Daycares are fine if they are properly supervised. I'd rather my child be in a daycare than in a home care facility run by someone who just watches tv all day. The parents obviously didn't do due diligence and check this place out. 8 citations?? That's called a red flag folks.

Actually, I think the kid stole the drink and gum, so they must not have noticed him.

I totally agree with you. Daycares nowadays don't really care about your child, they just care about making money, and as much money as they can. Lately there have been way too many horror stories involving day cares.

I was a daycare provider for 6 years my mother has been one for almost 20 The reason she started a daycare is because the ones that my baby sister and I went to when we were children was atrocious. Since then my mother has been an advocate for children to have quality childcare. We watch the kids like hawks, and I'm sorry but aren't 5 year olds supposed to go to the bathroom alone? Although my mother's daycare is in her home, we let kindergarten kids go to the bathroom without adult help. The problem here, and I'm not defending the daycare because if they have eight citations they should be closed, but this child clearly does not know how to follow the rules. The children my mom watch know what they may and may not do. Going out the front or side door is a no-no. And why are you all shocked at what this kid could do, I can tell you I have seen more than my share of very adult like 5 year olds. Children need boundaries and rules and discipline and it is apparent to me that most parents are not interested in that because they let McDonald's and Nickelodeon raise their kids, many of the ones she watches only get a home cooked meal at her house. Taks some responsibility. Daycare is necessary for many parents because so many are single parents that have to work and don't really have reliable family or friends. If you have people who can take care and care for you child then you are blessed, but don't knock daycare because there are excellent ones out there, not only that but my mother loves and spoils these kids, and the kids adore my mom. And if you want a reliable daycare always check out your local referral system that have reliable certified facilities or home childcare.

Grandma type? Like the Grandma who sits and dozes off to Springer as she knits? So she wouldn't allow this child, who is an obvious brat, go to the bathroom unattended? One on one or ten on one this stuff happens. Sounds like the child lacks discipline but knew to look both ways on a busy street :) There are good and bad in every profession from Daycare's to Doctor's to Attorney's. To say that it is better to have your sweet children stay with friends and family while your at work is insane. Children are statistically mollested, raped and killed more by family members. Daycares at least have to adhere to regulations and rules setforth by the state. They are subject to unannounced visits and violations are noted most of the time online for public view. Parents need to take better care in finding and investigating providers and having knowledge on how to check them out. Also, this child who snuck out of Daycare needs some discipline. I am positive that if I had done that, I would not be able to sit down for a week. But then that would be illegal nowadays.This is not a toddler but a 5 year old BRAT!

While I'd like to reply to all of the comments individually, time will not allow it.

As a former LICENCED home care provider I am offended that anyone would think a "Grandma type" home care provider believes we just sit around and watch television, especially Jerry Springer. I am certain there are home care providers who do watch television, or even yap on the telephone all day, oh, and of course surf the web all day too, but not all.

The children who were in my care were not allowed to watch television while here, and neither was I. I had a schedule that we stuck to which included a hot breakfast (no, not just instant oatmeal), some "free" play outside, circle time, a healthy snack, learning time, lunch, a one and a half hour nap, reading time, indoor play, an afternoon snack, coloring, writing, or drawing depending on the age, craft time, and sadly two children had dinner at my home five nights per week. We also had weekly "field trips" to the library, a park, the zoo, and the Discovery Museum.

Not every home care provider sits around on their tushes all day. Almost all of the children I cared for are adults, and they still come to visit me, or call on a regular basis. The youngest just turned seven, and skipped from kindergarten to second grade last year.

I no longer do in home care due to having a chronic illness, instead I am a part time Nanny during the school year to two middle school children and oddly enough, I prepare their dinners nightly. In the past two years since taking the job the children have not eaten one meal with their parents during the week ... and there is a weekend Nanny as well.

As for the age of children going to the bathroom alone, well, my two year old Granddaughter will sit on the toilet, and tell whomever is in the bathroom "privacy please." Children of any age can and will go to the bathroom by themselves.

I stick to what I wrote before, I prefer home care over a daycare center, but am all for a two days per week in daycare for socialization.

It saddens me to read how many of you have such negative views on home day care.

Exactly. I know when I was 5, actually I think we started doing it around 4, a friend and I went to a Montessori down the street from our houses. His mom owned the place, but there were about 5 teachers on duty and various assistants, etc. He and I would simply climb the six foot fence, jump over into the alley and make a mad dash for home before the teachers knew what hit them. No way could a teacher keep up with a 4/5 year old running through alleys and jumping fences. Now, his mom, on the other hand, was wise enough to just go to the house and retrieve us. We were walking and riding bikes to school by 6 and 7. Of course, 7 was 20 years ago for us, but still, people get so uptight and worried these days.

The street he crossed was an off-ramp to I-35 where numerous wrecks occur. It wasn't a nice quiet suburb.

I also remember those times. (Yes, I have just dated myself!) You have to remember, things were one h*ll of a lot different when we were growing up. One could walk to & from school, run errands, and even trick-or-treat by yourself! Gone are those days forever. I want to know: when did it all start to go downhill?

True......but this is a different world. Too bad child molesters get off with a slap on the wrist....only to become more dangerous the next time. So now we have to watch our kids like a hawk. I chose to forego the 42" plasma tv and the McMansion to raise my own children, so I didn't have to worry about such drivel such as day 'care'.

I certianly hope you are not talking about me because I am not a moran and I do have brain cells. And by the way I am a mother of 4, a former child care worker and a member of the Hooters family! So I guess if anyone has knowledge on this subject I think I do. I do think it is a big deal, but I also belive in looking at things as the glass half FULL. Now that everyone is safe, and hopfully in more secure care you should take a moment and think "wow this was kinda funny, where he went and how he got there, aren't we a lucky set of parents to have a child that thinks and knows the rules of the road. Now lets ground him till he's 90!"

I always wondered about this..... Are children today getting murdered, snatched, ect MORE than in the past, or is it with the internet, 24 hour news channels, and other sources where news just isn't local anymore? Stastically, crime hasn't really skyrocketed as one might think... Now a terrible incident in Middleofnowhere SD would make worldwide headlines. Anyway, I do beleive it is a big deal, but not that I think this little one was going to be raped by a crazed madman on the way to Hooters.

Amy I completely agree! Some people maybe shouldn't have kids if they think it is OK to let a five year old walk around unattended. When I was a child of five (and problems at home, mother sick) I wandered around by myself, and terrible things happened to me by other kids. A five year old does not have the emotional maturity nor the brain development to care for herself/himself, or make rational decisions. My sister's son, 9 years old, is not allowed in the Men's room by himself. There are too many sickos now a days. He has to go in the women's room with us. If that is what we have to do for his safety, we will do it. I believe that women should work only when absolutely necessary. The children come first, raise them, then work. To have children and then work because you want to, is wrong. Don't have kids if you can't put them first.

Of course this is a situation that should never happen. However, anyone who is a parent has at one time or another lost track of their child or been simply amazed by something their child can do that they assumed was beyond their years. If every parent or childcare provider was perfect they would not need child tracking devices.People make mistakes and things happen. 5 years olds are very creative little people with minds of their own.