Parents of a 4-year-old boy want answers after they say a day care worker put him in a trash can because he didn’t want to nap. Monica Forte and Justin Barnes sent their two boys to The Learning Lab in Homewood, Illinois, near Chicago, expecting them to receive nurturing, loving care. Instead, video surveillance reportedly shows an employee punishing their son in what they believe was a humiliating way.
Forte told ABC 7 that after her son told her what had allegedly happened, she went to the police. But because the boy has no physical injuries, law enforcement couldn’t help. Forte and Barnes withdrew their sons from The Learning Lab because they believed the day care center didn’t do enough to protect them.
Forte took to Facebook to expose the alleged mistreatment. Her son reportedly suffers from a medical condition brought on by stress. The mother believes this kind of treatment could trigger him.
She wrote, “My son reported that he was forced into a garbage can. After investigation, it was confirmed that one of the daycare workers placed my child inside a garbage can for nearly four minutes and covered his head with a blanket simply because he refused to take a nap.”
Forte added that the employee claimed the incident was a joke, but the mother found it anything but funny.
“The video footage clearly shows my child in visible distress, struggling against this humiliating treatment. This not only traumatized my child but also posed a serious risk to the emotional well-being of the other children who witnessed this appalling behavior,” she wrote in her post. “Additionally, it is alarming that another staff member was present and chose to do nothing to intervene.”
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The Learning Lab told ABC 7 it fired the employee in question but did not want to comment further on the allegations.
Forte received lots of support on her post. Someone wrote, “So sorry to hear you and the babies went through something like this! As an educator it sickens me to hear this kind of thing happening.”
Many commenters have suggested the couple take further action.
“Please make sure you report them to DCFS and file a report against the worker for assault,” another person wrote.
Others think the couple needs an attorney, such as this person who commented, “This is messed up! I’d definitely pursue legal action for emotional distress.”
A fellow Learning Lab parent shared their displeasure with the situation.
“My son is in that class room and I’m mad fr! I’m so sorry this happen to your son,” the parent wrote.
Forte concluded her post with this: “I urge all parents to have critical conversations with their children about behaviors that are intolerable in what should be a safe environment. Rest assured, I will provide further updates as I take the necessary steps to seek justice for this egregious act.”
