Portsmouth KinderCare

Reviews

• JD

  Jordyn Donnelly

  May 25, 2026
  5.0
  I was so nervous about sending my infant son to daycare, but staying home isn't an option for us. The staff at kindercare are so kind, caring and attentive, I never worry after dropping him off. They give constant updates on everything he does via the app, and any time I've had questions or concerns, they're happy to set aside time to talk. My son is excited to see his teachers every day and has no issues napping there so that tells me that he feels safe around them too. He is happy, safe and cared for and that's all I can ask for. But kindercare goes above and beyond to make his day fun and exciting too. Thank you all!
• EJ

  Emily J

  Feb 12, 2026
  1.0
  From day 1 at this center I was disappointed. First off, I’m a single mother working two full-time jobs. On the first phone call I had with Caroline I was told they had space and she could start as soon as I needed the care. I was also told that my daughter’s tuition thru the state was all set. It wasn’t until I received a call from a debt collector that the state tuition was never followed through with, along with not one person in administration letting me know. Every single day I would drop her off, she cried. Every time I picked her up, she was either crying still or playing by herself with her pacifier still in her mouth. Any photos I got she was by herself with the pacifier still in her mouth, indicating to me that she had been crying since I left and paci was probably given to her to get her to stop. Her “teachers” never made any effort to communicate with me regarding her day or even to say hello. Having 12 years experience in childcare myself I was extremely disappointed in the service of Kindercare. Not only were they only concerned about getting kids into the center without confirming her state tuition, but my toddler, whom almost never cries, was in tears at every single drop off and a majority of pick ups. She was there for maybe 2-3 months before I moved her to a new center where on day 1 there she didn’t cry at drop off or pick up. Safe to say, my own child, who was barely 2 at the time, was uncomfortable and was not comforted when she clearly needed it. I would not recommend this center to anyone, and I actually inform other parents who consider this place, of my experience and to look elsewhere.
• ST

  Sherri Tarleton

  Aug 29, 2025
  2.0
  My daughter has been in the care of Kindercare since she was 3 months old. She just completed her last day and is moving on to kindergarten, so I feel well-qualified to share my perspective on the quality of care provided here. To put it simply, I am relieved that our time with this center has come to an end. Over the course of five years, my biggest takeaway is that they somehow managed to keep my child alive. Beyond that, the level of care has been consistently disappointing, and at times, shockingly unsafe. In separate incidents, my daughter (who is generally a calm, rule-following child) chipped a tooth and even required an emergency room visit. Too often, teachers were disengaged, heads down in iPads or chatting with each other rather than supervising children. On several occasions, I entered the classroom in the morning without staff even noticing me. Worse, I witnessed children in clear distress, sobbing and calling for their parents, being completely ignored by the adults in the room. Luckily there is a combination code to the center’s front door, because there have also been times that I have picked up my daughter with zero interaction to indicate that they would even realize she’s missing. I have raised multiple concerns with both the center director and once the regional director. While these issues were acknowledged in the moment, they were never addressed in a meaningful or lasting way. For example, I discovered teachers using personal phones to take pictures of my child and even showing her videos — clear violations of Kindercare policy that occurred repeatedly, often immediately after the matter was supposedly addressed, demonstrating a complete lack of follow-through and disregard for policy. On another occasion, my husband and I witnessed teachers handing out lollipops to children on the playground while they were running, climbing, and jumping off structures with the candy in their mouths (an obvious safety hazard). I confronted the staff member on the playground directly and later raised the issue with the director. Shockingly, the same thing happened again the very next day, and then yet again, despite three separate conversations about it. Most troubling of all, my daughter once came home with bruises in the shape of hands on both sides of her torso, which we discovered at bathtime. We photographed the injuries and immediately reported them to the director. The individual responsible was made to awkwardly apologize but offered no explanation, and shockingly, was later promoted into a leadership role at the center. The pattern is unmistakable: parents’ concerns are met with polite words but never with real action. Time and again, serious issues were brushed aside, leaving us feeling dismissed, disregarded, and deeply uneasy about the care our child was receiving. Any talented teachers who seemed passionate about early childhood education rarely stay for any significant length of time and they are smart to leave. We did encounter a few gems along the way, and they are deeply missed. Those who remain generally appear uninterested, sitting passively and offering minimal interaction (even those that have been there several years), leaving the children in an environment that feels inconsistent, inattentive, and wholly unprofessional. I am not exaggerating when I say that one of my greatest regrets as a parent is not moving her sooner — I have immense guilt about this. The only reason she managed to get through this experience was because she is fairly self-sufficient. For children who require any level of extra attention, care, or support, I cannot recommend this center. Really, any child deserves better. Your child deserves an environment where they are not only safe, but also nurtured, supported, and truly cared for. For that, I encourage you to look elsewhere.
• JC

  Julia Cumming

  Oct 22, 2020
  5.0
  Love the center and the staff! Everyone is professional, responsible, friendly, and there’s an excellent curriculum for the kids.
• DJ

  David Johnson

  Jun 3, 2017
  5.0
  My two kids have attended Portsmouth kindercare, since they were infants. I am very pleased with the facility, and the lessons that my kids learn each day. The building is secure with a coded entry system.

Frequently Asked Questions About Portsmouth KinderCare