
Compare 180 daycare centers in Lincoln. Average rating: 4.22/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Lincoln has 180 licensed daycares with 1,393 parent reviews averaging 4.22/5.50 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 42% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 68505 (avg 4.56 stars), while 68516 has the largest selection (27 programs).Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
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.
8410 Executive Woods Dr, Lincoln, NE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 30 children
The Pines Day School receives unanimous 5-star reviews from parents who praise the experienced, caring teachers and welcoming environment. Parents consistently report their children are academically prepared for kindergarten while enjoying a balanced mix of learning and play, with many children continuing to speak fondly of their experience years later.
6700 South 32nd St, Lincoln, NE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 170 children
Knowledge Beginnings is highly regarded by parents for its caring staff, strong curriculum, and excellent communication. Children show significant academic and developmental progress, and parents consistently report feeling confident in the quality of care. The center fosters a family-like community atmosphere with engaging activities and special events.
7800 Holdrege St, Lincoln, NE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 141 children
Parents consistently praise Fingerprints Child Development Center for its nurturing staff, strong communication, and educational environment. All reviewers rate the facility 5/5 stars, highlighting long-term satisfaction with staff consistency, cleanliness, and structured learning activities. Multiple families have enrolled multiple children and recommend the center highly.
7211 Plaza Ct., Lincoln, NE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 123 children
Inspiring Minds Preschool & Childcare in Lincoln receives consistently excellent feedback from parents. All reviewers praise the caring, attentive staff, strong communication through apps and photos, and educational activities. Parents highlight their children's happiness, growth, and smooth transitions across age groups from infant to school-age.
5445 Red Rock Lane, Lincoln, NE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 12 children
True Knowledge Preschool receives unanimous five-star reviews from parents who consistently praise teacher Miss McKenzie's individual attention, patience, and teaching ability. Parents report their children look forward to attending, develop strong friendships, acquire significant academic knowledge including reading skills, and arrive well-prepared for kindergarten.
5521 Shady Creek Court, Lincoln, NE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 100 children
Little Learners Preschool and Academy in Lincoln, Nebraska receives perfect 5-star ratings from parents who consistently praise the caring staff, flexible scheduling options (part-time and drop-in care), and high-quality education. Parents highlight low staff turnover, affordable pricing, strong communication, and a nurturing Christian environment where children thrive academically and emotionally.
1101 Isaac Dr, Lincoln, NE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 125 children
Reviews praise North American Martyrs as a welcoming Catholic church community with excellent facilities and programming. Parents highlight the friendly staff, beautiful architecture, and inclusive atmosphere. Note: Most reviews reference the church itself rather than the extended care/daycare program specifically.
6024 L St, Lincoln, NE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 80 children
Kids First Inc in Lincoln receives universal 5/5 star ratings from parents who consistently praise the caring, kind staff and safe, nurturing environment. Parents report their children thrive academically and socially, with strong educational programming and relationship-building focus. Families describe feeling part of a supportive community where children are genuinely loved and well-cared for.
3201 S Coddington, Lincoln, NE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 35 children
Nature Center Preschool is highly rated as a beautiful park and nature preserve with well-maintained trails, diverse habitats, and family-friendly attractions including bison, live and stuffed animals, playgrounds, and scenic walking paths. Visitors consistently praise the peaceful setting, cleanliness, and variety of activities for children and families. The facility offers educational opportunities through nature centers and outdoor recreation in a safe, fenced environment.
1111 Old Cheney Rd, Lincoln, NE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 95 children
These reviews appear to be for Christ Place Church rather than Brandy's Bunch Early Learning Center. Reviews praise the church's worship services, pastoral staff, and children's programs. Parents highlight the welcoming atmosphere, quality of sermons, and community environment.
Based on 120 daycares with Google ratings in Lincoln
Top qualities mentioned across 1,393 reviews, analyzed by AI
Average ratings by facility type in Lincoln, based on parent reviews
Lincoln zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68505 | 12 | 4.56 | 4 | |
| 68516 | 27 | 4.38 | 9 | |
| 68512 | 12 | 4.36 | 4 | |
| 68506 | 20 | 4.34 | 7 | |
| 68502 | 17 | 4.34 | 8 | |
| 68510 | 16 | 4.22 | 5 | |
| 68522 | 7 | 4.14 | 2 | |
| 68521 | 24 | 4 | 6 | |
| 68503 | 6 | 3.93 | 0 | |
| 68507 | 12 | 3.88 | 1 |
Capacity distribution of daycares in Lincoln (12–225 children)
Small
up to 30 children
26
Medium
31–75 children
41
Large
76–150 children
93
Very Large
150+ children
20
Highest rated daycares in Lincoln based on parent reviews
8410 Executive Woods Dr, Lincoln, NE
The Pines Day School receives unanimous 5-star reviews from parents who praise the experienced, caring teachers and welcoming environment. Parents consistently report their children are academically prepared for kindergarten while enjoying a balanced mix of learning and play, with many children continuing to speak fondly of their experience years later.
6700 South 32nd St, Lincoln, NE
Knowledge Beginnings is highly regarded by parents for its caring staff, strong curriculum, and excellent communication. Children show significant academic and developmental progress, and parents consistently report feeling confident in the quality of care. The center fosters a family-like community atmosphere with engaging activities and special events.
7800 Holdrege St, Lincoln, NE
Parents consistently praise Fingerprints Child Development Center for its nurturing staff, strong communication, and educational environment. All reviewers rate the facility 5/5 stars, highlighting long-term satisfaction with staff consistency, cleanliness, and structured learning activities. Multiple families have enrolled multiple children and recommend the center highly.
7211 Plaza Ct., Lincoln, NE
Inspiring Minds Preschool & Childcare in Lincoln receives consistently excellent feedback from parents. All reviewers praise the caring, attentive staff, strong communication through apps and photos, and educational activities. Parents highlight their children's happiness, growth, and smooth transitions across age groups from infant to school-age.
5445 Red Rock Lane, Lincoln, NE
True Knowledge Preschool receives unanimous five-star reviews from parents who consistently praise teacher Miss McKenzie's individual attention, patience, and teaching ability. Parents report their children look forward to attending, develop strong friendships, acquire significant academic knowledge including reading skills, and arrive well-prepared for kindergarten.
5521 Shady Creek Court, Lincoln, NE
Little Learners Preschool and Academy in Lincoln, Nebraska receives perfect 5-star ratings from parents who consistently praise the caring staff, flexible scheduling options (part-time and drop-in care), and high-quality education. Parents highlight low staff turnover, affordable pricing, strong communication, and a nurturing Christian environment where children thrive academically and emotionally.
Lincoln offers a robust selection of 180 childcare facilities, ranging from large programs to smaller neighborhood centers. Parents frequently highlight clean environments and responsive communication as key factors in their decisions. For those seeking highly-rated options, the 68508 zip code stands out with an impressive average rating of 4.65 stars.
Based on Google reviews, daycares in Lincoln have an average rating of 4.22 out of 5 across 120 rated facilities, with 42% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Headstart Programs facilities lead with an average of 5 stars. Our analysis covers 1,393 parent reviews. Parents in Lincoln most frequently praise daycares for easy application process, clean facility, and responsive communication.
When choosing a daycare in Lincoln, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.
Showing 180 results
Family Service - West Lincoln receives consistently positive feedback from parents and families. Reviewers praise the organization's professionalism, empathy, and helpful services, with particular recognition for staff members like Deb Threats and Kim Cline. Parents appreciate both the daycare programs and the broader family support services offered.
Super Starts Child Development Center in Lincoln receives consistently high praise from parents. Parents highlight the caring and engaging staff, safe environment, varied activities, and strong bonds children form with teachers. Multiple parents report their children are excited to attend and learning significantly.
Copple Family YMCA is a highly-rated facility in Lincoln, Nebraska featuring excellent pools with toddler-friendly shallow areas, modern gym equipment, and a well-regarded Child Watch childcare program. Parents consistently praise the clean facilities, attentive staff, and variety of programs for families. One negative experience was reported regarding a lifeguard's enforcement of rules.
Little Lambs Child Development Center receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with parents praising the cleanliness, caring staff, and educational quality. However, two recent reviews raise serious safety concerns including an Easter egg craft incident with metal nails and a child being locked outside during school.
Rosemont Day Care & Preschool receives highly polarized reviews. Most recent parents praise the caring staff, structured learning environment, and kindergarten readiness, with many giving 5-star ratings. However, some former attendees report serious concerns including inadequate special needs handling, safety issues, and unprofessional staff behavior.
Feedback for Adventure Academy - Site 2 is mixed, with one parent highlighting long-term engagement and flexibility, while another reports severe behavioral issues and operational failures. The positive experience notes academic progress and staff helpfulness, whereas the negative account details distress, hygiene errors, and poor facility management.
One parent highlights the center's caring staff and dedication to child development, while another criticizes high staff turnover and ongoing staffing issues. The few reviews so far present conflicting experiences regarding stability and care quality.
Little Brookland Daycare in Lincoln, Nebraska receives consistently excellent feedback from parents who have used the center for extended periods. Parents praise the caring staff, quality programming, and their children's enthusiasm about attending. The center is closing, but departing families express deep satisfaction with their experience.
Busy Feet Incorporated has polarized reviews, with some parents praising the director, staff kindness, and activities, while others report serious safety concerns including injuries, inadequate supervision, and poor communication about incidents. The facility shows a stark divide between positive long-term experiences and negative accounts of child welfare issues.
One parent reports significant operational issues, stating that staff and professors lack competence and that the registration process is extremely difficult to navigate.
One parent describes a concerning incident involving inadequate supervision during a bathroom routine, where a toddler was left half-naked and without privacy while staff assisted another parent. Additional feedback cites staff interactions as unprofessional, rude, and disrespectful, raising concerns about how children are treated.
While one parent highlights a loving, family-like atmosphere with engaging learning activities and nutritious food, others report significant concerns regarding unorganized facilities, monotony, and unreliable communication. A few reviewers note that the family-run structure can lead to a lack of educational variety and issues with staff availability.
BEHAVE'N DAY CENTER INC receives highly polarized reviews with significant praise from some families but serious safety and ethical concerns from others. Positive reviewers commend the staff's dedication, behavioral therapy effectiveness, and supportive approach. However, negative reviews document serious issues including child injuries, lack of injury notification, billing fraud, facility cleanliness problems, and allegations of physical abuse.
Little Munchkinland receives highly polarized reviews with strong praise for certain staff members and teaching quality, but serious concerns about management, facility cleanliness, health protocols, and safety practices. Positive reviewers highlight dedicated teachers like Mrs. Sam and Mrs. Hoff, while negative reviewers report inadequate responses to bullying, pest infestations, unaddressed contagious illness outbreaks, and management issues.
The Northeast YMCA Child Care Center has received consistently positive reviews praising the friendly and helpful staff, clean facilities, and well-maintained amenities including a lap pool and weight room. Members appreciate the sense of community and personal attention from staff. Some note the facility is older and smaller compared to other Lincoln YMCA locations, though recent improvements have been made.
Reviews praise the Northeast YMCA's friendly and helpful staff, well-maintained facilities including a clean pool and equipped weight room, and strong community atmosphere. However, reviewers note the facility is older and smaller compared to other Lincoln YMCA locations, with some concerns about equipment choices and maintenance decisions.
North Creek has highly polarized reviews. Most parents praise the caring staff, engaging curriculum, daily communication, and educational activities. However, some parents report serious concerns about food quality, facility cleanliness, safety hazards, management inconsistency, and staff conduct.
Parents consistently praise Little Wonderland for its caring, well-trained staff and welcoming environment. The facility is noted for cleanliness, organization, and strong leadership from the owner and director. Multiple reviews specifically highlight preschool teacher Katlyn Beu as exceptional.
Noah's Ark Christian Daycare has received mixed reviews following recent ownership changes. While many parents praise the staff's care, experience, and communication, others express serious concerns about new management, inadequate incident reporting, reduced employee benefits, overcrowding, and insufficient supervision.
Krayon Campus receives highly polarized reviews with stark contrasts between positive and negative experiences. Positive reviewers praise the caring staff, structured activities, cleanliness, and child development outcomes. Negative reviewers report safety concerns including injuries, inadequate supervision, unprofessional management, facility maintenance issues, and discriminatory treatment of children with special needs.
Superior Child Development Center receives highly polarized reviews. The majority of parents praise the staff's warmth, personal attention, and nurturing environment, with many reporting long-term loyalty to the facility. However, two detailed negative reviews cite concerning issues including staff conflicts, lack of engagement with children, inadequate emotional support, and inappropriate behavior.
Feedback for this Lincoln center is mixed, with some parents praising the teachers and value while others report significant concerns regarding billing errors and child distress. Parents note that while the staff is generally responsive, the facility has issues with parking, classroom conditions, and playground accessibility for older children.
While some parents appreciate the long operating hours, one reviewer reports a highly negative experience involving staff rudeness and the denial of childcare despite prior communication. This account also alleges that staff attitude worsened when weekly pay was capped at twenty hours.
Hug-A-Bunch Child Care receives mostly positive feedback, with four 5-star reviews praising the staff's kindness, patience, and educational impact. However, one 1-star review describes serious concerns about staff inattentiveness, safety issues, and poor management response to complaints.
Young Voices Child Development Center receives highly polarized reviews. Most parents (7 five-star reviews) praise the caring staff, engaging activities, and attentive communication. However, three one-star reviews report serious safety concerns including a child left at school, children locked in dark rooms as punishment, and meal withholding.
The reviews provided do not relate to daycare services at this facility. The ratings appear to be about Lincoln Parks & Recreation's general operations, including parks, facilities, and sports programs rather than childcare. Most recent reviews are negative complaints about specific incidents unrelated to daycare services.
Reviews for Lincoln Parks & Recreation are mixed and largely off-topic. One positive review praises the organization's extensive amenities and programs for the city. However, most reviews address unrelated complaints about parking incidents, sports refereeing, and staff friendliness rather than the before and after school program specifically.
4 Views Academy in Lincoln has highly polarized reviews. While one parent praised staff care and communication, the majority of reviews cite serious concerns including inadequate supervision, safety protocol failures, poor staff training, high turnover, unprofessional behavior, and lack of accountability.
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