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Pulling inspections, violations, and complaints.
Home › MI › Imlay City › Jens Playful Penguins
Imlay City MI 48444 · License #DF440390910 · Home-based · Family Home
Not published by the state. Owners can add hours via profile claim.
When they operate
Ages served
Ages not published.
R 400.1941(2) · 1 LANDMARK BUILDING • 105 W. ALLEGAN STREET • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48933 Michigan.gov/MiLEAP R 400.1941(2) Heat-producing equipment. Combustible materials and equipment must not be stored within 4 feet of furnaces, other flame or heatproducing equipment, or fuel-fired water heaters. I advised putting a perimeter around the furnace in order to ensure combustibles are not stored within 4 ft. of it. Technical Assistance Technical assistance is support and training given to the licensee/licensee designee on a specific rule. Technical assistance includes consultation on how the facility can best maintain compliance with a rule.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.1933(4) · R 400.1933(4) Water supply; sewage disposal; water temperature. Hot water temperature must not exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit at water faucets accessible to children. I advised turning down the water temperature or installing a regulator on the bathroom handwashing sink in order to maintain compliance with this rule. Bureau
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: physical safety. Open / not marked corrected.
The childcare home should be "closed down" due to hazards in the home.
Disposition: Substantiated
Child care home often out of ratio. Provider has smacked children on the hand and on the bottom when they misbehave, has been heard swearing and talking inappropriately in front of children. Diapers have been changed on the living room floor.
Disposition: Substantiated
On October 19, 2022, Jennie Gordon held a child down during nap. Child A (male, age 1) was observed with a mark on his upper right leg after he was picked up on October 17, 2022.
Disposition: Substantiated
Generated from this facility's specific inspection record
Data synced from Michigan MiLEAP, Child Care Licensing Bureau on Jul 9, 2026 · Source records · Report an error
R 400.1932 · R 400.1932 Home maintenance and safety. (1) The structure, premises, and furnishings of a childcare home must be in good repair and maintained in a clean, safe, and comfortable condition.
On July 18, 2023, I interviewed the complainant. The complainant indicated that they were told that the home of Jenni Gordon is so hazardous that it should be "closed down" by the department. She did not have any specific information on what the hazards were and did not personally witness the conditions of the home. The complainant was advised by this consultant to either provide the contact information for the actual witness or have the witness contact this consultant. 2 On July 18, 2023, Witness1 contacted the department and was interviewed by this consultant and provided additional information. A month ago, Witness1 observed the home to be unsafe. I asked Witness1 to specifically describe what was unsafe/hazardous in the home. Witness1 reported there was an excessive amount of clutter/canned goods on the kitchen counters. Witness1 denied that there were any children in the kitchen at the time of the observation. The children were observed in the adjacent room which was described as the living room area. There was a baby gate up preventing access to the kitchen. Inquired if there were any other safety concerns or hazards in the home. Witness1 denied knowledge of any additional safety issues just concerns about clutter in the home. On July 20, 2023, this consultant spoke with Catherine Edgar who is the assigned consultant for this childcare home. She confirmed that the main floor (living room and kitchen) and basement are approved for childcare use. On July 24, 2023, I made an unannounced onsite investigation to Ms. Gordon's home. Ms. Gordon was not present during the onsite inspection due to having a doctor's appointment. I informed Ms. Gordon via telephone of the allegation; she granted approval for this consultant to inspect the home and speak with her childcare staff member Katherine Ritzert. Ms. Ritzert and Lauren Swartz were the childcare staff members present at the home with the childcare children. AHM was present inside the home during the onsite investigation. AHM confirmed to this consultant that Ms. Gordon informed her that I would need to inspect the house and granted permission for this consultant to take pictures of the inside of the premises during the investigation. AHM reported the main areas used for the childcare are the kitchen area for eating only, the living room for napping, and the basement is the primary area for play. I inspected the living room area and there were a couple stuffed animals on the floor and a few blankets on the couch. The nap mats were stored inside of a portable play yard. There were no hazards observed in the living room or on the floor that would pose potential harm to children. I inspected the bathroom on the main floor that the childcare children use. There were no hazardous items within reach or accessible to children. The kitchen area had child sized picnic tables and five to six highchairs for the children to sit while eating. There were a few laundry baskets containing clothes, one of which was on one of the tables. I observed two to three boxes/storage totes on the floor in the kitchen adjacent to the back side of kitchen cabinets. There were no cleaning supplies or other hazards present in the boxes that would pose a harm to children. The kitchen counter contained several items such as papers, coloring books, markers, drink boxes, bananas, miscellaneous food items and several other paper products. The kitchen counter was cluttered; however, I did not observe any cleaning supplies, knives or other hazards that would be viewed as unsafe for children. There was an open pathway for walking to gain entry to the basement. I inspected the basement which was clean and maintained in an orderly manner. I inspected the furnace area and there were no hazards or combustibles within four feet of the furnace area. 3 On July 24, 2023, I conducted an exit interview with Ms. Gordon via telephone. She was given consultation regarding decluttering the kitchen area, so it is more organized. I
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: nutrition. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.1936 · R 400.1936 Animals and pets. (4) Animals and pets shall not be allowed in food preparation and eating areas during meal or snack time.
I observed dogs in the dining area with children in care while they were eating lunch.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.1910 · 1 R 400.1910 Ratio of personnel to children. (1) The ratio of personnel to children present in the home at any 1 time must be not less than 1 member of the personnel to 6 children. The ratio must include all children in care who are not related to any personnel and any of the following children who are less than 6 years of age: (a) Children of the licensee. 4 (b) Children of a child care staff member or child care assistant. (c) Children related to any member of the household by blood, marriage, or adoption.
On April 21, 2023, I interviewed the complainant. Complainant said that there have been times where one child care staff member may have up to nine children alone in the basement while Ms. Gordon remains upstairs for up to an hour. Complainant did not have a time frame as to when this last occurred. Complainant claims that Witness 1 has also witnessed this. I attempted to contact Witness 1 but as of the date of this report, I have not been able to make contact with Witness 1. 3 I made an unannounced onsite inspection on April 28, 2023. At the time of the onsite inspection, there were seven unrelated children and five related children. The five related children were all under the age of 6 years and therefore would count in the caregiver to child ratio. Ms. Gordon was present, along with child care staff member 1(CCSM1), child care staff member 2 (CCSM2) and child care staff member 3 (CCSM3). Ms. Gordon was in compliance with caregiver to child ratio. I spoke to the three caregivers and all of them denied that Ms. Gordon is ever out of ratio. I made a second unannounced onsite inspection on May 5, 2023. There was a total of 11 children that were either unrelated or related children under six years of age, along with Ms. Gordon and two caregivers. Ms. Gordon was in compliance with caregiver to child ratio. I attempted to contact the parents of seven children currently enrolled in the child care. I was able to interview six of the parents. None of the parents had any concerns regarding caregiver to child ratio in the home. Child B's mother said that she always sees one to two additional caregivers along with Ms. Gordon when she drops off and picks up. Child C's mother said that there are usually three or four caregivers present, including Ms. Gordon. I also was able to interview two additional witnesses during the investigation. Witness2 said that there were sufficient caregivers for the number of children present when she was at the home. Witness3 had been in the home approximately six weeks prior. At that time, there between 12 and 14 children present and three caregivers, along with Ms. Gordon. Witness2 and Witness3 did not have any concerns regarding caregiver to child ratio. Witness2 and Witness3 did express concerns regarding the number of children being cared for in the home since Ms. Gordon is licensed as a family child care home, with a capacity of 7 unrelated children. When I contacted the parents of children enrolled, I was able to determine that a large number of children being cared for in the home are related to Ms. Gordon. Ms. Gordon is aware that she is currently only licensed for 7 unrelated children. On April 6, 2023, a variance to licensing rule PA 116 MCL 722.111(2) and MCL 722.111(4) regarding licensed capacity and R 400.1910(1) regarding caregiver to child ratio was approved for Ms. Gordon. This allows a capacity of 7 unrelated children and a caregiver to child ratio of 1:7.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.1911 · R 400.1911 Care; supervision; children. (1) A licensee shall ensure appropriate care and supervision of children at all times.
The complainant reported seeing Ms. Gordon grab a child by the hair and throw her to the ground. This happened a few months ago. Complainant also witnessed Ms. Gordon scream at an autistic child who tried to grab a Christmas tree bulb. Ms. Gordon has also grabbed a child's hand and smacked it. The complainant stated that Witness1 could confirm this. Unfortunately, Witness1 did not return my phone call. Ms. Gordon denied ever striking or yelling at any child in care. CCSM1, CCSM2, and CCSM3 denied ever seeing this. None of the parents interviewed had any concerns regarding physical discipline by Ms. Gordon. None of the parents had ever heard Ms. Gordon yell or swear in front of children in care. Witness 2 and Witness 3 both denying seeing Ms. Gordon physically discipline a child and neither had heard her yell at or swear at a child in care. Witness 2 described hearing using an abrupt tone with a child in care but nothing that could be described as yelling.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.1913 · R 400.1913 Discipline; child handling. (3) Personnel shall not do any of the following: (a) Hit, spank, shake, bite, pinch, or inflict other forms of corporal punishment. (d) Inflict mental or emotional stress, such as humiliating, shaming, threatening a child, or using derogatory language.
The complainant confirmed that when children in care are on the main floor of the home, diapers are changed on the living room floor, as the changing table is located in the basement. Ms. Gordon denied that children's diapers are changed on the living room floor and said that diapers are changed in the basement on the changing table. During my April 25, 2023, unannounced onsite inspection, I observed CCSM1 take a child to the basement and change the child's diaper on the changing table located at the bottom of the stairs. CCSM1, CCSM2 and CCSM3 denied that diapers are changed on the living room floor. I was able to make contact with six parents of children in care. None of them had concerns regarding diapering. Child D's mother admitted that she has seen diapers being changed on the living room floor but was not concerns as this is where she changes Child D's diaper at home. During the May 5, 2023, unannounced onsite inspection, I discussed this again with Ms. Gordon. She said that sometimes parents will change their child's diaper at drop off or pick up on the living room floor. Ms. Gordon told me that she had been reviewing child care licensing rules technical assistance manual and that she was going to change children's diapers on the bathroom floor when diapers are changed on the main level. I confirmed that this was an acceptable method to change diapers.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.1923 · R 400.1923 Diapering and toilet learning. (2) The designated changing area must comply with all of the following: (a) Be used exclusively for changing wet or soiled diapers or underwear. (b) Be located away from food preparation and meal service areas. (c) Have access to a hand washing sink that is not used for food preparation. (d) Have a nonabsorbent, easily sanitized surface with a changing pad between the child and the surface. (e) Be cleaned and sanitized after each use. (f) Have diapering and changing supplies within easy reach. (g) Have a plastic-lined, tightly covered container that is used exclusively for disposable diapers and diapering supplies that must be emptied and sanitized at the end of each day. 7
I Diapers have been changed on the main (living) room floor.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.1911 · 1 R 400.1911 Care; supervision; children. (1) A licensee shall ensure appropriate care and supervision of children at all times. 1
I interviewed Child A's mother on October 21, 2022, and she told me that when she picked up Child A from the child care home on October 19, 2022, Jennie Gordon informed her that she had to hold down Child A to get him to nap. Child A has difficulty napping while at child care. She received a notification through the Bright Wheel app that Ms. Gordon uses that Child A had not yet had a nap and it was 1:45pm. She said that she usually gets notification that Child A has started napping around 1p m. Ms. Gordon also sent her a picture of her holding Child A, trying to ger him to nap. He asked how his nap went at pick up and this is when Ms. Gordon informed her that she had to hold him down to get him to nap. When she dropped Child A off at Ms. Gordon's child care on October 19, 2022, Jennie Gordon was present along with child care staff members Katie and Tatum. When she picked up Child A that afternoon, child care staff member Kayla was present, along with Ms. Gordon. Child A's mother noticed a bruise on Child A's upper right leg when she changed his diaper after picking him up from Ms. Gordon's child care. She messaged Ms. Gordon that evening to ask if anyone knew what had happened. Ms. Gordon told her that is most likely was a bite mark from another child. She took a picture of this at 5:50pm on October 19, 2022 and was able to provide me with this picture. In the picture, there is a small, round, reddish bruise approximately the size of a quarter on Child A's upper right leg. The shape and size appear to be consistent with a bite from a younger child. The following day, Child A had an odd pattern of small marks on his right upper leg, above the other mark. She did not know how Child A got this mark and said that Ms. Gordon did not have an explanation as to how Child A got this mark either. On October 24, 2022, I made an unannounced onsite inspection to the child care home. Jennie Gordon and child care staff member Tatum Cooper were outside with eight children (six unrelated and two related). Jennie Gordon was shocked that Child A's mother would say that she said she held him down to nap. She denied every holding a child down to nap. Child A had been having difficulty napping while at the child care. Per Ms. Gordon, Child A will scream loudly if he is laid down to nap. On October 19, 2022, Child A had napped a little but could not get him back to sleep. She uses the Bright Wheel app to communicate with parents and sent a picture of her holding Child A and telling his mother that he would not sleep. Ms. Gordon provided me with a copy of this picture along with a complete text message exchange with Child A's mother where she let her know what they were doing to get Child A to nap. In the picture provided, Ms. Gordon is holding Child A and Child A is awake. Child A finally fell asleep on her lap at 2:24pm and she put him in a crib where he slept until 3:10pm. Ms. Gordon said that in addition to Tatum Cooper working on October 17, 2022, child care staff members Katie Ritzert and Kayla Brady were also present. 4 While at the home, I spoke to Tatum Cooper, who confirmed that she had worked on October 19, 2022. She was present at nap time and denied ever seeing Ms. Gordon holding a child down to nap. She said that Ms. Gordon would never do this. Regarding the marks on Child A's leg, Ms. Gordon thought it could have possibly been a bite as they currently have a child who bites. Child A had long pants on when he was in care on October 17, 2022, so it is possible he was bit and they did not see the bite. She recalled Child A crying after Child B (male, age 18 months) had taken a toy from him, but he quit crying once the toy was returned to him. Child A's mother notified her of the mark approximately one hour after he was picked up on October 17, 2022She assumed the crying had been due to this but that it was possible that Child A was bitten by Child B at this time as Child B has bitten or attempted to bite other children. She said that they
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.