Kiddie Academy of Whitestone Reviews?

I plan on returning to work in June when my DS will be 6 months and having toured several daycares in the Whitestone area, Kiddie Academy, as expensive as it is, looked to be the best out of the bunch.
However, I cannot find any recent reviews. I was concerned because our local BBB.org gave Kiddie Academy an F rating! This worries me greatly.

Can anyone who has, or had, their infant child enrolled in the school please let me know their experience with Kiddie Academy?

Message edited 2/20/2014 12:11:46 PM.

Re: Kiddie Academy of Whitestone Reviews?

My niece goes to Kiddie Academy in Whitestone. She started there when she was 7 months old. If you have any specific questions....I can ask my sister for you.

Kiddie Academy of Whitestone Reviews?

Thanks! My main concern was the 1:4 infant ratio. I just have horrible visions of my DS crying and being left in his crib because there are not enough caregivers to tend to all the babies.
That and the F rating from BBB concerned me very much too...

Kiddie Academy of Whitestone Reviews?

My ds goes to a kiddie academy. They are independently owned so they will all have different issues but they all follow the same curriculum. I have been very happy with the learning aspects of my KA. My ds has learned so much and they start at a very young age.

Have you looked for violations on the NYC licensing website.
I wouldn't go by BBB because it more based on a pissed off parent. And I have seen parent make a mountain out of a mole hill many a times.

Message edited 2/20/2014 5:03:49 PM.

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Thanks! I tried searching the NYC Licensing website to see if they have had any violations but couldn't find anything on the website that allows you to check if a business has violations. Could you please send me the link?

Re: Kiddie Academy of Whitestone Reviews?

I don't use it personally but a close friend had her daughter there until recently. They moved to mid-Nassau and were still trekking their DD to that Kiddie Academy because they loved it so much. They were devastated when they had to leave. Their DD was there from just a few months old and left when she was 2.5 years old so she had developed close relationships with everyone. They loved it!
As for the 1:4 ratio, it does suck but that's what it is everywhere. A lot of times there aren't 8 kids though, only 6 or 7 with 2 adults. Then it's not so bad.

Kiddie Academy of Whitestone Reviews?

1:4 is the ratio for infant rooms but like the previous poster said, it's typically more adults and as you know my DD was in daycare at about 5 months and I can tell you..she was not neglected! Did you visit during a regular day so you could kind of see the norm and not a show, so to speak?

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my DS just started at a different kiddie academy and coming from someone who cried every day leading up to bringing him there and the first week dropping him off, I can already say that I am very happy with them. the ratio was one of the things I was freaking about as well, but just seeing the teachers with the babies, I can tell that everyone is being tended to.

my gut told me that I made a right choice for my baby and so far (3 weeks in!), I feel confident in that still.

good luck with your decision - I know no matter what it's so hard to leave your baby!!

Re: Kiddie Academy of Whitestone Reviews?

i had dd in kiddie academy of whitestone last year for a few months (from 3-6 months old)
i loved it
1:4 is the standard nys (or maybe its nyc) ratio, so that is what you will find at most places
i loved DDs teachers - i think they did a wonderful job. they were very loving and paid attention to all the kids. i would get there and sometimes need to nurse dd so i would be in the room with them for 15-20 minutes and watched them interacting with kids - they were great. they are constantly checking to make sure the 1:4 ratio is met and there are many times they had 2 teachers in the room and there were only 4 kids.
FM if you have any specific questions

i would have kept dd in longer except my mom retired and saving money was just something we couldnt pass up!!!

ETA - was the bbb rating for the specific whitestone location? all locations seem to be run differently s- an experience at one location (good or bad) should not be what you expect at another location

Message edited 2/21/2014 9:20:00 AM.

Re: Kiddie Academy of Whitestone Reviews?

You can search for daycare violations and inspections for NYC here:


Queens daycares

Message edited 2/21/2014 9:24:17 AM.

Re: Kiddie Academy of Whitestone Reviews?

That is the state mandated ratio, and it is what you will see everywhere pretty much.
And when there is not a full room then it is even better.

DS is at KA in Bethpage. Any times when they need additional assistance in the room one of the floaters, a teacher from another room, the manager, director or owner would come in to help.
I could not imagine it before he started, but it works and everyone is well taken care of. DS started at 12 weeks. He will be 1 next week and he loves it there!

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My co-worker just put her 4 month old in Whitestone Kiddie Academy last month. So far she says it is okay. Her daughter has gotten sick twice already, but they said they can't definitely blame day care- germs can come from anywhere. Right now I believe there are 5 or 6 little ones in the infant room, so there are two adults there. She said they are pretty good about checking in with her, but parking over there is REALLY bad.

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ration should be 1 adult to 2 infants

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