Parents Face Day-Care Dilemma With Closing Of Two Facilities

Several day-care centers, like Treasure Tots Childcare on Duraleigh Road, started getting calls from desperate parents when the two centers announced they were shutting their doors. Many parents did not get the answers they hoped they would.

"We've had to respond that we have a waiting list at the moment," says Denise Joyner, owner of Treasure Tots. "There was a lot of groans and pleas, but the bottom line is they have to be on a waiting list."

Leslie Hadley considers herself one of the lucky ones. Her daughter's school offers an after-school program.

"Initially, I was thrown off guard because I received a notice they would be closing in two to three weeks," Hadley says. "I think that's pretty quick for people that have to prepare for after-school day care."

Donna Bell of Child Care Resource and Referral of Wake County says the closings make it hard for them to help parents. It already takes most parents a month or more to get their kids into decent care.

"Space is at a premium now in the area," Bell says. "That just makes a greater impact on finding care. It's already hard enough to find openings."

Administrators for both La Petite and KinderCare say the closings are business-related, but both centers have been hit with critical state inspections. The KinderCare on North Hills Road will send kids home for good on Friday.

Anyone who needs help finding child care can contact Child Care Resource and Referral of Wake County at919-832-7175.