Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Wilmington, DE
Compare 120 child daycare & preschools 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
- Programs
- 120
- Avg rating
- 4.08/5
- Parent reviews
- 779
- Top rated (4.5+)
- 40
Wilmington has 120 licensed child daycare & preschools 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.
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.
Hilltop Lutheran Neighborhood Center
1018 West 6th Street, Wilmington, DE
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.
Map
Daycare types in Wilmington
Browse by type in Wilmington
Child Daycare & Preschools in Wilmington, Delaware
Navigating childcare in Wilmington, Delaware involves exploring 120 distinct facilities ranging from neighborhood centers to large institutional branches. Parents consistently highlight clean environments, friendly staff, and safe spaces as the defining features of their preferred choices. The directory highlights the 19810 zip code as a standout area for high-quality care, offering a concentrated selection of highly rated options for local families.
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 Child Daycare & Preschools in Wilmington
Showing 120 results
St. Michaels School and Nursery has mixed reviews with significant concerns about special needs care. While one parent praised their handling of dietary restrictions, multiple parents reported inadequate support for children with autism and developmental delays, staff inconsistency, safety issues, and poor communication.
- Address
- 700 North Walnut Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 656-3389
Little Folks Too receives highly polarized reviews. Most parents (6 five-star reviews) praise the warm, nurturing staff, strong educational preparation, and long-term family relationships. However, three one-star reviews cite unprofessional behavior from director April, bullying among staff, inadequate child hygiene practices, and lack of concern for both employees and children.
- Address
- 1320 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 652-1238
Parents highlight exceptional academic preparation for kindergarten and a warm, family-like atmosphere, particularly benefiting children with special needs. However, other accounts allege serious safety violations, including physical abuse, dishonesty regarding injuries, and aggressive behavior by staff.
- Address
- 2511 West 4th Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 656-8785
- Address
- 2110 Northeast Boulevard, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 762-2000
Hope House Knowledge Center receives highly polarized reviews. Positive reviews praise the staff as family-like, the cleanliness, and friendly atmosphere with some families attending for 6+ years. Negative reviews cite serious concerns including poor sanitation, health outbreaks (hand-foot-mouth, bed bugs, roaches), lack of support for children with autism, and alleged director dishonesty about violations and investigations.
- Address
- 2814 West 2nd Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 407-3404
Concord Preschool receives mostly positive reviews praising warm, caring teachers who help children adjust well and succeed academically, with several parents noting their children were accepted into gifted programs. However, two negative reviews cite concerns about afternoon staffing consisting primarily of high school students, director availability, and unprofessional behavior from some staff members.
- Address
- 1800 Fairfax Boulevard, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 654-9629
Feedback for Toddlers Tech Inc. is mixed, with some parents praising the loving environment and teacher quality, while others report severe issues with customer service. One reviewer describes the facility as the best they have found, whereas others criticize the owner's unresponsiveness and overall management.
- Address
- 2704 West 4th Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 655-4487
Little People College receives highly polarized reviews with four 5-star ratings and three 1-star ratings. Positive reviewers praise staff consistency, affordable pricing, child development outcomes, and a home-like environment. Negative reviewers criticize unprofessional staff behavior, lack of educational progress, and dismissal of parent concerns.
- Address
- 3507 Old Capitol Trail, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 998-4929
One parent reports a positive, courteous registration experience with staff member Soniya, while others describe severe issues including poor management, outdated facilities, and health hazards like strong odors. Frequent complaints highlight disorganization, lack of communication, and high staff turnover that negatively impacts infant care consistency.
- Address
- 1920 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 651-4666
KOOL KIDS LEARNING CENTER receives mixed reviews with significant concerns about management. While some parents praise caring staff and a clean facility, multiple recent reviews report serious issues including disrespectful treatment from ownership/leadership, contractual disputes, unsafe practices, and lack of accountability for child safety incidents.
- Address
- 2215 North Washington Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 543-7314
Feedback is mixed, with some parents highlighting a homey, family-centered environment and strong teacher-child connections, while others report severe management failures, staffing instability, and facility neglect. One review describes a positive experience with clear communication and loving care, contrasting sharply with another that cites ratio violations, unprofessional behavior, and health code issues. The disparity suggests a significant difference in experience depending on the specific location or tenure of the family.
- Address
- 3 Paoletti Drive, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 633-4575
One parent highlights a kind teacher, down-to-earth director, and significant learning progress, while another describes the staff as friendly and the facility as clean. However, a single negative review alleges that the owners are rude and uncaring toward children.
- Address
- 500 North Pine Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 651-9400
One parent highlights the loving teachers and positive social environment, while another criticizes the center for allegedly concealing serious safety hazards and mishandling a mandated report. A separate positive comment notes the facility's high rating from the Delaware STARS program.
- Address
- 304 Lore Avenue, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 762-2226
A LEAP OF FAITH CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER II has highly polarized reviews. Positive reviews praise caring staff, long-term relationships with families, and a safe environment. However, negative reviews raise serious concerns about facility cleanliness, safety hazards, security protocols, and management priorities.
- Address
- 1715 West 4th Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 543-6256
One parent highlights exceptional care, flexibility, and educational value, while two others report serious issues including behavioral mismanagement leading to dismissal, and allegations of unprofessional management, staffing violations, and facility neglect.
- Address
- 102 Becker Avenue, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 995-9191
One parent highlights the family-like atmosphere and happy children, while another describes the staff as professional and qualified. However, other families report significant issues with unreturned calls, lack of communication, and restrictive tour policies that prevent new enrollments.
- Address
- 2617 Pike Creek Road, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 743-8280
Mom's House of Wilmington receives mostly positive feedback from parents who praise the quality of care, educational curriculum, and staff attention. Parents report their children are thriving developmentally and learning academic skills early. One negative review mentions children crying and made a personal comment about the owner.
- Address
- 1718 Howland Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 658-3433
Reviews are mixed with significant concerns about management and customer service quality. While some patrons praise the facility's amenities and friendly staff, multiple long-term members report unprofessional management, poor communication, rising costs, and reduced service hours. The daycare center itself receives no specific parent reviews.
- Address
- 2101 Centerville Road, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 932-3946
Reviews are mixed with significant concerns about management and customer service. While some praise the facility amenities and staff friendliness, multiple long-term members report unprofessional management, poor communication, rising costs, and declining service quality.
- Address
- 1900 Westminster Drive, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 571-6970
Reviews are mixed with significant concerns about management and customer service. While some praise the facility's amenities and friendly staff, multiple long-term members report unprofessional behavior, poor communication, unresponsive management, and frustration with rising costs and reduced services.
- Address
- 412 Foulk Road, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 571-6970
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
- 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
Page 3 of 4· 120 results
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