Steps to Learning Preschool and Daycare

The family was brought to Goleta for a 6 month work assignment and we were looking for care for our toddler and preschooler. This was the first time our toddler had been with anyone other than family. He is happy to go to school and I love all the new words, numbers, colors, and letters he is quickly learning to say as well as positive behaviors. The teachers are very caring and do wonderful educational activities for the kids. They also put on a special events and activites for kids and parents to participate. I also really appreciate getting a short daily review on each child sent home in their lunch box. Both kids are very happy here.

Bottom Line: Having multiple appointments blown off by the owner of an organization that’s supposed to be caring for your child doesn’t give you an overwhelming sense of security about leaving your baby… and then having the staff feed your 10 month old baby CHOCOLATE FOR THE FIRST TIME leaves me baffled and angry
My wife and I had a baby and at seven months had never dropped him off with any care providers. We looked all over town, got recommendations from people and the final push was a Living Social deal which was perfect — we thought that this would give us a chance to try this place out without having to commit to a large block of time.
It was fathers day weekend and my wife wanted to do something nice for me because it was my first Fathers day so we were very specifically told to show up early so that we could fill out paperwork.
So we showed up extra early to try and be respectful of the organization to an empty office. We waited and waited and lots of people came and left during that time. I did manage to notice the calendar on the wall that had written on that day «Living Social Kid» — No name — and if that doesn’t make you warm and fuzzy inside, nothing will…
We waited in the owners office for almost an hour until we found out that she wasn’t going to show up at all. She never called us to explain the situation, she texted one of the staff to have her tell us she wasn’t showing up. No apology — No explanation. I’m so happy that we showed up extra early out of respect for this organization.
During the 90 minutes or so waiting for the owner, I wandered the halls and I noticed that the owner proudly has her Engineering degree framed on the wall… why? You’re an Engineer — where I agree that’s impressive — how does it qualify you for childcare or even managing a childcare facility? Engineering might be the absolute furthest thing from caring for a baby.
I have a degree in Audio Engineering, does it qualify me to be a farmer?
Now as new parents, we were both VERY nervous about leaving our baby with anyone for the first time — even family — let alone a crew of strangers. There was nobody there to tell us what was going on, who works there, what their policies are, to introduce us to the people that work there. We just left our baby in a room of other kids and had to go because we had other appointments.
We were hoping to be debriefed by the owner later that day when we picked up our baby but mid-​day my wife got a text that the owner was leaving early., she wouldn’t be meeting us again, and again no explanation.
Don’t show up for an appointment in the morning, leave early in the afternoon…
Honestly, this place gets one star (or zero…) if the people that were there actually caring for our child weren’t super nice and they didn’t come with recommendations from multiple friends of ours.
I was seriously debating leaving my kid there at all — I had no reason to.
Mind you this was the first visit our son had to this place, recently my wife left our son at this facility again for an afternoon.
When my wife picked him up they told her that he smacked his face on the desk because as they were trying to feed him, they didn’t belt him in. So he just fell forward and slammed his face on the desk… because he is a baby and LACKS THE ABILITY to hold himself up indefinitely… hence the strap on those chairs so the kid doesn’t hurt themselves. This is pretty basic stuff here, people.
In order to make things easy for the staff my wife packed him a breakfast and lunch (which she labeled) of which they did not feed him at first. For breakfast, they reached into our son’s diaper bag and pulled out one of my wife’s Fiber One bars that is filled with lots of terrible things for him (sugar, corn syrup etc), including chocolate– WHICH HE HAS NEVER HAD. If you look at nearly any list of things you are not supposed to give a baby, chocolate is right up there. They broke it into pieces and put it on the table for him. He could not, at that time, feed himself, so luckily he didn’t eat any of the bar. They assumed he was being ornery and cleared the table, but did not offer any other food. So he had no breakfast
We weren’t even aware whether or not he has a chocolate allergy/​sensitivity because again, he had never had it.
I would have assumed that all of this is really basic baby knowledge — apparently not.
I wasn’t comfortable leaving my kid with these people after the first visit, now I would rather leave them with the firefighters over at Station 11 next door.
I guarantee you he would have a better chance of survival.
If i ever leave my kid at this facility again, there is going to be a lawyer present. Period. Our sons’ last visit borders on gross negligence and is totally and in all other ways unacceptable

My younger son has been there since 3 months old and now in toddler’s class (15 months). We love STLP, their loving care & creative curriculum for preschoolers and infant/​toddlers.
I am a working mom. When I was out of town for business, my baby was a little off and teachers gave an extra love to him. Although I know they give equal love and care to all the kids, that gives me some relief even away from home.
He started to use folk and spoon now. 18 months girl started potty train. Teachers give challenges and support for them to grow, and that gives me trust on them.
Sometimes I was late to pick him up due to meetings and stuff, they are flexible enough to change and extend their business hour. Because I could have made an accident any time to rush & drive from the office to pick him up in time ;), so happy for their thoughtfulness.
I just wanted to share this with you who are looking for a great place for kids and also yourselves.