A disturbing incident at a daycare in Homewood, Illinois, has raised concerns after a 4-year-old boy was caught on surveillance video being placed in a trash can by a daycare worker. The incident occurred at the Learning Lab daycare, where the boy’s parents claim the worker said it was a “joke.” However, the parents do not find any humor in the footage, and the emotional impact on their child has been significant. Since the event, the boy has reportedly become more clingy and anxious.
The surveillance video captured the daycare worker putting the child in the trash can as punishment for refusing to take a nap. The parents, Monica Forte and Justin Barnes, expressed their shock and anger over the incident, stating that regardless of the worker’s intentions, it was unacceptable behavior. Monica Forte emphasized that working with children requires proper de-escalation skills, and such actions should never be tolerated.
The video also shows that other children were present during the incident. Two additional daycare employees may have witnessed what happened but did not intervene or report the incident. The parents only learned of the event after their son shared it with them. The footage left the parents devastated, with Justin Barnes saying it was “worse than I can imagine,” highlighting the trauma their child may have experienced.
The parents have been enrolled at the Learning Lab for nearly two years, and they were informed that the employee responsible for the trash can incident was terminated. However, they are now calling for disciplinary action against the other staff members who witnessed the situation. Monica Forte, in an emotional response, revealed that she immediately sought police involvement after reviewing the footage.
The Learning Lab daycare has stated that they are cooperating with police and other authorities in investigating the matter. In addition to firing the primary worker involved, they have also dismissed a second employee. The family is now considering pursuing a civil lawsuit against the daycare.
