Toddlers left a daycare in Petah Tikva unsupervised, three found a kilometer away

Six toddlers around age two left the grounds of a daycare in Petah Tikva this morning (Sunday) without supervision. Three of them were found about a kilometer from the daycare, after, according to one mother's account, they crossed a crosswalk and wandered near a busy road. A citizen noticed them and called the police. A complaint was filed with the police.

Six toddlers around age two left the grounds of a daycare in Petah Tikva this morning (Sunday) without adult supervision. According to one of the mothers, about a quarter of an hour after she brought her son to the daycare, the director called her and told her that her son had left the grounds and that the staff could not locate him. According to the mother's account, during the incident one staff member was watching more than 20 children in the yard, while two other staff members were washing the floor. During a search for a bimbah (ride-on toy), it emerged that the exit gate had been left open and that several children had already gone out through it. Four of the toddlers went out riding bimbahs and two on foot. One toddler was found on steps near the emergency gate, and two were found in a playground on the street. Three remained missing, and the search continued for about 15 minutes until they were found about a kilometer from the daycare. According to the mother, the children crossed a crosswalk and reached the area of a busy road, until a citizen noticed them and called the police. Following the incident, a complaint was filed with the police, and the supervision authorities and the municipality, including members of the early childhood education department in Petah Tikva, were updated. The mother demands a comprehensive investigation of the circumstances. No response has yet been received from the Education Ministry.