Best Daycare Centers in Wilmington, DE
Compare 144 daycare centers in Wilmington. Average rating: 4.08/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Wilmington, Delaware at a glance
- Daycares
- 144
- Avg rating
- 4.08/5
- Parent reviews
- 779
- Top rated (4.5+)
- 40
Wilmington has 144 licensed daycares with 779 parent reviews averaging 4.08/5.40 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 38% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 19810 (avg 4.66 stars), while 19805 has the largest selection (33 programs).Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Wilmington
Ranked using a weighted score that combines Google rating with the number of parent reviews — daycares with more reviews rank higher than those with a high rating but few reviews. Last updated: March 2026.
- 1Small Wonder Daycare INC.4.64 score4.8(20)
100a Greenhill Avenue, Wilmington, DE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 128 children
Small Wonder Daycare receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring, skilled staff and child-centered educational approach. Parents consistently highlight their children's happiness, strong development, and the clean, organized facility that balances learning with play.
Attentive and nurturing staffstrong early childhood education focusclean and well-organized facilityengaging and educational daily activities - 2Tender Care Learning Academy4.62 score5(8)
120 Stroud Street, Wilmington, DE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 49 children
Tender Care Learning Academy receives exclusively positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, loving staff and family-like environment. Parents consistently highlight their children's happiness, smooth transitions, and the center's focus on education balanced with fun. Daily communication about activities and progress is also appreciated.
Caring and loving staffpatient with transitionsfamily-like atmospherechildren appear happy and content - 3Elsmere Presbyterian Child Care4.61 score4.8(16)
606 New Road, Wilmington, DE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 73 children
Elsmere Presbyterian Child Care receives consistently high praise from parents who highlight the caring, nurturing staff and quality educational programs. Parents report smooth transitions, individualized attention to children's needs, and a welcoming environment across all age groups from infants through preschool.
Caring and loving staff with good longevitysmooth transition back to workquality learning activities and fun eventsaccommodates special needs (food allergies - 4Early Childhood Educational Arts Academy4.56 score4.7(20)
705 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 55 children
Early Childhood Educational Arts Academy (CCAC) in Wilmington is highly praised for its quality arts education programs, affordable pricing, and welcoming staff. Parents highlight the vibrant community atmosphere, diverse offerings including dance, music, and preschool classes, and the center's commitment to accessible arts experiences. The facility is described as family-oriented with staff who are engaged in students' overall development.
High-quality arts educationaffordable pricingkind and welcoming stafffamily-oriented environment - 5Ministry Of Caring Guardian Angel Child Care4.5 score5(5)
1000 Wilson Street, Wilmington, DE · Church Daycare · Capacity: 83 children
Ministry of Caring Guardian Angel Child Care receives consistently high praise from parents. Parents highlight the caring and loving staff, strong communication with teachers, and safe environment for children. The facility is described as well-structured with children looking forward to attending daily.
Caring and loving staffexcellent communication with teacherssafe environmentstructured program - 6Concordia Preschool4.5 score5(5)
3003 Silverside Road, Wilmington, DE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 152 children
Concordia Preschool receives exclusively positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, nurturing staff and well-rounded curriculum that balances structured learning with free play. Parents highlight the school's strong preparation for kindergarten, beautiful facilities, and welcoming community atmosphere.
caring and nurturing teachersexcellent curriculumbalance of free play and structured learningschool readiness preparation - 7Marshallton United Methodist School4.5 score5(5)
1105 Stanton Road, Wilmington, DE · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 42 children
Parents consistently praise Marshallton United Methodist School for its caring, patient staff who treat children like family. First-time parents report feeling at ease leaving their children in this small, church-based setting, and children are described as excited and happy to attend daily. The center is noted for strong communication, developmental support, and engaging activities.
Loving and caring staffsmall close-knit environmentminimal staff turnoverexperienced teachers - 8Hilltop Lutheran Neighborhood Center4.49 score4.7(12)
1018 West 6th Street, Wilmington, DE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 186 children
Parents consistently praise Hilltop Lutheran Neighborhood Center for its caring, family-oriented staff and quality programs. The facility is noted for providing Head Start and after-school services with well-educated staff members who prioritize children's health, safety, and development.
Friendly and loving stafffamily-like treatmentwell-educated staffgood care for children - 9Tutor Time Child Care Brandywine4.48 score4.6(20)
2001 Brandywine Parkway, Wilmington, DE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 183 children
Tutor Time Child Care Brandywine receives consistently high praise from parents, with all reviews rating it 5/5 stars. Parents highlight the caring staff, clean facility, transparent communication, and comprehensive included services that make it a trusted choice for families.
Loving and caring teachersclean facilitydaily photo and video updates24/7 camera access for parents - 10Precious Little Hands Childcare Center LLC.4.43 score4.7(8)
702b Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 83 children
Precious Little Hands Childcare Center receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with most praising the professional and caring staff, clean environment, and strong communication through daily updates and photos. Parents report their children are happy, engaged in learning activities, and developing social and language skills. One parent cited poor communication as a concern.
Professional and qualified staffclean and calm environmentexcellent communication with daily updates and photosloving and caring teachers
Rating Distribution
Based on 104 daycares with Google ratings in Wilmington
What Parents Value Most
Top qualities mentioned across 779 reviews, analyzed by AI
Daycare Types Compared
Average ratings by facility type in Wilmington, based on parent reviews
Best Rated Neighborhoods
Wilmington zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19810 | 11 | 4.66 | 4 | |
| 19801 | 21 | 4.28 | 7 | |
| 19803 | 16 | 4.13 | 7 | |
| 19805 | 33 | 4.09 | 8 | |
| 19808 | 19 | 3.98 | 6 | |
| 19802 | 28 | 3.95 | 6 | |
| 19809 | 5 | 3.92 | 1 | |
| 19804 | 6 | 3.3 | 1 |
Facility Sizes
Capacity distribution of daycares in Wilmington (16–585 children)
Small
up to 30 children
8
Medium
31–75 children
61
Large
76–150 children
49
Very Large
150+ children
26
Top Rated
Highest rated daycares in Wilmington based on parent reviews
Small Wonder Daycare INC.
100a Greenhill Avenue, Wilmington, DE
Small Wonder Daycare receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring, skilled staff and child-centered educational approach. Parents consistently highlight their children's happiness, strong development, and the clean, organized facility that balances learning with play.
Tender Care Learning Academy
120 Stroud Street, Wilmington, DE
Tender Care Learning Academy receives exclusively positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, loving staff and family-like environment. Parents consistently highlight their children's happiness, smooth transitions, and the center's focus on education balanced with fun. Daily communication about activities and progress is also appreciated.
Elsmere Presbyterian Child Care
606 New Road, Wilmington, DE
Elsmere Presbyterian Child Care receives consistently high praise from parents who highlight the caring, nurturing staff and quality educational programs. Parents report smooth transitions, individualized attention to children's needs, and a welcoming environment across all age groups from infants through preschool.
Early Childhood Educational Arts Academy
705 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE
Early Childhood Educational Arts Academy (CCAC) in Wilmington is highly praised for its quality arts education programs, affordable pricing, and welcoming staff. Parents highlight the vibrant community atmosphere, diverse offerings including dance, music, and preschool classes, and the center's commitment to accessible arts experiences. The facility is described as family-oriented with staff who are engaged in students' overall development.
Ministry Of Caring Guardian Angel Child Care
1000 Wilson Street, Wilmington, DE
Ministry of Caring Guardian Angel Child Care receives consistently high praise from parents. Parents highlight the caring and loving staff, strong communication with teachers, and safe environment for children. The facility is described as well-structured with children looking forward to attending daily.
Concordia Preschool
3003 Silverside Road, Wilmington, DE
Concordia Preschool receives exclusively positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, nurturing staff and well-rounded curriculum that balances structured learning with free play. Parents highlight the school's strong preparation for kindergarten, beautiful facilities, and welcoming community atmosphere.
Map
Daycare types in Wilmington
Browse by type in Wilmington
Daycare Centers in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware, offers a diverse landscape of childcare options, ranging from community-based centers to larger institutional programs, ensuring there is a fit for various family needs. Parents consistently highlight the importance of clean facilities, safe environments, and friendly staff when evaluating these centers. For those seeking high-quality care, the 19810 zip code stands out as a neighborhood with exceptional average ratings across its local facilities.
Based on Google reviews, daycares in Wilmington have an average rating of 4.08 out of 5 across 104 rated facilities, with 38% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Before or After School Daycare facilities lead with an average of 5 stars. Our analysis covers 779 parent reviews. Parents in Wilmington most frequently praise daycares for clean facility, safe environment, and friendly staff.
When choosing a daycare in Wilmington, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.
All Daycare Centers in Wilmington
Showing 144 results
Reviews are mixed with significant concerns about customer service and management professionalism. While some patrons praise the facilities and friendly staff, multiple long-term members report poor communication, unresponsive management, unprofessional behavior, and dissatisfaction with rising costs and reduced services.
- Address
- 2815 Highlands Ln, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 571-6970
DIS Daycare Center 2 receives mixed reviews with strong polarization. Multiple parents praise the caring staff, smooth adjustment for children, and quality learning environment, while others report poor customer service and concerns about child care quality.
- Address
- 1725 West 7th Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 888-0350
Reviews are mixed with significant concerns about management and customer service. While some patrons praise the facility's amenities and friendly atmosphere, multiple long-term members report unprofessional staff, poor communication, rising costs, and declining service quality.
- Address
- 1500 Spruce Avenue, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 766-2992
- Address
- 400 West 9th Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 651-9304
- Address
- 207 North Union Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 777-2200
- Address
- 3401 Governor Printz Boulevard, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 764-9673
One parent highlights a teacher who successfully supported their daughter's transition, while another visitor found the elementary-school-like environment welcoming. Conversely, other feedback criticizes the owner for poor communication and unresponsiveness, with one reviewer labeling the overall experience as horrible.
- Address
- 1200 Northeast Boulevard, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 229-0751
- Address
- 310 Kiamensi Road, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 999-8480
- Address
- 310 Kiamensi Road, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 452-1500
- Address
- 4001 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 764-7162
Feedback for this center is sharply divided, with one parent praising the staff as fun and supportive, while others describe alarming incidents of physical and verbal abuse, including hitting and screaming at children. Additional complaints highlight severe hygiene issues, unlicensed staff, and unsafe bathroom facilities where young children use adult toilets unsupervised.
- Address
- 1410 Lancaster Avenue, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 888-2148
One parent describes the facility as unsuitable for infants and toddlers due to a lack of educational activities, poor supervision, and inadequate record-keeping, while citing exceptional care from a specific staff member named Nicki. Another review criticizes the management for prioritizing profit over child safety and staff well-being, alleging neglect and unfair personnel practices. A third comment simply labels the center as horrible for toddlers.
- Address
- 1901 Superfine Lane, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 429-0711
- Address
- 2313 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 478-2575
One parent reports pulling their child out after a teacher allegedly hit the child and the director was unavailable to address the issue, while others describe the facility as unprofessional and lacking basic contact methods like a landline.
- Address
- 500 Mckennans Church Road, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 650-4210
Parents consistently praise KinderCare Naamans Road for its caring, professional staff and clean, secure facility. Children reportedly enjoy attending daily and show strong developmental growth and learning. Leadership under Megan Burns and staff communication with parents are highlighted as exceptional.
- Address
- 2018c Naamans Road, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 475-2212
- Address
- 2401 Northeast Boulevard, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 762-8038
KinderCare on Hillock Lane in Wilmington receives mostly glowing reviews from parents who praise the caring, supportive teachers and strong academic instruction. Parents report their children are thriving, learning new skills, and excited to attend. One reviewer noted the facility appears run down.
- Address
- 3449 Hillock Lane, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 731-7138
- Address
- 1501 Marsh Road, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 478-4531
- Address
- 1400 Harvey Road, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 475-0555
This facility functions as a multi-service community center providing early learning for children birth to 5 years, shelter services, and social support. Reviews are highly polarized, with a small number praising friendly staff, but the majority criticizing poor conditions, unprofessional conduct, and inadequate services.
- Address
- 400 North Orange Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 472-0711
- Address
- 2450 North Market Street Apt# 3e, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 652-5978
Bright Horizons-Concord Plaza in Wilmington receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with six 5-star reviews praising the caring staff, clean facilities, and strong sense of community. Parents consistently report confidence in their children's safety, happiness, and development. One 1-star review cited a negative teacher experience.
- Address
- 3511 Silverside Road, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 477-1023
One parent describes the facility as the best of the best, while another reports severe neglect, including unchecked bullying and a failure to address a child's bathroom accident. The majority of positive feedback appears to be unrelated religious text rather than specific childcare experiences.
- Address
- 669 South Union Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 655-4591
- Address
- 2848 Grubb Road, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 529-9259
- Address
- 2101 Lancaster Avenue, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 655-7874
- Address
- 301 North Walnut Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 282-6378
- Address
- 1238 North Walnut Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 658-2141
- Address
- 2110 Edwards Avenue, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 932-3949
One parent describes the Boys & Girls Club as exceptional, but another reports serious neglect, including unchecked bullying, staff indifference, and failure to attend to a child's bathroom needs resulting in an accident. The positive feedback is limited to a brief endorsement, while the negative review highlights significant safety and care failures.
- Address
- 2100 Gilpin Avenue, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 655-4591
- Address
- 2916 Duncan Road, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 463-9530
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Frequently asked questions
- Licensing status with Delaware's regulatory agency
- Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Delaware)
- Safety measures and cleanliness
- Daily routines and educational curriculum
- Parent reviews and ratings
- Location and hours that fit your schedule
- Child Daycare & Preschools — 120 facilities
- Headstart Programs — 6 facilities
- Church Daycare — 6 facilities
- Before or After School Daycare — 12 facilities