Psycho daycare provider Arvilla Meinhardt creates "straightjackets" for toddlers

**thehesbomb** · November 10th, 2009, 12:13 AM

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. -- A day care provider in Golden Valley has been charged with malicious punishment of a child and false imprisonment.

Authorities say Arvilla Meinhardt, 70, used large safety pins with plastic animal heads to help discipline the children she cared for. According to the criminal complaint, she demonstrated to detectives how she used the pins to create a type of straight jacket on the children.

Officers were tipped off by a woman whose daughter attended Meinhardt's daycare up the age of four. The girl allegedly told her mother Meinhardt would use those safety pins to attach her to the mattress during nap time.

Detectives went to Meinhardt's home last Thursday to follow up on the allegations. They found Meinhardt and her husband at home. There were six to seven children in the play area. Several infants were found in cribs in a bedroom.

Authorities found a pair of pajamas on the floor with pin holes in them. A search of the home turned up other pajamas with similar holes.

According to the criminal complaint, she told officers she would take the child's arms out of the sleeves and then pin the sleeves behind the child's back, creating a straight jacket. Meinhardt also says she would pin the child's pajama legs together at the calves to restrict movement. The zippers on the pajamas were also pinned so the child couldn't get out.

Mienhardt allegedly told officers she used this type of punishment on 2- to 3-year-old children she watched for the past eight years.

Authorities say the parents of the children were not told about this type of punishment.

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_arti...8138&catid=391

**Pixie** · November 10th, 2009, 12:15 AM

Oh shit duude! With a name like that and a mug like that - I'd be surprised if she didn't do this!

On the bright side - she has fabulous skin for 70.

**Pene784** · November 10th, 2009, 12:27 AM

How in the hell does one evn think up such a weird punishment? I bet there a bunch of claustrophobic children running around because of this nut job. And why did none of these children say something in the past I wonder?

**Bay** · November 10th, 2009, 12:45 AM

Another sick fuck. Pin her ass up.

**totallytoddler** · November 10th, 2009, 12:56 AM

Sick bitch.

**Silvahalo** · November 10th, 2009, 01:01 AM

"Meinhardt"...yeah, you got that right Pix.

She and the children are fortunate not one child died during this ludicrous practice. I'm glad she was finally exposed but wow, years of this going on and only one child said something. Must have started very young, thought it was normal.

**TDH** · November 10th, 2009, 01:10 AM

they probably never said anything because they are too young to know that something like that isnt expected from someone they've been in the care of. kids get used to child care workers and form bonds with them. so if this is something thats always been a part of the daycare, then it wouldnt be unusual for them to just accept it as part of a daily routine.
both of my sons have been in childcare with a wonderful worker. and although prayer before meals wasnt a part of our daily lives, she had incorporated it at lunch times and breakfast. but she had also discussed this with me before my boys started going there...so my boys were used to having that at daycare but not at home....and it has never really been brought up outside of daycare so i can understand why the kids wouldnt say anything.

**sanityslipping** · November 10th, 2009, 01:49 AM

All I can say, is she is one creative bitch... evil and psychotic, but creative

**Misskittychaos** · November 10th, 2009, 02:35 AM

Call me a bitch but based on looks alone that chick gives me the willies and I couldn't see myself leaving children with her. If you can't handle kids without restraining them like this perhaps it's time to look into a new career...moron!

**lundwall1** · November 10th, 2009, 10:23 AM

Just terrible - stories like this makes me NOT want to put my daughter (due 2/16) in any type of daycare - We will take the monatary loss of my income and rely on his, we both agreed and at least this way I know my little girl is going to be proper;y cared for! Once she goes to school the I will be back at the work scene full time - but unfortunatly ALOT of parents do not even have this option, they both HAVE to work - or they are single parents and they entrust teir kids to people and then you have wack jobs like this who do what she did??? God forbid there was a fire or something - some kind of emergency where EVERYONE needed to get out right away and these poor babies were {INNED down unable to move?!?!?!

**skeptik** · November 10th, 2009, 10:28 AM

This lady needs more play yards and fewer pins.

**Saffron** · November 10th, 2009, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by lundwall1

Just terrible - stories like this makes me NOT want to put my daughter (due 2/16) in any type of daycare - We will take the monatary loss of my income and rely on his, we both agreed and at least this way I know my little girl is going to be proper;y cared for! Once she goes to school the I will be back at the work scene full time - but unfortunatly ALOT of parents do not even have this option, they both HAVE to work - or they are single parents and they entrust teir kids to people and then you have wack jobs like this who do what she did??? God forbid there was a fire or something - some kind of emergency where EVERYONE needed to get out right away and these poor babies were {INNED down unable to move?!?!?!

I am the main breadwinner in my house (and occasionally the only one) so my kids have to go to daycare. At first, I thought that in home care was more personalized and loving. After my eldest had been abused for about 18 months (which I didn't learn until much later -- she'd been locked in a closet all day to care for herself -- she was 2 when I found out about the abuse), I learned that you have to go for what seems like a cold, impersonal daycare center. At least in my area, they are inspected constantly, drop-ins, parents also drop in with no warning. My kids are happy and love their "teachers". The eldest no longer attends daycare since she's in school but my "baby" loves her teachers. They recently moved her up to the four-year-old room since there was room for another child there and the three-year-old room was at capacity (and she's the oldest)... she cried for days because she wasn't going to be with Miss Kristie anymore. It took a couple weeks and now she loves Miss Paula. The girls are always happy to go, the center is inspected multiple times a week... I'm very comfortable with a center now because of how often they are examined. In home providers are rarely even registered much less inspected... too much room for abuse... once upon a time, people could be trusted to fall in love with babies and care for them even if they weren't their own... not anymore... now these people see them as free cash cows.

Sorry if anyone here is an in home provider. I just can't trust them after my child was abused.

**lundwall1** · November 10th, 2009, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by Saffron

I am the main breadwinner in my house (and occasionally the only one) so my kids have to go to daycare. At first, I thought that in home care was more personalized and loving. After my eldest had been abused for about 18 months (which I didn't learn until much later -- she'd been locked in a closet all day to care for herself -- she was 2 when I found out about the abuse), I learned that you have to go for what seems like a cold, impersonal daycare center. At least in my area, they are inspected constantly, drop-ins, parents also drop in with no warning. My kids are happy and love their "teachers". The eldest no longer attends daycare since she's in school but my "baby" loves her teachers. They recently moved her up to the four-year-old room since there was room for another child there and the three-year-old room was at capacity (and she's the oldest)... she cried for days because she wasn't going to be with Miss Kristie anymore. It took a couple weeks and now she loves Miss Paula. The girls are always happy to go, the center is inspected multiple times a week... I'm very comfortable with a center now because of how often they are examined. In home providers are rarely even registered much less inspected... too much room for abuse... once upon a time, people could be trusted to fall in love with babies and care for them even if they weren't their own... not anymore... now these people see them as free cash cows.

Sorry if anyone here is an in home provider. I just can't trust them after my child was abused.

I have definitely heard of horror stories about in house providers - as for daycare- I muyself went to a bad one and was miserable - my only salvation was that my Grandmother would come by waaay too early and pick me up and "rescue" me from there - my mom would be mad as she would of paid for the whole day - she did not seem to quite get that those people should not be running any kind of daycare?! I know some of them out there are fine -I am just terrorfied of the ones that are not, For now I feel better being the primary care giver for our daugter

**moonlilly1981** · November 10th, 2009, 12:54 PM

Toddlers run, jump, play, and dont wanna nap. If you cant handle that dont run a day care, not abuse the kids for shits sake.

**Misskittychaos** · November 10th, 2009, 01:08 PM

Anyone else think of this when looking at the picture?

**trishad** · November 10th, 2009, 01:15 PM

Ummm wow! She looks the part for sure. I just don't understand people at all!!!! I would flip out if someone did something like that to my child.

**wintersfootsteps** · November 10th, 2009, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by Misskittychaos

Anyone else think of this when looking at the picture?

YES!

This woman is unbelievable. My mind immediately jumps to the conclusion that if she was capable of this kind of punishment and abuse she was capable of other things as well. Things children don't immediately recognize as abuse.

Bitch.

Could you imagine being bound like that as an adult? How much worse it would be for a child!!!

**ImmortalOne** · November 10th, 2009, 04:04 PM

Wow! My little girl is 26 months old... Knowing what this fucking cunt did to these children pisses me off so much. I look at my Itty Bit and I can't imagine doing stuff like this! Babysitting or not! If you can't handle children - don't have them and certainly don't babysit them! Fucking old ugly cunt.

**AngelFire** · November 10th, 2009, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by lundwall1

Just terrible - God forbid there was a fire or something - some kind of emergency where EVERYONE needed to get out right away and these poor babies were {INNED down unable to move?!?!?!

That was my first thought, a fire. I am glad that this came out because the child told her mother and not because of a fire, or something equally as tragic.

She sure has a face that screams...BITCH

**AngelFire** · November 10th, 2009, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by Saffron

I am the main breadwinner in my house (and occasionally the only one) so my kids have to go to daycare. At first, I thought that in home care was more personalized and loving. After my eldest had been abused for about 18 months (which I didn't learn until much later -- she'd been locked in a closet all day to care for herself -- she was 2 when I found out about the abuse), I learned that you have to go for what seems like a cold, impersonal daycare center. At least in my area, they are inspected constantly, drop-ins, parents also drop in with no warning. My kids are happy and love their "teachers". The eldest no longer attends daycare since she's in school but my "baby" loves her teachers. They recently moved her up to the four-year-old room since there was room for another child there and the three-year-old room was at capacity (and she's the oldest)... she cried for days because she wasn't going to be with Miss Kristie anymore. It took a couple weeks and now she loves Miss Paula. The girls are always happy to go, the center is inspected multiple times a week... I'm very comfortable with a center now because of how often they are examined. In home providers are rarely even registered much less inspected... too much room for abuse... once upon a time, people could be trusted to fall in love with babies and care for them even if they weren't their own... not anymore... now these people see them as free cash cows.

Sorry if anyone here is an in home provider. I just can't trust them after my child was abused.

I am the main breadwinner in my home right now, and my 4 year old was recently placed in Daycare a Home Daycare. But I had an entire year stalking the provider, lmao. I would pop in unannounced before my kid was ever placed there. I would sit outside and watch the kids that were in her care, and they were the most happy go lucky munchkins you'd ever laid eyes on. I visited the daycare plenty times, and she was very approachable each and every single visit. She totally understood my fears.

Now he is in kinder, and she takes him to school, and picks him up. When I arrive, you hear the kids playing and laughing. When he sees me, he immediately runs to me, and then goes back to his teacher, and hugs her goodbye. She is truly a gift to us. I wish like hell that I could be there with him, but since finances do not allow it, I am very pleased that he has her. Now that doesn't mean I won't still do the stalking, just taken it down a few notches...You just can't be too careful with your wee ones.

**ineedanap** · November 10th, 2009, 04:58 PM

OMFG, I can't tell you what kind of momma bear I'd be busting out on her ass. Seriously. Pinning the kids down???!!! Reminds me of the case a couple of years ago where the mother had the onesie sewn to the crib mattress. People are fucking sick.

My daughter, 3.5 yo, is in daycare. It is run by a church and has the most loving ladies taking care of the kids. She's always loved it there, and all her teachers. This is the second daycare she was at, the first I didn't like, always had an uneasy feeling about, but we finally floated to the top of the waitlist where she is now. I am so glad. I would never consider a home daycare. Ever.

**brokenandtwisted** · November 10th, 2009, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by sanityslipping

All I can say, is she is one creative bitch... evil and psychotic, but creative

She copied me - I tie my Korean children down with their own intestines. They've started eating them so I will have to, unfortunately, resort to purchasing pins at the dollar store to nail them down. Damn, kids are so expensive.

This woman is hardly a criminal. Any of you been to a daycare? Fucking kids run around like they have rabies, beatin' on one another, devouring snacks and taking advantage of nap times. I wouldn't wish 'caring for someone elses' children' on my own worst enemies.

At least her pins were decorative with animals on them. Geez, people need to mellow the fuck out. Kids need restraint these days.