Video shows twin boys allegedly strapped to chairs at South Loop child care center

CHICAGO (WGN) — The parents of twin boys say a recent meeting with their sons’ teacher led to shocking revelations about a South Loop day care.

Parent Joshua Rudolfi says he and his partner enrolled their twin boys at Ivy Garden Learning Center in the South Loop in June, believing it was the best place for them to thrive. When the pair met with a teacher virtually to discuss a tantrum involving one of their toddlers, they instead learned of a disturbing practice that has since led to shocking allegations.

“For three months, the vast majority [of kids], they’re being strapped to chairs,” Rudolfi told WGN-TV. “The teacher kind of lets it slip that one of our twins escaped one of the time-out chairs, they call it.”

Rudolfi added that he requested a video from inside the classroom. He immediately withdrew the boys from the daycare on Wednesday, he said, after viewing them strapped to chairs.

“It showed our first twin buckled in the seat for 25 minutes, and we didn’t realize they took our second twin and buckled him in a chair next to him for 17 minutes, leaving him unattended as they struggled to get out of the chair,” said Rudolfi, describing the video.

A pediatrician evaluated the boys and found bruising on their backs and stomachs, consistent with areas where straps were used, Rudolfi said.

“According to their policies, they’re not supposed to have time-outs,” Rudolfi said. “They’re supposed to use alternative ways. Not even disciplining, redirecting.”

Rudolfi told WGN-TV that he wishes the daycare had communicated the children’s behavioral issues earlier, so both parties could have worked together to address them.

Rudolfi said that while he noticed his boys acting differently, he didn’t understand the cause behind it. His children are traumatized and refuse to sit down, Rudolfi added, even when they’re at home. 

“It’s going to take a lot of work to undo the harm that has been done,” he said.

The Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) is conducting an investigation. WGN reached out to Ivy Garden Learning Center for comment and has not yet received a response as of the time of this publication.