Peppermint Plantation

Not a candy store, wouldnt recommend if your looking for a snack
Jun 13th, 2023

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.
Jan 30th, 2024

My daughter has been at the Big Spring and Cowden location since she was 3 months old, when I was looking for a daycare we didnt know anyone here and were terrified to send her to a daycare. I did a tour a month before she was born and knew this place was going to meet my expectations. What I didnt know is that these ladies were going to love my daughter like their own. She has developed extremely close relationships with Ms. Rocio, Ms. Cornia and Ms. Vickie she truly loves them and they love her just as much. She asks to see them every single day, they go out of their way to make her feel special and loved every single day. She has been at this center for 4 years now and will be starting Pre-school in a few months and we are so devastated that it is time for her to go somewhere else. We truly have grown to love Rocio so much she has always made everything so easy and answers any questions I have. This will always be our go to daycare and I will recommend them to anyone looking for a daycare. They are absolutely amazing!
Mar 27th, 2023

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!!!!
Mar 8th, 2023

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!!
Mar 6th, 2023