Big Blue Marble Academy

My son attended this facility from the time he was 6 months old until about 2–3 weeks ago. He is now almost 5 years old. Over those years, we encountered a variety of issues that we always tried to address collaboratively with the Director. These ranged from bee stings and allergic reactions to incidents involving biting and hitting. While these situations were concerning, we appreciated having open conversations and worked through them as they arose. Our concerns/complaints were always heard but it always felt like they were never truly resolved. The first time we seriously questioned whether this was the right environment for our son was around the time he turned 3, when the facility changed Directors. We viewed that leadership change as a positive step and decided to keep him enrolled. During his younger years (6 months through the 2-year-old classroom), the experience was very positive. The children regularly did crafts and other engaging activities, and we consistently received updates throughout the day. As with any childcare center, it was clear that some staff members were truly dedicated and genuinely invested in the children's growth and well-being. However, as he moved into the 3- and 4-year-old classrooms, we noticed a significant decline in consistency, routine, and structure. It seemed that the children played from the time they arrived until they left, with little to no organized classroom activities, crafts, or educational engagement. Daily updates also became virtually nonexistent. As staff turnover increased, these gaps became more noticeable. Beginning in January 2026, we started receiving frequent reports that our son was misbehaving—having outbursts, hitting, not following instructions, and even "destroying" classrooms. Coincidentally, these incidents almost always occurred in the afternoon and, in roughly 95% of the cases, involved the same staff member. Unfortunately, we rarely heard anything positive about his day beyond an occasional "he had a good day today." Instead, he seemed to become labeled as the "bad kid." Staff even suggested he might be autistic and repeatedly characterized him as having consistently bad days. As parents, we did everything we could to maintain open communication. We often left work immediately to pick him up or help de-escalate situations, and at times these calls became a weekly occurrence. Despite our efforts, nothing seemed to improve. The situation escalated further when another parent approached us during drop-off, stating that our son had hit her child while also accusing the facility of being negligent. We immediately contacted the Director to address the incident and our concerns. Eventually, we reached a point where we no longer felt confident that this environment was serving our son's needs, and we made the decision to withdraw him. Today, he is attending a new school where he is thriving. His speech has improved significantly, his overall demeanor and attitude are wonderful, and the difference has honestly been night and day. With that said, I don't believe BBM is a terrible place. If it were, we would not have entrusted them with our son for nearly five years. However, they have significant areas that need improvement. In my opinion, those improvements extend beyond the individual Director. There needs to be better alignment between what the brand promises families and what is consistently delivered in the classrooms, along with ensuring staff are properly trained and supported to meet those expectations. Finally, I would not recommend escalating concerns—or even sharing compliments—with the District Manager. In our experience, emails and messages went completely unacknowledged, without even the courtesy of a response confirming they had been received. Overall, I wouldn't call this the worst childcare center, but I would strongly encourage parents—especially those with older, active children who benefit from structure and consistency—to carefully explore other options before making a decision.

The teachers and staff are great. Very hands on with kids and I know I can count on them to let me know if there was any issues. I love how their app gives me daily updates throughout my kids day.

I’m grateful for the support and trust I have for BBMA OLA. The staff is amazing. I have a 5yo who has been going over a year now and we’re looking forward to him starting Pre-K this fall there too. My twin boys are 5 months and attend as well. This is my first time leaving infants at a daycare but I made the right choice with this team. The rooms are always clean. All the staff are friendly and supportive. I feel good leaving my babies and having a peace of mind. 10/10!!

My daughter has been attending BBMA Ola since she was 7 weeks old she has just moved to the 3 year old room. She has learned so much in the toddler and 2 year old room. Love the pictures that are posted of the class in the app.

This place is absolutely great. We starting taking our little one their after being at her previous daycare for almost 2 years. As you could imagine we had apprehension about getting used to another daycare. From day one, the staff at Blue Marble not only met our expectations, but have truly exceeded (most) of them. If you're looking for a daycare in the Mcdonough area, Blue Marble Academy, Ola is A+.