ComplaintsforHoney Bear Child Care & Learning Center

• Initial Complaint

  08/06/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  The Targeting towards my daughter began on March 8th, ***************************************** a 5 year old classroom when she was only 3. (and teachers weren't even informed of my child's actual age until after they said she had issues and needed extra help because she wasn't doing the things the other 5 year olds were doing.) (told me I need to seek extra *************** for her, basically saying my daughter is special needs, when she's not.)Targeted by director and lead teacher of the classroom (lead teacher is also directors wife)My daughter has attended this center since she was 2 years old. I have paid at least $10,000 in fees to this daycare center. (have receipts)Wrongfully kicked my daughter out of the center, via leaving me a voicemail, no confirmed phone call, no talk in person.Director harassed me after I posted a review on a public platform ******** by calling and texting me multiple times.While my daughter was attending, I saw a room that was very small, had a microwave in it, a makeshift bed, and storage (I saw with my own eyes) they made a small utility closet a makeshift breakroom/storage/nap space for the kids?? fire hazard? (in Great Start room)There was a pretty big incident they say that happened between my child and another child, but when I asked to see the cameras from the incident, director got defensive and told me I couldn't view the cameras. makes me wonder what does he not want me to see.--will provide any and all proof

  Business response

  08/19/2024

  I am the Chief Executive Officer of Honey Bear Child Care. We have always been a family-owned and operated preschool center, since 1985, when my mother opened a small preschool because she could not find adequate care for her son(me).  My mother is the president of the business, my Aunt is the chef and has been with us all 39 years, and my wife has been one of our best teachers for almost 5 years now.  Reading the customer's statement of the problem is extremely frustrating. I do not even know where to start, as the only fact she has provided was about the "pretty big incident", not at all the language used, when she asked to see the cameras. This incident regarded her child throwing toys at other children, pulling a teachers hair, as well as scratching other children and teachers. She was not allowed to view the cameras because the only person(s) allowed to view the cameras is myself, my mother, our Director, or the Police. It is a privacy issue that California had a problem when allowing parents to view security cameras, it is our written policy in our Parent Handbook that describes only the authorities are allowed to view camera footage.  I do wish she could have seen this footage, as she would have been able to see her daughter's behavior.  We have no reason to lie about this behavior, our only goal was to help her family, and her child. The only means we have as a preschool center, is to have completely transparent and honest communication between our teachers and our parents.  She keeps referring to the Director, and it is obvious she is referring to me.  Although I am not the Director, I was attempting to help this customer's ********************** by letting her know what was happening at preschool, and different ideas/solutions to try at home.  I can honestly say I have never personally invested so much time with one child in the 14 years I have been a part of Honey Bear.

  Having said that the rest of this customer statement is completely false. Her daughter began in our Toddler room with 2 year olds, once in the 3 year old room she began not listening to teachers or children, screaming constantly, throwing toys at other children, trying to run out the door, scratching other children and teachers.  With this customers knowledge we contacted Early On to get support, in order to continue to provide care without having to put any child in danger.  This customer did not follow up when Early On reached out to her.  We reached out to Early On again with her knowledge, she assured us she would follow up this time.  She did not.  We do not "kick out" any child from our center.  We contact the necessary resources to help find the right care for any child who needs it.  This customers daughter continued to be a danger in our classroom while we waited for Early On to contact us.  They never contacted us, and during this time her daughter had caused 8 incident reports in one week, 5 of the incidents involved her scratching other children and drawing blood.  Another important incident was when her daughter said something I will not repeat to her teacher, whom is 6 months pregnant, and scratched at her stomach. I never harassed her with phone calls, or voicemails.  I hope she saved the voicemails for you to hear how polite and professional I was.  She would never answer her phone when I called.  This child's father on the other hand would answer the phone.  I had several conversations with him regarding his daughters behavior.  I believe he genuinely cared, and constantly apologized for the behavior of his ex-wife on social media.  Actually, I never once had a negative discussion with this complainant.  Every discussion we had in person was professional and I thought we could make progress.  Then she started leaving reviews like this across multiple platforms:

  BEWARE. Long post please read before sending your child here. I used to love Honeybear for my child. She was performing well, she was growing and learning amazing things from the teachers here. She had attended this daycare since she started a daycare program. She was 2. We had issues in the beginning of course because she was adjusting from being a COVID baby at home with just us, to being around a lot of people and even more children. The adjustments were rocky, but they worked through them. (I do want to give a special shout out to ****************, *********************************************************** and **************** who were the few that actually wanted to try and take the time with my child, all of which she had grown to love). Everything was fine until it was time for her to go from the 3's classroom to the 4's. OH BY THE WAY, Mrs. ***** retired, and her son **** took over (all these great reviews were when mrs. ***** was still here) Let's not mention the fact that she was STILL 3, going into a room that was full of 5 year olds who were going to kindergarten in the fall, and that was either not communicated with the 4's teachers or it was simply ignored. They expected her to be doing all the things a 5 year old should be doing when she was STILL THREE. I never got as many calls from honeybear as I've gotten since she started 4's. it should also be noted ************** makes every single call to me and every time "oh ************ said" or "oh I talked to ************" low and ******, **** and ************** are in a relationship. ***** is the lead teacher in the 4's probably only because of ***********. She has a terrible attitude and she has no patience to even be dealing with children. Long story short my child no longer attends here because I PULLED HER OUT of this center because they are terrible people and all they do is call with problems but no solutions other than "your kid is the problem and they probably need extra help". AND THEN **** SAID TO ME OUT HIS MOUTH "if it was up to me she would not have been here 6 months ago but my mother said we'll figure it out," you actually say these things to a parent of a child that attends your center.??? Crazy how my child is doing 100% great at the new center she attends, but they say she couldn't get it together at Honey Bear. Clearly the adults are the issue there. The problem is with employment not with my child After I posted a 1 star review back when everything was beginning to happen **** called me so fast to take it down, when he really should be worried about all the children he should be directing. I removed it due to my child still attending and I didn't want to give them any reason to treat my child anymore different THAN THEY ALREADY WERE (TARGETING HER). But I am so glad and RELIEVED to be done with that trash of a place. "best playground in **************" yeah and thats about it as the best of the things they have. My child always mentioned sleeping in a CLOSET that had a makeshift bed in it where there was a microwave, it was clearly a makeshift breakroom for employees/storage closet/nap place? Fire Hazard or what????? (I saw it with my own eyes) **** will also never let you view the cameras. He claims its "illegal" Illegal to view my child at your center? After your website states "There is nothing more important to us than the safety and security of your child, therefore we have multiple high definition security cameras in every classroom, over 30 HD cameras total throughout our center." But I cant view the cameras Now that **** has taken over I'm sure this place is going downhill, he clearly did it for the money.

  It actually goes on believe it or not.  I can promise you that this customer is not giving ANY useful information, and it is ALL completely false.  It is also harassment, bullying, and completely immature.  This is not how any adult should solve their problems.  I would like to see this customers proof, whatever it is.  Because I do have the proof, and there is a lot of it.  This is a very unfortunate situation, and the only person I am worried about is her daughter.  I do not believe any parent that does something like this is likely taking good care of their child.  Thank you for your time.  Please don't hesitate to give us a call, or email if you would like.  Also, I will be immediately applying for BBB Accreditation, I believe in what your doing, and I like the way these issues are handled.  Finally, someone is making some sense :) 
  

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩