This review is based on two months in the infant room. I found Rising Stride while I was pregnant and there wasn't a waitlist like other places, I'd also talked on the phone with a parent who'd written a positive review. I wanted to love this place because their location is accessible and I liked that they have cameras. However, the camera access caused more stress for us because we saw how long they would leave our child in containers (swings, exersaucers) or on nursing pillows. I often tried to advocate for my child or ask the staff to do more activities during the day, but would end up feeling like I'd have to make up for it at home on weekends so we wouldn't be behind. We were in feeding therapy because of bottle feeding difficulties and trying to create positive associations with bottle feeding, but we saw on camera that they were forcing the bottle and setting our progress back. So we stopped sending them altogether and I'd go nurse in the back room twice during the work day. From all the time I spent there I became less confident that this was a place for my child to develop and thrive. They were inconsistent in enforcing their health protocols or delayed in notifying families (if at all). We decided to leave when the director told me I needed to come nurse more frequently than 2-3 hours like I was doing or get a doctor's note saying it's okay (it was totally developmentally appropriate by the way). I truly believe the teachers at Rising Stride loved on my child and did the best they could, but I don't think they are equipped for children that need individualized attention or have developmental delays. The staff were often overwhelmed and the environment felt very chaotic, even my child felt sensory overload and was distracted during feeds. I can say that since leaving we found a better facility that meets our needs and my child is actually comfortable enough to take a bottle with longer stretches in-between. I'm glad I trusted my mommy instincts, because the environment and fit really matters. read more

I had my 5 month old in the infant room for 3 weeks before I pulled them out. I am grateful we had access to the cameras 24/7 so I could see my infant spending HOURS at a time in the swing, which also included them allowing my child to sleep in the swing which is not allowed. I could see them violently rocking the crib to make my child fall asleep and also piling blankets in the crib while in there. I saw them put mini boppy pillows around infant's necks to hold up their bottles instead of taking the time to feed the poor babies themselves (it is state law that an employee must feed a child until they are 6 months old). The teachers did no activities with the children, no tummy time, no reading books, nothing. The teachers were not nice and warm, they did not respond to infants when they were upset and they spent most of the day on their phones. I also witnessed them taking an ear thermometer from child to child (without washing it) to try to find a child with a fever. Once they found a child with a fever, they all jumped for joy and called the family to come pick up the child. I would not recommend this daycare to anyone; there is a reason it was the only place in the area without a waitlist. I do want to point out this was in 2024, but with the recent happenings at the daycare in Oaks, I would regret not sharing my experience if it happens to save a family from potential danger. I would also suggest looking up the daycare review/complaints on https://www.compass.dhs.pa.gov/providersearch/#/childcareprovidersearch because this center has some pretty nasty confirmed complaints/cases. read more

First I start with bathrooms not clean at all ! Sticky floor and toilet seats always dirty!! My son went there 6 to 8 days ! When ever he cried no one made him calm ! Staff is uncaring! I regret sending my son here ! read more

Great daycare. I have been with them for years. They are a decent facility and thrive to being better each day. Love the camera aspect and I am able to see my kids during the day. read more

I enrolled my daughter at this daycare and I 100% regret it. The same day I enrolled her, I took her out immediately. My daughter was fed 2 ounces of formula ALL day. She normally drinks 5.5 ounces every 2-3 hours. The last time my daughter ate was 6:30 AM at home. She was picked up by my mother at 3:30 PM and that is when she next ate a full bottle. The caregivers fed her 2 ounces of formula within an 8 hour plus period! This facility has cameras that you can log into. My mother, my boyfriend and I all logged into the cameras to check on our daughter/granddaugther. She was in a bouncey seat laying down for 95% of the time next to a 4 month old. The care givers were aware she was able to sit up because I told them and when I left she was sitting on the ground playing. You would think being on camera things would be different. They put her in a seat for 15 minutes to try and feed her puree. They said she ate only a little bit. They stated they changed her 4 times. We saw her get changed ONCE! I will give them 2X but we saw once ALL DAY. Her bottom/privates were red from sitting with a dirty diaper. Also, my daughter had scratches on her cheeks and neck. We observed an older little boy hovering over her face while she lay there helpless and strapped into the bouncey. The caregiver sat on her phone not paying attention. As a daycare they should be promoting safe sleep and eating. They stated she would not drink her bottle, that different people tried to prop the bottle (a choking hazard), and that they could not hold her because they had other younger babies that needed to be held while eating. She needs to be held while she eats too! There were 2-3 caregivers... That is pure LAZINESS in my eyes. They let her lay/sleep in the bouncer all day. They did not put her in the crib to sleep. Can you say SIDS? I cried the whole way home from my first day at a new job and quickly informed the director that I will be taking her out of there. The teacher eventually called me and stated they didn't want to call me because they didn't want me to worry. When my child only eats 2 oz in 8+ hours... I need to be aware!!! I want to be informed considering my child had weight gain issues as a newborn due to acid reflux. When my mother picked her up she was lethargic in the bouncey seat. They stated she was really tired all day. My child takes 2 naps MAYBE 3 tops all day. My mother stated she was starved when she got home, and that my daughter was sent home with none of the stuff we provided for her except 4.5/5 FULL BOTTLES. The next day my mother picked up my daughters stuff.. There was food missing from the bag I provided and they never gave back her pampers diapers and wipes. So now I have to find time to go pick that stuff up hoping there is only "4" diapers missing. Not to mention it is TWO WEEKS LATER, and I still have not received my refund in the mail. I contacted the owner and administrative employee about my refund. After getting back to me late, they are saying it has been sent out in the mail. I reported this daycare to the state and wrote multiple reviews hoping to warn others. I will never recommend this daycare center(s) to anyone nor will I ever look past this type of care. I wrote small notes on what she likes and how I care for her, and they never looked twice at them. Thankfully my new job gave me a few extra days to find a better and trustworthy daycare. If you enroll your child here, good luck. *** UPDATE: Below the owner is trying to contact me to probably try and convince me to take the reviews down. Of course the state didn't find anything wrong, because when you are being WATCHED by officials you're going to do everything right. You're going to put kids in the cribs, play with them, etc. This does not change the fact that my child drank 2 oz of milk all day (8 hours), laid in a bouncy at 7 months old and was changed once! read more

(This took place in 9/2021and I had to choose 1star because there is no negative-5 stars) Today was my child's first and last day at Discovery Tree drexelbrook. After rave reviews and good references, I was excited for my 18 month old to begin his educational journey with this learning center. We arrived at 7am and were the first of his classmates there. We were met by Natasha who was the teacher for my child's class. For my child to be a new student she was not welcoming or warm. I was hesitant to just leave because she left him to roam around and due to the unfamiliar environment he began to whine. Of course I picked my own child up and began to console him and figured I would just wait until more staff arrived since Natasha was to preoccupied. Once I did leave and gained access to the camera visuals, I noticed my child clearly upset and crying following behind the teachers in the class looking for attention only to be ignored and walked passed like furniture. While I don't expect anyone to hold him all day I do expect him to be consoled, acknowledged and engaged. There were no attempts to redirect him, I never observed any physical contact! Just adults brushing pass and ignoring him on his first day in a strange new environment with strange new people. Needless to say I called the center 100 times to no avail. As I continued to observe the poor behavior towards my child, I headed back to the center with full intentions of retrieving him. I went straight to the director and explained my concerns, she picked up the phone and instructed someone in the class to address my child as he continued to cry. I observed Natasha drag him near a chair she was sitting in and he kneeled at her feet while she continued to doodle on a clip board. Enough was enough. I went to the class and knocked on the door for access. Once Natasha was aware of my presence she is seen on camera picking my child up and rubbing his back. At that point there were a lot of useless, meaningless, lazy excuses offered that fell on deaf ears. Come to find out Natasha is an educated experienced teacher who has been with the center for long time. This leads me to believe that she has been in the field so long that she is numb and lost the tenderness required when handling young toddlers. Her lack of empathy and failure to put the children first over all of the "tasks" that led her to be dismissive to my child is the key reason we will not be returning. I don't trust the judgement, strategy or lack luster attitudes of the staff in that early childcare class. This has been a overwhelming and disheartening experience that no parent or child should have to endure. read more

The Discovery Tree looks like a great place on the outside but I was invited to come and tour the classrooms and what I found was heart-breaking. A small child cried and cried for attention and the assistant director told me to ignore him because he was always like that. The ceilings were corroded with massive amounts of accumulated dust. The rugs in the baby room were filthy with stains everywhere. There was a piece of gum stuck to a bookshelf. A trash can sat in the middle of the floor where babies crawled around. An unattended child was struck by the classroom door while crawling as a parent entered. But worst of all, I was introduced to a young woman who was said to be the Lead Teacher, but that she didn't want the job. I must've been at the center for close to 15 minutes and the "Lead Teacher" did not smile one time as she sat among a room full of babies and toddlers. The Discovery Tree II seems to be a much nicer place by far. It is run by totally different people in a vastly different way. The classrooms are set up better and the staff seem happy to be with the children. However, because I spoke out about what I observed at the mother center, I was told that my child was unwelcomed to enroll at The Discovery Tree II. read more

My family had a wonderful experience with this school. The teachers were warm and caring. They had an enriching curriculum and provided detailed descriptions of what was done each day. Administrative issues were always handled very professionally. I loved that all meals are provided and that parents can watch their children online. read more

The director of this school is uncaring. She is more about money than about caring for the children. She also does not communicate as a business owner should. I regret sending my child here for a year. I will let everyone know that this not a place where you can feel comfortable sending your little ones. She misinformed us when we enrolled and we were stuck finding different place for our oldest even though she assured us there was space. Now our end of the year is spent losing out on $200 dollars for a week that my youngest was not there. I am a early childhood educator I have worked with many different child care centers. I have never been more displeased with the way one was run as I am with this one. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD HERE! read more

My daughter's attended this school for 3 years, and I'm so pleased with our experience. The teachers are loving, communicative, approachable, and just as passionate about our children as the parents themselves. Miss Jen, Miss Randy, Miss Deana..are all her extended mothers ( her words). I'm not certain who will be more sad to leave (graduate). read more

Short staff, very bad with any kid with any kind of needs. Very poor leadership....play ground is very poor. Doesnt not call when child is hurt. Lies Lies Lies.....Tried to force Wrap-A-Round services for my son. read more