total of 3 years). I have seen this KinderCare through many changes and shifts, including what one might argue is the hardest time of all -- 2020/2021 Covid. I would not have continued to send my children here for 3 years if I didn't fully respect and trust the amazing care given there.I see that they have many suboptimal reviews and I want to offer my honest opinion and perspective and reason for why I feel like those reviews are "obsolete". There was a long period of time wherein I felt like the former director was guilty of some, if not all, of the things other reviewers shared. Was her communication lacking? Yes. Was the perception that she prioritized her bottom line above everything? Also yes. Was there a lot of teacher turnover? Sure - if the director is not a good fit, not treating her teachers with compassion, they will leave. But also, during the peak of Covid, I don't know what childcare center or solution didn't suffer from a rollercoaster of sudden unavailability. And is childcare expensive? Yes, but where is it NOT? KinderCare is competitive with all of the other programs available in the area.But despite my misgivings about the former director, I never, in all of that time, doubted that my children were getting amazing care because the teachers - the people who spend all day with my children, the people who mattered most to kids - are so loving and attentive. The teachers truly light up when they see any of the children enter their classroom and my kids have a family outside their family that they love and thrive with. THAT is what matters to me and that is why I stayed, even though I thought about leaving more than once due to the previous director's overall management style.About half a year ago, KinderCare Wallingford went through a leadership change and we got new directors. Nearly immediately, I saw a huge change for the better. Transparent communication is much more frequent (at least once a week newsletter style updates, plus more as relevant) and a TRUE open door policy where in I feel comfortable calling in/dropping into the office to talk through my concerns and confident in knowing they will be addressed. The turnover, in my opinion, has greatly slowed if not stopped — I feel like the leadership change has reinvigorated the center, both for parents and for teachers. I have been surprised when - on more than one occasion - the new director has personally called me to follow up. For example - on the diaper rash my son has had — to ask not only how he was recovering but if there was anything she could do to help him. She wondered if it was possible that it was the daycare-provided diapers causing the rash? Could she possibly look into stocking different diapers for him? Babies get diaper rashes often, it is not unusual, I was not worried — but to have her take the time to reach out and show this level of compassion for even just a diaper rash is just proof that the new leadership team is a complete 180 from the previous one.Kindercare Wallingford is a place where your children will be cared for, safe and even loved — I say that with full confidence.
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February 2024 by Abigail Stavrand
I was so surprised by the negative reviews for Wallingford Kindercare, that I felt compelled to write my own. My 1-year old has been going to Kindercare for the past 6 months. She loves it - every time we enter the building she has a huge grin and says hi to everyone she sees. She quickly adjusted to daycare (we were previously doing a nannyshare), and I think that's because it is such a positive atmosphere. Her teachers (shoutout to Ms Brittany, Borbs, and Judy) are incredibly sweet. They constantly update the app with photos and I can tell in every photo that she is having a great time. Plus - they intentionally work on skills like coordination / fine motor skills, reading, sharing, singing, etc. Lastly, management was very responsive and worked closely with us to figure out the right classroom for our daughter given her age and size. I know that daycare is an important choice and unique to everyone, and Kindercare has been a great fit for us.Several recent reviews called out issues such as reduced hours and inadequate staffing. Staffing challenges are prevalent across the childcare industry. Management has been very upfront about the reduced hours, and actively worked to build staffing required to increase hours to the original promise. A couple of months after we started at Kindercare, reduced hours were extended by an hour both in the morning and evening, and as of January the center is operating at its original hours. Additionally, there were only a few occasions over the summer where management asked if parents could keep their children at home due to staffing shortage. This was always optional, and it was not unique to Kindercare. I have friends with their kids at other daycares experienced the same thing at that time. This situation has not recurred since the summer.Lastly, while I don't have data to prove this, I have to imagine price increases are driven at least partly by inflation/operating cost increases, necessary salary increases to retain talent, and perhaps real estate/lease costs. The price is much less than a 1:1 nanny or even most nanny shares, and much more reliable (nannies can usually quit with a 30 day notice if they get a better offer, and you have to pay double for backup care during sick days or holidays).
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February 2024 by Pilar H
Kindercare Wallingford struggles to fulfill basic responsibilities and the quality of care is inconsistent. Parents here recognize that childcare is a hard job and are reluctant to post honest reviews publicly because it might further destabilize the situation- but here are some things I wish I knew before sending two children here for over a year: (1) staff turnover is a systemic problem, not a temporary one. My kids have had so many teachers we have lost count. At first, management would notify parents when there were changes, but it became such a frequent issue that they no longer bother to even tell us the names of the people who will be caring for our kids each day. (2) Parents are asked to accommodate inadequate staffing. Operating hours were significantly cut back for months and parents had to leave work at 4:30pm to pick up by 5pm. The parking lot became less safe and traffic around the Center was a mess as families rushed to pick their kids up at the same time. Parents were also asked to keep their kids home on days when employees didn’t show up, sometimes multiple times a week or month. Further, if you arrive at your child’s assigned classroom in the morning and they don’t have enough teachers there, it is your responsibility to wander the hallways knocking on doors until you find another class to accept your child. When you pick up, you may also find your child in another class as they consolidate, and this location may or may not be communicated to you. (3) There are some great people who work here but they may not stay long and there are others who do not have the skills, interest, or support to do this work appropriately. Most parents want their kids to be engaged in a healthy and loving way by their teachers while having their basic needs met. I have witnessed angry and unsafe behavior by teachers. I have also frequently seen children crying alone in the corners of classrooms without any adult attempting to comfort them. I have picked my children up at 5pm to find them in the same diaper I put them in before dropping them off for the day. I have entered classrooms where teachers chat socially with one another while 3 year olds fist fight on the floor or 2 year olds struggle beneath an overturned tricycle. There is minimal effort to reduce the spread of illnesses. (4) Communication with management is unproductive. I appreciated the former Director’s knowledge of early child development and her capacity to have honest conversations about concerns. She acknowledged missteps and she focused on problem solving together. The current management will only deny and dismiss parent concerns before pivoting to their positive spin. It’s remarkably unconvincing and disrespectful. (5) It’s expensive, feels profit-driven, and the price is out of step with the low quality and inconsistency of services actually provided. The sales pitches about “curriculum” and fun decorations in the front lobby are a distraction from the fact that Kindercare cannot ensure a consistent, nurturing, healthy environment for the kids that are left behind their doors each day.
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January 2024 by Victoria Garcia
This daycare absolutely only cares about money and lacks integrity ! So here is my story please be aware. I came to this daycare desperate and to my surprises they told me there was a family who was leaving and within a month there would be room for my 2 kids ages 2 and 10 months. I was so happy and absolutely excited! Excited to get back to work to afford the life I desperately want my kids to live. Well my kids were scheduled to start Dec18th and just before that week my babies got extremely sick I had to take my 10 month old to the ER twice because he couldn’t keep down any of his formula. I communicated with the assistant director, I sent emails, I placed phone calls and let them know my kids were sick and I would still be bringing them in after about 2 weeks so that they could get better and so that another family wouldn’t have to go through what I went through and risk getting other babies and toddlers horribly sick!! The head director calls me a week and a half later to tell me they disenrolled my kids and that they can’t keep my spot because I’m getting STATE HELP AS A YOUNG MOM of 3!! This woman talked over me the whole time and was extremely rude during this whole conversation, I did keep my cool.That was absolutely BULL and absolutely disgusting to give my spot away and for that reasoning !!! I feel like it was total discrimination and to sit around and waste my time and lack any kind of morals is disgusting and people like that should not be in charge of running a daycare.
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September 2023 by Stephanie King
BEWARE: I want to give a real review since the only ones here are from 2+ years ago. We ultimately had to leave this daycare due to the negligence of the teachers. Teachers and administrators only care about money. They adjusted their hours to earlier closing but then raised their prices … doesn’t make sense.The teachers do not engage with the kids, at the very least they just keep them alive … Barely. In 1 day my child got bit TWICE by the SAME kid .. how? So they allowed a problematic child to continue bullying my 1 year old without any consequence because the next day, guess who was big again? (By the same kid as the day before). When I confronted administrators the director just makes you feel like you’re crazy, and from what here it’s not just my child. Even if you are desperate, don’t bring your children here. They are not safe.
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September 2023 by Samuel King
Terrible experience for my kids here
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September 2023 by Evelyn Hernandez
Terrible place for kids
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February 2023 by Nicolle D.
Friendly staff and the kids have a great time. They are such a reliable resource for my family.
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August 2022 by Jen N.
We couldn't be happier with Wallingford KinderCare and feel extremely lucky to have our two younger girls here (almost 3yo and 8mo). The center is relatively new, opening on the heels of Covid which I think has advantaged them. The staff and hiring is very diverse which we truly appreciate and makes us feel good about the exposure our little ones are getting. We have been lucky with many good childcare situations over the years, but Wallingford KinderCare has surpassed all my expectations between the kindness and high communication of the teachers and administrative staff, and the enriching experience our girls are getting. We've also found the discovery preschool ("DP") and preschool staff to be incredibly supportive of and instrumental in potty training, which is a bonus for any parent! Both girls have enjoyed the meals, and I have always felt safe and reassured leaving my infant in their caring arms. The director Alex has supported us through some tough family transitions which demonstrated her empathy and willingness to go above and beyond for her families. It's a great location, excellent hours, and a wonderful team - you can't ask for more :)
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July 2022 by Rachel S.
I could not be happier at Kindercare Wallingford. My son joined the infant room program in January, and we have been blessed with 2 amazing teachers (Miss Cecelia and Miss Lillian) and a very supportive administrative staff (Alex, Christine, Amanda, and Katie). Miss Lillian has been with Philly since day 1 - and we could not be happier with the love, care, support, and attention she's given our son. She has been with Philly through all of the first-year highs and lows -- teething, solids, crawling, weening, etc. -- at this point she feels like family! We could not have done this first year without her. We have been very happy with all the teachers and staff at Kindercare Wallingford so far, and I cannot thank them enough!Next month, our son will transition to the toddler room. Although I'm sad he'll be leaving Miss Lillian and Miss Cecelia, I know our son will be in great hands with his new toddler room teachers!
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January 2022 by Mackenzie B.
We're now 1.5 years into care with Wallingford Kindercare and still stand behind our 5-star review. This place is the best and our kids love going to school each day.
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December 2021 by Nicole Rampaul
Our kiddo loves this school. She is excited to go there every day and adores her teachers and classmates. The quality of care and education is exceptional. Our kiddo comes home every day proud to share the new things she's learned. It's a large and busy daycare but they have managed to keep students and staff safe during this crazy pandemic. The daily updates via the app really help parents feel connected to their kiddos throughout the day - much appreciated!
