Children at daycare

Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Dover, NJ

Compare 6 child daycare & preschools in Dover. Average rating: 4.33/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Dover, New Jersey at a glance

Programs
6
Avg rating
4.33/5
Parent reviews
26
Top rated (4.5+)
3

Dover has 6 licensed child daycare & preschools with 26 parent reviews averaging 4.33/5.The largest concentration is in 07801 with 10 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Dover

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
    El Primer Paso Ltd
    4.13 score
    4.2(9)

    29 Segur Street, Dover, NJ · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 27 children

    El Primer Paso is highly praised by parents for its caring, loving staff and positive learning environment. Parents consistently highlight the teachers' dedication, small class sizes, bilingual curriculum, and comprehensive facilities including meals and outdoor space. Children show significant academic and social development, with parents noting improved confidence and English language skills.

    Loving and caring teacherssmall class sizes with individualized attentionbilingual programfull-day preschool option
  2. 2
    Headstart Community Program Of Morris County INC. - Dover Site
    4 score
    4(5)

    18 Thompson Ave, Dover, NJ · Headstart Programs · Capacity: 176 children

    This HEAD START program in Dover receives mixed feedback. Positive reviews praise the quality of teaching and care, with parents noting their children enjoy attending. However, negative reviews cite unprofessional management, inadequate health screening procedures, and poor communication.

    Good teaching qualitychildren enjoy attendingstaff competence with regular instruction
  3. 3
    Dover Child Care Center INC. Infant/Toddler And Pre-School
    3.4 score
    2.8(5)

    50 N Morris Street, Dover, NJ · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 90 children

    Dover Child Care Center receives mixed reviews with significant concerns about child care quality and staff behavior. While one parent praised friendly staff and good care, multiple parents reported issues including inadequate diaper changes, inattentive staff, alleged yelling at children, and poor customer service.

    Friendly teachers and front office staffchildren enjoy attending

Rating Distribution

Based on 6 daycares with Google ratings in Dover

4.5 - 5.0
3
4.0 - 4.4
2
3.0 - 3.9
0
Below 3
1

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in Dover, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.4avg rating
6 daycares · 5 rated

Before or After School Daycare

No ratings yet
3 daycares

Headstart Programs

4avg rating
1 daycares · 1 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Dover zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
0780110
4.33
3

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Dover (27–176 children)

Small

up to 30 children

2

Medium

31–75 children

3

Large

76–150 children

4

Very Large

150+ children

1

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Dover based on parent reviews

Little People'S Academy INC.

5(4)

141 E Blackwell Street, Dover, NJ

Reviewers highlight the center's long-standing professionalism, loving care, and engaging learning environment, with some noting it feels family-oriented and clean. Parents appreciate the attentive staff and high-quality meals, with one family enjoying multi-generational involvement over 13 years. The few reviews so far mention these positive aspects without citing any specific drawbacks.

professionalismloving careintentional and engaging learning

El Primer Paso Ltd

4.2(9)

29 Segur Street, Dover, NJ

El Primer Paso is highly praised by parents for its caring, loving staff and positive learning environment. Parents consistently highlight the teachers' dedication, small class sizes, bilingual curriculum, and comprehensive facilities including meals and outdoor space. Children show significant academic and social development, with parents noting improved confidence and English language skills.

Loving and caring teacherssmall class sizes with individualized attentionbilingual program

Project Safe East Dover

5

302 East Mcfarland Street, Dover, NJ

Imagine And Learn Childcare Center

5

15 1/2 Mcfarlan Street, Dover, NJ

Dover Child Care Center INC. Infant/Toddler And Pre-School

2.8(5)

50 N Morris Street, Dover, NJ

Dover Child Care Center receives mixed reviews with significant concerns about child care quality and staff behavior. While one parent praised friendly staff and good care, multiple parents reported issues including inadequate diaper changes, inattentive staff, alleged yelling at children, and poor customer service.

Friendly teachers and front office staffchildren enjoy attending

Map

Daycare types in Dover

Child Daycare & Preschools 6Headstart Programs 1Before or After School Daycare 3

Child Daycare & Preschools in Dover, New Jersey

There are 6 child daycare & preschools in Dover, New Jersey, making up 60% of the 10 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 Dover have an average rating of 4.33 out of 5 across 6 rated facilities, with 50% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.4 stars. Our analysis covers 26 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Dover, 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 Dover

Showing 6 results

Little People'S Academy INC.
Child Daycare & Preschools
5

Reviewers highlight the center's long-standing professionalism, loving care, and engaging learning environment, with some noting it feels family-oriented and clean. Parents appreciate the attentive staff and high-quality meals, with one family enjoying multi-generational involvement over 13 years. The few reviews so far mention these positive aspects without citing any specific drawbacks.

professionalismloving careintentional and engaging learning
Address
141 E Blackwell Street, Dover, NJ
Phone
(973) 361-0695
Project Safe East Dover
Child Daycare & Preschools
5
Address
302 East Mcfarland Street, Dover, NJ
Phone
(973) 537-7986
Imagine And Learn Childcare Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
5
Address
15 1/2 Mcfarlan Street, Dover, NJ
Phone
(973) 328-8888
El Primer Paso Ltd
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.2

El Primer Paso is highly praised by parents for its caring, loving staff and positive learning environment. Parents consistently highlight the teachers' dedication, small class sizes, bilingual curriculum, and comprehensive facilities including meals and outdoor space. Children show significant academic and social development, with parents noting improved confidence and English language skills.

Loving and caring teacherssmall class sizes with individualized attentionbilingual program
Address
29 Segur Street, Dover, NJ
Phone
(973) 361-0880
Dover Child Care Center INC. Infant/Toddler And Pre-School
Child Daycare & Preschools
2.8

Dover Child Care Center receives mixed reviews with significant concerns about child care quality and staff behavior. While one parent praised friendly staff and good care, multiple parents reported issues including inadequate diaper changes, inattentive staff, alleged yelling at children, and poor customer service.

Friendly teachers and front office staffchildren enjoy attending
Address
50 N Morris Street, Dover, NJ
Phone
(973) 366-0277
Little Bears Day Care
Child Daycare & Preschools

One parent reports a positive experience, while two others describe severe issues including poor facility conditions and physical mistreatment of children. Specific complaints highlight a damp, basement-like odor and allegations of staff handling children roughly or without proper qualifications.

Good experience reported by one parent
Address
41 E Blackwell Street, Dover, NJ
Phone
(973) 366-2707

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Frequently asked questions

There are 6 child daycare & preschools daycares in Dover, New Jersey, out of 10 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 Dover have an average Google rating of 4.33 out of 5 across 6 rated facilities. About 50% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Dover, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with New Jersey's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in New Jersey)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Dover offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 6 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 1 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 3 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 New Jersey 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 Dover for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Dover must be licensed by New Jersey'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.