Find a daycare in St Louis, MO

Find daycares in St Louis, MO

Find daycares in St Louis, MO

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Find daycares in St Louis, MO

Confirm your location to see the best daycares near you.
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Top 10 daycares in St Louis, MO

Parents agree: these St Louis daycares are highly rated for knowledge, experience, communication, and more.
My Little School

My Little School

13+ years in business
Serves St Louis, MO
Founded in 2013, My Little School Daycare & Preschool in Belleville, Illinois offers quality childcare services for children aged 6 weeks to school age. The well-trained staff, all CPR, First Aid trained and drug tested, ensures a safe and nurturing environment. The curriculum focuses on cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth, complemented with an outdoor playground and various toys and games. Hot meals are served daily, and Chasi payments are accepted. With a reputation as the "best little school in Belleville", they truly prioritize children's needs and growth.
Mouse House Daycare

Mouse House Daycare

11+ years in business
Serves St Louis, MO
Mouse House Daycare is an in home daycare that is state licensed in Collinsville, Il. We provide care for children age 6 weeks to 6 years. We are a pet friendly home with a dog and a cat. We offer breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack. We have been open since 2014. We are CPR/first aid certified.
A Place 2 Grow

A Place 2 Grow

11+ years in business
Serves St Louis, MO
A Place 2 Grow, founded in 2014, is a distinguished childcare and learning center located in Troy, Illinois, and its surrounding areas. The center employs a Reggio Emilia style environment and utilizes the High Scope Curriculum to provide comprehensive education, including subjects such as reading, math, science, music, and art. Catering to children aged 6 weeks to 12 years, they offer full-time and part-time care, along with before and after school and summer care. The facility also encompasses outdoor active play and learning spaces for enhanced development.
Mary Margaret Daycare

Mary Margaret Daycare

35+ years in business
Serves St Louis, MO
Welcome to Mary Margaret Daycare, where your child's growth and happiness are our top priorities. Located in the heart of St. Louis, our dedicated team of 10 passionate staff members provides nurturing and attentive daycare services designed to foster learning and development in a safe and caring environment. At Mary Margaret Daycare, we are committed to creating a welcoming space where every child can thrive, explore, and develop essential skills, all while building lasting friendships. Join us in nurturing the next generation with love and expertise.
Lions Pride Academy

Lions Pride Academy

4+ years in business
Serves St Louis, MO
Lions Pride Academy, founded in 2021, is a premier home daycare located in St. Louis, MO, focusing on providing a comprehensive, balanced education to young children. Inspired by the Montessori method, the academy emphasizes hands-on learning, language development, and creativity. With a low staff-child ratio, each child receives personalized attention and instruction. By fostering an immersive language environment and using a unique SCALE curriculum covering sciences, culture, arts, languages, and ethics, Lions Pride Academy cultivates lifelong learners and independent thinkers.
Little Precious Angels Childcare

Little Precious Angels Childcare

11+ years in business
Serves St Louis, MO
At Little Precious Angels Childcare 2, we are a Missouri Accredited Facility, located in the heart of St. Louis, our focus is on nurturing your child's development with compassion and expertise. With a dedicated team of 12 skilled professionals, we provide exceptional daycare services that foster a safe, engaging, and educational environment. Our commitment to individualized care ensures your child thrives socially and academically, laying the foundation for a bright future. Trust us to be your partner in your child's early learning journey.
Arlington Care & Learn

Arlington Care & Learn

32+ years in business
Serves St Louis, MO
Arlington United Methodist Church is a well-established pillar in Bridgeton, Missouri and its surrounding areas. The organization serves the community with its various activities and programs. As a place of faith and learning, the church continues to make an impact in the lives of many, providing a nurturing environment that encourages growth and development.
Premier Charter School

Premier Charter School

Serves St Louis, MO
We believe education is done best through a whole-child approach to learning. This is reflected through inquiry-based academics, intentional work to build positive classroom and school cultures, a variety of individual social-emotional supports, and opportunities for physical activity and play.
Resurrection Early Childhood

Resurrection Early Childhood

Serves St Louis, MO
Founded in 1990, Resurrection Early Childhood located in Saint Louis, MO, is a faith-based prekindergarten program that nurtures children in a loving, Christ-centered environment. Catering to children aged 1-5 years old, their Parent's Day Out program includes free play, art activities, stories, song time, and gym/playground time. They also provide a comprehensive preschool and pre-k curriculum that includes a wide range of learning experiences, fostering independence, socialization, and language skills among others.
Unique Touch Childcare

Unique Touch Childcare

20+ years in business
Serves St Louis, MO
Welcome to Unique Touch Childcare, where we prioritize creating a nurturing and personalized environment for your child in Belleville, IL. With dedicated one-on-one attention, we offer exceptional daycare services that focus on fostering growth, creativity, and a love for learning. Our intimate setting ensures that each child receives the care and guidance they deserve, promoting their social and educational development. Join us at Unique Touch Childcare, where your child's unique needs and potential are at the heart of everything we do.

Your Daycare questions, answered

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on TrustedCare.

How much does daycare cost?

Daycare costs depend on the child’s age group, the type of daycare, and where you live. Infant daycare is typically the most expensive, ranging from $650 to $1,500 per month. Infant daycare requires higher ratios of caregivers to children, which increases costs. Babies require more individualized attention, including diaper changes, feedings, and naps. As the child ages and becomes more independent, this ratio decreases along with daycare costs.

Traditional daycare centers tend to charge higher rates than home-based family daycare centers or co-ops. However, they usually have lower child-to-caregiver ratios, offer a wider range of amenities and activities, and have stricter qualifications for staff. Church-based, YMCA, or other non-profit child care centers offer lower rates, while home-based daycare is typically the cheapest option due to the low overhead costs.

In urban areas with a higher cost of living, daycare costs tend to be higher to cover the cost of higher rent and teacher salaries. Suburban and rural daycare centers have lower overhead costs, which often translates to more affordable daycare.

Is daycare tax deductible?

No, you cannot directly deduct daycare expenses on your federal tax return. However, if you qualify, there's a tax credit designed to assist with daycare costs, known as the Child and Dependent Care Credit.

The Child and Dependent Care Credit enables you to claim a percentage of your eligible childcare expenses. It ranges from 20% to 35% of allowable expenses, capping at $3,000 for one qualifying child and $6,000 for two or more qualifying children (applicable to the 2023 tax year). Consult a qualified tax professional to confirm if your eligibility.

Can a daycare charge you when they are closed?

Some daycares may charge a reduced fee or no fee at all during certain closures, while others may maintain regular charges. The terms in your daycare contract or agreement should outline whether or not you are charged when they are closed. It's common for daycares to have specific policies regarding fees during closures, such as holidays or other scheduled breaks.

If you're unsure, reach out to the daycare directly to clarify their billing practices during closures.

How do I look up daycare violations?

To look up daycare violations, start by contacting your state’s licensing agency for childcare facilities. You can usually find this information through your state’s Department of Health and Human Services online database.

Another option is to reach out to community resources such as local parenting groups, forums, or social media groups. Other parents may share their experiences or provide information about daycare violations in your area. Finally, consider a visit the daycare center directly and ask for information about any past violations. Daycare centers are often required to make this information accessible to parents.

How do I choose a daycare?

When picking a daycare, trust your instincts and choose a daycare that aligns with your child's needs, your values, and provides a safe and nurturing environment for their development. Follow these additional suggestions to find the best fit for you and your child:

  • Get recommendations from other parents, friends, and pediatricians to start your search.
  • Visit in person to make sure the spaces are clean, safe, and friendly.
  • Ask about caregiver qualifications, such as CPR training, early childhood education background, and experience with children of a similar age.
  • Understand the daycare's approach to early education, discipline, feeding, and soothing methods.
  • Choose a daycare that is licensed and accredited to meet government-set health and safety standards.
  • Check if parents are encouraged to participate in the program and if there are opportunities for parental engagement.
  • Contact current and former clients for feedback on their experiences with the daycare.
  • Consider making unannounced visits to get a true sense of the daycare's daily operations
  • Look for a daycare with a suitable curriculum, flexible schedules, and activities that fit your preferences.
  • Visit the daycare with your child and see how they react to the space, teachers, and other children.
  • Secure a spot on the waiting list as early as possible, especially for sought-after infant programs.

What questions should I ask when evaluating potential daycare centers?

Gather as much information as you can to find the daycare that best fits your family’s needs. Be prepared with a list of questions when visiting daycares, including:

  • Is your daycare licensed and accredited to meet safety standards?
  • Are teachers credentialed and trained in CPR/First Aid?
  • What are the class sizes and student-teacher ratios for each age group?
  • What are the daycare's hours of operation and rates?
  • How does the daycare handle discipline?
  • Will the daycare assist with potty training?
  • How much time do children spend in free-play and outdoors?
  • Are meals and snacks provided by the daycare?
  • How are food allergies handled by the daycare?
  • What enrichment programs and activities are available?

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