Hands of Our Future day care in Dover. (Photo: WBOC)DOVER, Del.- Three "Hands of Our Future" day care employees were arrested Monday after Dover police say the women videotaped and encouraged two 3-year-old children to fight.
Court documents state one victim was screaming, crying and holding his face while the other victim punched him.
The day care also received five violations during their yearly compliance review in January. The violations range from illegally transporting children in a 15 passenger van to not following proper handwashing and disinfecting procedures during diaper changes.
Janel Aylward said that in light of accusations like these, she will not be sending her children to day care.
"I'm not going to put my kids in any sort of danger, whatsoever," she said. "Whether or not they've got certificates or anything, it doesn't matter what you've got nowadays."
Day care was the right choice for Greg Chase. His 1-year-old son attended "Hands of Our Future" up until Monday. Chase said it was a positive experience.
"I know there's some bad kids that go here but not like that," he said. "I ain't never seen them fighting, no."
Police are continuing their investigation of the day care center to find out if this was an isolated incident.
"We just want to make sure that it hasn't been going on," said Capt. Tim Stump of the Dover Police Department. "But the detectives are certainly looking into whatever leads come in."
For parents who are forced to find alternate child care since "Hands of Our Future" was closed, the Division of Family Services is encouraging parents to call Children and Families First at (302) 674-8384.
