Children at daycare

Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Big Rapids, MI

Compare 5 child daycare & preschools in Big Rapids. Average rating: 4.37/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Big Rapids, Michigan at a glance

Programs
5
Avg rating
4.37/5
Parent reviews
22
Top rated (4.5+)
1

Big Rapids has 5 licensed child daycare & preschools with 22 parent reviews averaging 4.37/5.The largest concentration is in 49307 with 8 programs.Browse all options below to find the right fit for your family.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Big Rapids

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.

  1. 1
    St Peter'S Lutheran Preschool
    4.75 score
    5(15)

    408 W Bellevue Street, Big Rapids, MI · Church Daycare · Capacity: 50 children

    St. Peter's Lutheran Preschool receives unanimous 5-star reviews praising its welcoming community, strong academics, and integration of Christian faith throughout the curriculum. Parents highlight caring teachers, a supportive environment, and a loving congregation that spans multiple generations.

    Excellent academic standardscaring and dedicated teachersChrist-centered curriculum with daily prayerwelcoming and inclusive community
  2. 2
    Carmen'S Daycare & Learning Center
    4.2 score
    4.4(5)

    525 N. Fourth Avenue, Big Rapids, MI · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 50 children

    Carmen's Daycare receives mostly positive feedback from parents who praise the staff's care, safety standards, and educational activities. Most reviewers report their children are happy and well-cared for. However, one reviewer raised concerns about staff conduct and alleged preferential treatment for employees' children.

    Safe environmentloving staffage-appropriate activitieseducational and social learning

Rating Distribution

Based on 3 daycares with Google ratings in Big Rapids

4.5 - 5.0
1
4.0 - 4.4
1
3.0 - 3.9
1
Below 3
0

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in Big Rapids, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.05avg rating
5 daycares · 2 rated

Church Daycare

5avg rating
2 daycares · 1 rated

Before or After School Daycare

No ratings yet
1 daycares

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Big Rapids zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
493078
4.37
1

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Big Rapids (38–100 children)

Small

up to 30 children

0

Medium

31–75 children

5

Large

76–150 children

3

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Big Rapids based on parent reviews

Carmen'S Daycare & Learning Center

4.4(5)

525 N. Fourth Avenue, Big Rapids, MI

Carmen's Daycare receives mostly positive feedback from parents who praise the staff's care, safety standards, and educational activities. Most reviewers report their children are happy and well-cared for. However, one reviewer raised concerns about staff conduct and alleged preferential treatment for employees' children.

Safe environmentloving staffage-appropriate activities

Early Learning Center

3.7(2)

1349 Cramer Circle Bishop Hall 101, Big Rapids, MI

Feedback for the Early Learning Center is mixed, with one parent describing it as a high-quality environment that values children, while another reports a highly negative experience involving perceived racial discrimination and disrespect during a graduation event. The single positive review highlights satisfaction with enrolling multiple children, whereas the negative review cites specific incidents of being excluded and treated spitefully by staff.

high quality carevalues childrenpositive experience for multiple children

Map

Daycare types in Big Rapids

Child Daycare & Preschools 5Church Daycare 2Before or After School Daycare 1

Child Daycare & Preschools in Big Rapids, Michigan

There are 5 child daycare & preschools in Big Rapids, Michigan, making up 63% of the 8 total childcare facilities in the city. Below you'll find a complete directory to help you compare and choose the right daycare for your child.

Based on Google reviews, daycares in Big Rapids have an average rating of 4.37 out of 5 across 3 rated facilities, with 33% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 5 stars. Our analysis covers 22 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Big Rapids, 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 Big Rapids

Showing 5 results

Carmen'S Daycare & Learning Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.4

Carmen's Daycare receives mostly positive feedback from parents who praise the staff's care, safety standards, and educational activities. Most reviewers report their children are happy and well-cared for. However, one reviewer raised concerns about staff conduct and alleged preferential treatment for employees' children.

Safe environmentloving staffage-appropriate activities
Address
525 N. Fourth Avenue, Big Rapids, MI
Phone
(231) 527-2273
Early Learning Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
3.7

Feedback for the Early Learning Center is mixed, with one parent describing it as a high-quality environment that values children, while another reports a highly negative experience involving perceived racial discrimination and disrespect during a graduation event. The single positive review highlights satisfaction with enrolling multiple children, whereas the negative review cites specific incidents of being excluded and treated spitefully by staff.

high quality carevalues childrenpositive experience for multiple children
Address
1349 Cramer Circle Bishop Hall 101, Big Rapids, MI
Phone
(231) 591-2390
Devries Daycare Of Big Rapids
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
14883 Old Mill Pond Rd, Big Rapids, MI
Phone
(231) 796-2379
Eastwood Early Childhood Community Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
410 North Third Street, Big Rapids, MI
Phone
(231) 592-9605
Big Rapids Eastwood Ecc
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
410 N. Third Avenue, Big Rapids, MI
Phone
(231) 592-5564

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Frequently asked questions

There are 5 child daycare & preschools daycares in Big Rapids, Michigan, out of 8 total childcare facilities in the city. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
Based on parent reviews, daycares in Big Rapids have an average Google rating of 4.37 out of 5 across 3 rated facilities. About 33% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Big Rapids, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with Michigan's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Michigan)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Big Rapids offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 5 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 2 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 1 facilities
Each type serves different needs — center-based facilities typically offer structured programs, while head start programs are federally funded for low-income families.
Daycare costs in Michigan typically range from $200 to $400 per week for full-time care, depending on the child's age, facility type, and location within the state. Infant care tends to be more expensive due to lower staff-to-child ratio requirements. Contact individual facilities in Big Rapids for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Big Rapids must be licensed by Michigan's childcare licensing agency. Licensed facilities are required to meet standards for safety, health, staff qualifications, and staff-to-child ratios. You can verify a facility's license status through your state's licensing database.