Peppermint Plantation

"Considering sending your kid here? Read this, first. It's been about 15 years since my mother sent me here when I was about 6 or 7 years old (I'm 22 now). This place is so insanely bad, I still remember it from my childhood, and thought, 'you know what, I should leave a review because now that I think about it: that place was insane.' Insane enough I had to go back to it years later. I only remember one staff member's name, but she was old so I'm unsure if she even still works there, but her name was Mrs. Mona (and she was not nice). A couple things really stood out to me from that time. Number one, they used to universally give everybody from 1st to 5th grade one shot of milk for lunchtime- the same sized paper cup you'd have next to an office coffee machine. I distinctly remember us begging them to give us seconds, and they were super stingy with only 1 - maybe 2 - gallons of milk for the whole group of kids. Remember, you're paying hundreds to send your kids here, but they can't spare a couple shots of milk?! I'm not sure if they upgraded to milk cartons now, but I specifically remember a staff member saying, 'Kids in Africa get way less, stop complaining!' Dude. We don't live in Africa and my mom is paying you $1000+ for me and my siblings to go here, feed us properly. Number two, I remember new kids wouldn't always come with a blanket for nap time.. so instead of having spares, they just had you lie on a cot with no blanket. I feel like as a little 1st grader going on 2nd that felt really degrading. But Number three, the real meat of the problem, the staff was GOD AWFUL.. and their only way of action was yelling or screaming at kids to get them in order, or, they'd just punish all of us by rescinding a privilege if some of the older kids acted out. I remember we never went on the playground because the rule was if everyone behaved, we'd get to play.... but there was always a couple bad kids so it never happened, anyways. This place gave me so much anxiety as a little kid, I can't emphasize enough how uncaring and mean they could be as far as the language and discipline they chose. It was just yell, yell, yell, scream, shout, 'no more this,' 'only one shot of milk that,' and they just let the older kids be total bullies. I honestly thought this place would be shut down by now, but I guess not. Anyways, that is my take from a person who actually attended. Take it as you will, this was after all many many years ago, but based on the reviews, it seems like it's still fostering a pretty terrible work culture and child environment."

"I started my son here in the after-school program, despite the negative reviews. What a BIG MISTAKE!!! The teachers were always in a rush to give parents their children, so that they could rush out the door and go home. I never could ask them anything about my child's day, due to them rushing past me all the time. When I picked him up during the week, they had his jacket and backpack ON THE NASTY GROUND OUTSIDE, as well as the other children's stuff who also went there. I voiced to them that was not sanitary, that there were bugs and nasty germs on the ground, his stuff being possibly stolen since it was outside, and to keep his stuff off of the ground. They did not listen to me, nor my concern. I went to get my son again one day, and his backpack and jacket were on the ground again, along with crawling bugs all over his stuff!! That was the last straw, I took him out immediately and let them know that he would not come back. I believe that is also a state violation. Pathetic!!"

"The first two years were great. We considered most of the staff extended family. Until an incident occurred due to management failure to ensure the safety of my child who was attacked by a problematic child. Management at the Big Spring location do not value well behaved children. If your child requires to be placed in isolation or in a high chair so they do not attack other children and staff, then you are in the right place! Please note there are no high chairs in the toddler class. If your child falls in this age group, then you may want to reconsider placing your child here. Management was very clear they were going to work with parents despite severity of the attacks and parents lack of eagerness to work with their problematic child. Traumatized!!!!"

"Probably the worst daycare in all of Midland. Let me tell you, the teachers and staff are just terrible. There are a few good apples, but other than that it is pathetic. They are uneducated, rude, lazy, and just plain horrible people. I didn't know better. I signed them up there because of their hours and closeness to my house. However, as time went on I saw how horrible a place it was. My 3 children constantly came home hungry. I was told by my oldest that he wasn't fed and when they did get a snack, it was just a small thing to hold them over. They colored a day. Never learned a thing. Just colored on paper. The teachers there are there to get paid. Not to care about the students. Lesson plans don't exist. They don't sleep with blankets anymore because of covid, but I have pictures of my babies UNDER the age of one sleeping with blankets in their crib...WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. My children were not allowed to bring backpacks or jackets inside because of covid. Since when did covid travel on clothes and backpacks? So, when it was freezing cold, my kids had no jackets. Just an excuse for the lazy teachers to sit inside and play on their phones. They covered up covid cases. Lied about things constantly. Talked down to the children. Scolded them like they were terrible people. Let me tell you, if "Mrs. Carla"ever talked toy children the way she talk to other kids, we would have a serious issue. She is mean. Angry. And down right rude. The place isn't clean. It is disgusting. Smells bad. The only reason they don't let people in anymore is because they don't want you to see what is behind the closed doors. I have reported it before and I hope others do the same. If Shea (the owner) cared more about her staff and facility, it might be better. However, she spends all her time and money at the tanning booth and not teaching her staff how to properly run a daycare. It makes me sick I ever had my kids there. They are at a wonderful place now. Absolutely amazing and I thank God for their teachers and staff now."