I used to go to Jazzercise about a year or so ago when they were located in Allen. I used to put my daughter in the childcare room until I realized how dirty the toys were and it seemed that she was always getting sick a day or so later after I would go to a class. Needless to say, we stopped going. Now it seems Jazzercise has moved and I was wondering if anyone attends classes (wherever they are now..) and if you can comment on how the childcare is for a 1 year old and a 3 year old. Are the rooms and toys clean, is there quality care and are the older kids seperated from the younger kids? I have been working out at home(videos, crosstrainer, walking) but my children are getting older and are much more interested in what I am doing and I do not seem to get an effective workout. Thanks for your help!!
I had the exact same problem so I stopped going as well. I don't know that they have improved. This was a different center in Lake Highlands. I'm looking for something as well for the exact same reasons. I'll be curious to see what other responses you get.
I go to Jazzercise in Rowlett where I live, and the room isn't what I would like but I figure she is only in there for an hour so it is ok. So far she hasn't gotten sick. She gets more sick from her older brother who goes to preschool everyday! The lady who takes care of my daughter is really nice and I feel comfortable with her.
I love Jazzercise!!! (It's way better than Curves, no offense to anyone, but I did that for awhile and I'm in way better shape than I have ever been in just after doing it for 4 months.)
I can't answer for Allen Jazzercise (though I can tell you that the owner "retired" from owning a Jazzercise franchise and another owner took over, and they moved to the Farmer Rec Center).
I go to Jazzercise in McKinney, which meets at the McKinney Community Center on the Central Expwy service road just North of Eldorado. I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old and I put them in the childcare there. As for cleanliness, the room looks cleaner than the one in Allen (I went to Allen for a short time), but I don't know how much that says, since you can't see germs. I do know that the owner has somebody that goes through and sterilizes all the toys every month, and though I realize that's not very often I think most of the babysitters are fairly careful about kids putting stuff in their mouths. I also know that the owner has been careful to let us know if a child came down with something particularly contagious after being in the childcare there and the other children may have been exposed...last year one child came down with RSV a day after being at Jazzercise and she let everyone know to watch for it, and as far as I know no other children got it (she also immediately had the toys sterilized an extra time). So take that for what it's worth...the place isn't immaculate but it sounds better than your experience.
Bottom line - I haven't had trouble with my kids getting sick there. On the other hand, I have fairly healthy kids. And I try to stay away from highly contagious places (including McDonald's, Chick-Fil-A, Jazzercise, etc.) during the 2 weeks or so of peak flu season, for instance. To me, it makes sense that when the flu is running rampant through the child population and we have 30% absenteeism in elementary schools, it's not a good time to be around a bunch of kids, period.
As for older kids and younger kids being separate, a lot of the moms let the older (maybe 8 or 10 years old and up) kids play in the community center room that has ping pong and foosball, etc., so generally the kids in the child care are about 5 or 6 and under.
Really the only problem I've seen is that the number of children can vary a lot...sometimes there are only 2 or 3 and sometimes there are 10 or 14. The owner tries to keep up with trends and to have enough babysitters, but I have seen a few times where the babysitter(s) were kind of overrun. Then I make a decision whether to stay or go - but it doesn't happen often.
I know this is long, but hopefully it helps.
Barbara