The State of Texas licenses child care centers and inspects the centers on a regular basis. The following is a summary of 2012 violations reported by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
All of this information is public and may be accessed at www.dfps.state.tx.us. Due to the volume of inspections, we are reporting only on licensed childcare centers for which inspectors have assessed deficiencies weighted as “high” by the state or concerning serious risks to children.
Some violations weighted as high, such as failure to conduct background checks, finger prints, or CPR certification, although common and classified as a high-weight deficiency, are not included in this report. We recommend that parents check with their childcare centers to ensure this documentation is up to date.
If your childcare center is not on this list, you may find it at the DPFS website. The following report is comprised of licensed centers in Kingwood, Atascocita and Humble.
Fitness and Fun, 3838 Woodland Hills Drive, Kingwood
Investigators interviewed witnesses who said school age children were not being properly supervised in the gym area. Several students were seen placing a jacket around students’ legs and yanking the students face-down across a gym floor. Children were also seen throwing balls at objects across the room without caregiver intervention. Corrective action was verified on Oct. 31.
Kingwood Cove Day School, 1101 Hamblen Road, Kingwood
Three school- age children were unsupervised in the computer room. Corrective action was noted on Aug. 21.
La Petite, 2025 Northpark Drive, Kingwood
An investigation found that a caregiver demonstrated poor judgment by grabbing two children simultaneously by their wrists. The caregiver was terminated from the facility.
Rocking Horse Day Care, 21112 Royal Crossing, Kingwood
An investigation found that a caregiver flicked her own child in the head while working at the facility. Corrective action was noted on Sept. 21.
Anointed Child Care of Humble, 5137 FM 1960, Humble
Investigators found that a caregiver used corporal punishment, which is prohibited, on a child. It was also found that a 4-year-old child was transported without a safety seat. Corrective action noted on June 5.
Atascocita Children’s Academy, 5383 Atascocita Road, Humble
Investigators determined that a caregiver choked a child, leaving a mark on the child’s neck, as a form of discipline. Corrective action noted on June 5.
Atascocita Christian Academy, 7811 FM 1960
Children were seen traveling from the playground to the bathroom inside the center without supervision.
Brighter Tots Academy, 8014 FM 1960 E. Humble
Investigators found that a caregiver put hands around a child’s ribcage and forced the child to sit down for time out on the playground. The child slipped out of the caregiver’s grip and fell down which made it appear to a person not connected to the daycare that the caregiver shoved the child down. Corrective action noted on Dec. 29.
Two caregivers took a total of 6 young children out front on the sidewalk to play with chalk. This area was not enclosed and posed a danger to children if they had wandered off. Corrective action noted on Dec. 19.
Kids Nation Day Care, 7820 FM 1960 E. Suite 207, Humble
Children were transported to the director’s unlicensed home due to maintenance problems at the center. Inspectors noted that the director did obtain permission to do so from the children’s parents.
Kids Playce, 13611 Will Clayton Pkwy., Humble
During the inspection, an infant placed a small purple star in her mouth that could be a choking hazard. The teacher removed the toy when she saw the infant place the toy in her mouth.
Children were observed walking in a hallway without supervision during the morning rush. Corrective action noted on Dec. 20.
Kids R Kids No. 39, 18410 Timber Forest Drive, Humble
The inspector noticed multiple examples of caregivers not supervising children properly. One caregiver was deeply engaged in paperwork and was not looking up to scan the children. Two other caregivers were talking with each other instead of supervising toddlers on a playground. Corrective action noted on Dec. 7.
According to state records, three caregivers were with a field trip group that included a child highly allergic to peanuts. The children were trick-or-treating at a senior facility, and the allergic child was given a cookie containing peanuts. She suffered what the ER termed a “mild to moderate allergic reaction” and was released.
The teachers took the cookie away from the child, brought the children back to the center, allowed the child to eat lunch, and only when she vomited did they admit that she had been exposed to a peanut product.
When an administrator tried to use the child’s epi-pen it was discovered that it had passed the expiration date.
Failing to control the food the child received, failing to notify the parent and or administrator of the center right away, and failure to keep track of the epi-pen’s expiration date are all indicators of failure to use good judgment.
The three caregivers have been disciplined. The new policy is that now field trips cannot include any food that is not provided by the center. All chronic/emergency meds are checked monthly for expiration. State inspectors said in the report that this is a solid emergency plan.
A child slammed into a teacher while they were playing kickball. No other teacher was present. The only teacher with the group was playing and unaware of the activities and location of students. The teacher in question was written up for the incident and no longer works at the center.
A special needs pre-k student is not able to speak and is in pull-ups. The special needs of this child were not documented, except his seizures. Planning activities seemed not to take into account his abilities. Corrective action noted on Aug. 3
Kids R Kids No. 2, 6262 Upperlake, Humble
An investigation found that a caregiver did not use good judgment by grabbing a child’s arm in an attempt to redirect the child.
Oak Tree Kids Academy, 4724 Atascocita Rd., Humble
A child was left on the playground for a few minutes and was found by another teacher. The first teacher realized the child was missing and began searching. Corrective action noted on Oct. 11.
An inspector noted a plastic border on the playground that keeps in the surfacing and was cracked in several places. One part was cracked exposing sharp edges. Another part was cracked that could entrap a child’s hand. Corrective action noted on Jan. 2.
YMCA at Maplebrook Elementary, 2420 W. Lake Houston Pkwy., Humble
Caregivers took several children to the restroom and allowed them to return to the playground unsupervised. One child, age 6, wandered off by himself and was brought back to the main group by the inspector. A caregiver also left a group of children with the inspector while she went to answer the front door of the school. Corrective action noted on Jan. 14.
Mrs. Nikki’s Childcare. 7423 Morgan Ranch Trail, Humble
An inspector reported that the assistant caregiver was observed talking on her cellular phone while caring for a group of children, including an infant. When asked, the caregiver stated she was “just talking to her sister.” The conversation was not related to a child or an emergency situation, the inspection report states. Corrective action verified on Aug. 9.