Six Toddlers Escape Petah Tikva Daycare, Found Near Busy Road

Six toddlers, all around two years old, escaped from a daycare center in the Neve Gan neighborhood of Petah Tikva on Sunday without adult supervision. Three of the children were found approximately one kilometer away from the facility. According to one mother, the children crossed a crosswalk and were wandering near a busy road until a civilian noticed them and alerted the police.

One mother recounted that about fifteen minutes after she dropped off her son, the daycare director called to inform her that he had left the premises and could not be located. "In one moment, I went from a mother who left her son in a framework that is supposed to protect him, to a mother who has to search for her toddler out of serious concern for his life," she told N12. She stated that at the time of the incident, one staff member was supervising over 20 children in the yard, while two others were washing the floor.

Another mother entered the daycare looking for a toy for her son and discovered that the exit gate had been left open, allowing several children to leave. Four toddlers reportedly left on ride-on toys, and two on foot. One child was found near the daycare's emergency exit, and two others were in a nearby playground. The remaining three were missing for about 15 minutes before being found near the busy road.

A complaint has been filed with the police, and municipal and oversight authorities, including the early childhood education department, have been notified. The mother emphasized the severity of the incident, stating, "Six toddlers left a framework that is supposed to ensure their safety, unsupervised, into public space." The Ministry of Education has not yet responded.