Stepping Stones Early Learning Center

‼️‼️‼️‼️Please be aware of Stepping Stones Earl in Portage! ‼️‼️‼️ I put an honest review and they blocked me. I won’t stay quiet for what’s right! My daughter used to go here for her care. After a few months of being there, they recommended I have my daughter evaluated for Autism as she was struggling with a few things. She was also nonverbal. So I did. The appointment was for the following month. Everything quickly turned to worst before then! Every two days, (I wish I was exaggerating, but I'm not), they would call me saying my daughter had a “difficult day” and I needed to pick her up. To the point when they sent me a message saying their staff and other kids' safety were in jeopardy! (I’m sorry, what?) She was only two years old! At this point, I got very concerned; they were describing things she did that I never saw her do at home! So concerned and wanting to help, I asked if I could please have video footage of her “having difficulty times” in the classroom so I could see what was triggering her. The director said, “Okay, I’ll look into it,” and that they would show me the next day. However, the next day and weeks went by, and nothing. They kept saying, “We are looking into it,” but never showed me. When I put more pressure on them, they ended up sending me a video from a cellphone of my daughter on the floor crying and screaming hysterically, telling me I needed to pick her up. At this point, she got her evaluation, and yes, she was diagnosed with level 3 autism. As soon as she got diagnosed, they gave me notice saying that my daughter could no longer attend, that it would be illegal for her to move to the next class at three years old because she hadn’t mastered certain milestones. (Again, what?) As a single mother missing a lot of work hours, I had to move fast (I had three weeks to move her). So the time came, and I moved her to another daycare. As soon as my daughter was moved, my daughter started talking, and she felt more comfortable! The new school stated that she didn’t have difficult days (only one per three months or so, but what kid doesn’t?). Not only that, they lost good teachers and aides due to their being unfair to kids. One outside therapist also mentioned how rude they were when they came to provide services to my daughter! I refuse to be quiet for what’s right! Why did they have to block me? I still have all messages from them and therapists proving it. Do your research, parents! Ask around and get informed. The Director doesn’t care for the kids; they just want the money. They don’t accommodate families, and they surely discriminate against kids with disabilities. My daughter bloomed after leaving that place! So, please be aware. God doesn’t like ugly! Specially when is about kids! 🙏🏼🥹

I want to start by highlighting the incredible work of the teaching staff. Every interaction I’ve had with them has been wonderful, and my family member truly loved his time in their classrooms. They are kind, welcoming, and clearly dedicated to the children. However, I feel compelled to share some concerns regarding the facility's operations and management. During my visits, the front desk consistently felt unorganized, and there is a noticeable lack of morale among the management team. Specifically, I found the manager Hilary, to be quite unprofessional. Her communication style is often short and dismissive, which creates an unwelcoming environment for families. The cleanliness of the facility was a recurring issue. While I understand daycare centers have high foot traffic, the hallways were frequently unswept, and I noticed the same garbage on the floor for several days in a row. It is disappointing to see such talented teachers working in an environment that feels neglected by leadership. I am sharing this in the hope that management takes these concerns seriously to ensure the facility's standards eventually match the high quality of its teaching staff. I’m sharing this after reading a review that was recently posted. I wanted to write this for quite some time. Now seeing someone have such a bad experience saddens me. I hope the front staff takes this review and makes a few changes. Thank you.

I’ve gone back and forth about sharing this, but I feel it’s important to speak up so other parents can make informed decisions. My son attended Stepping Stones Early Learning Center in Portage for almost two years. While my initial impression wasn’t the strongest, I enrolled him because I needed childcare at the time. From early on, there were interactions with administration that felt discouraging, including frequent comparisons between my son and others. I chose to move forward and give it time. As my son approached his second birthday, I began receiving multiple daily incident reports regarding his behavior — sometimes several in one day. I understand that young children are still learning emotional regulation, but I felt there was a heavy focus on documentation rather than collaborative strategies to support his development. Administration requested a meeting to discuss his behavior, which I agreed to. During that conversation, comments were made that left me feeling concerned and discouraged about how his behavior was being perceived, rather than supported. Later, I became aware of social media content posted by a staff member that raised personal concerns for me as a parent. While everyone is entitled to their own lifestyle, it caused me to reevaluate my comfort level with the care environment. Shortly after, my son made a comment about a minor scratch while at home that referenced a staff member’s name. While I cannot say what caused it, the comment contributed to my growing concern and ultimately my decision to remove him from the program. Once I secured alternate childcare, I provided the required two weeks’ notice and informed administration that I was no longer comfortable with the care he was receiving. There was no further discussion or follow-up. I am sharing this respectfully and based on my personal experience. I understand every family’s experience may differ. However, since transitioning to a new daycare, my son’s behavior, mood, and overall well-being have improved significantly, and he is now thriving.

Absolutely wonderful! The entire staff is welcoming, friendly and caring. They keep me updated through the procare app all day for meals, bathroom breaks and activities. I wouldn’t want my children at any other daycare. They are amazing!

Was interested but after hearing so many bad stories and reading reviews.. I changed my mind and decided to not tour their facility and stay with the daycare my son currently goes to. Today I received a letter from firefly childcare saying my son attends Stepping stones daycare starting last week and I’m over my voucher limit. I have never stepped into the daycare let alone sign any paperwork for my son to attend .. Now I have to straighten this out and it makes me worry even more about Stepping Stones Daycare . How often have this been done ? And how could you make a mistake like that