Best Child Daycare & Preschools in South Orange, NJ
Compare 13 child daycare & preschools in South Orange. Average rating: 4.81/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
South Orange, New Jersey at a glance
- Programs
- 13
- Avg rating
- 4.81/5
- Parent reviews
- 64
- Top rated (4.5+)
- 8
South Orange has 13 licensed child daycare & preschools with 64 parent reviews averaging 4.81/5.8 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 89% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around the 07079 zip code, averaging 4.81 stars across 17 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in South Orange
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.
- 1Children'S Learning Tree4.58 score5(7)
31 Third Street, South Orange, NJ · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 43 children
Children's Learning Tree receives perfect 5-star ratings from parents who praise the nurturing, engaging learning environment and warm, attentive teachers. Parents report their children are excited about attending, have improved socially and emotionally, and are well-prepared for kindergarten. The school is described as well-run with a professionally designed curriculum and flexible care options for working families.
nurturing environmentengaging curriculumwarm and attentive teacherscaring directors - 2Work And Play4.44 score4.8(6)
19 Prospect Street, South Orange, NJ · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 24 children
Work and Play is a hybrid co-working and childcare facility in South Orange that receives strong praise from parents. Parents highlight the flexible childcare schedule, quality Reggio Emilia-based learning environment, and the added value of having a professional workspace on-site. The facility is well-soundproofed, allowing parents to work productively while their children receive care.
Flexible schedulingquality childcareReggio Emilia learning approachprofessional work environment - 3Mickey Fried Sch Of Cong Oheb Shalom4.43 score4.6(13)
170 Scotland Rd, South Orange, NJ · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 100 children
Parents praise Mickey Fried School of Congregation Oheb Shalom as a warm, welcoming community with exceptional leadership and clergy. Reviews highlight the inclusive, non-judgmental atmosphere and the quality of spiritual engagement and programming. The preschool program receives positive mention as part of this broader community experience.
Warm and welcoming communityexceptional clergy and leadershipinclusive and non-judgmental environmentspiritually engaging services - 4Totri Child Care4.39 score4.5(17)
465 Valley Street, South Orange, NJ · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 36 children
Parents consistently praise Totri Child Care as a warm, loving, small daycare with a home-like atmosphere. Children show strong academic progress (reading, writing, bilingual skills) while receiving attentive, caring instruction from dedicated staff. The center is noted for flexibility, cleanliness, and going above and beyond for families.
Warm and loving environmentsmall home-like feelstrong academic preparation (readingwriting - 5Village Babies Development Center4.3 score4.4(15)
391-401 Valley Street, South Orange, NJ · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 116 children
Village Babies Development Center receives consistently high praise from parents for its caring, experienced staff and clean, modern facilities. Parents highlight the welcoming environment, strong communication, and thoughtful educational programs that help children thrive. The director and teachers are frequently noted for their genuine care and support, particularly during challenging circumstances like the pandemic.
Caring and experienced staff with 10+ years tenureclean and modern facilityengaging classroomsdaily photo updates via Tadpoles app
Rating Distribution
Based on 9 daycares with Google ratings in South Orange
Daycare Types Compared
Average ratings by facility type in South Orange, based on parent reviews
Best Rated Neighborhoods
South Orange zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07079 | 17 | 4.81 | 8 |
Facility Sizes
Capacity distribution of daycares in South Orange (20–124 children)
Small
up to 30 children
5
Medium
31–75 children
5
Large
76–150 children
7
Very Large
150+ children
0
Top Rated
Highest rated daycares in South Orange based on parent reviews
Children'S Learning Tree
31 Third Street, South Orange, NJ
Children's Learning Tree receives perfect 5-star ratings from parents who praise the nurturing, engaging learning environment and warm, attentive teachers. Parents report their children are excited about attending, have improved socially and emotionally, and are well-prepared for kindergarten. The school is described as well-run with a professionally designed curriculum and flexible care options for working families.
Work And Play
19 Prospect Street, South Orange, NJ
Work and Play is a hybrid co-working and childcare facility in South Orange that receives strong praise from parents. Parents highlight the flexible childcare schedule, quality Reggio Emilia-based learning environment, and the added value of having a professional workspace on-site. The facility is well-soundproofed, allowing parents to work productively while their children receive care.
Mickey Fried Sch Of Cong Oheb Shalom
170 Scotland Rd, South Orange, NJ
Parents praise Mickey Fried School of Congregation Oheb Shalom as a warm, welcoming community with exceptional leadership and clergy. Reviews highlight the inclusive, non-judgmental atmosphere and the quality of spiritual engagement and programming. The preschool program receives positive mention as part of this broader community experience.
Totri Child Care
465 Valley Street, South Orange, NJ
Parents consistently praise Totri Child Care as a warm, loving, small daycare with a home-like atmosphere. Children show strong academic progress (reading, writing, bilingual skills) while receiving attentive, caring instruction from dedicated staff. The center is noted for flexibility, cleanliness, and going above and beyond for families.
Village Babies Development Center
391-401 Valley Street, South Orange, NJ
Village Babies Development Center receives consistently high praise from parents for its caring, experienced staff and clean, modern facilities. Parents highlight the welcoming environment, strong communication, and thoughtful educational programs that help children thrive. The director and teachers are frequently noted for their genuine care and support, particularly during challenging circumstances like the pandemic.
Little Stages LLC.
60 Taylor Pl, South Orange, NJ
One parent highlights a lovely environment and good staff at this center-based daycare. The single review provided offers positive feedback without mentioning any drawbacks.
Map
Daycare types in South Orange
Child Daycare & Preschools in South Orange, New Jersey
There are 13 child daycare & preschools in South Orange, New Jersey, making up 76% of the 17 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 South Orange have an average rating of 4.81 out of 5 across 9 rated facilities, with 89% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.81 stars. Our analysis covers 64 parent reviews.
When choosing a daycare in South Orange, 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 South Orange
Showing 13 results
Children's Learning Tree receives perfect 5-star ratings from parents who praise the nurturing, engaging learning environment and warm, attentive teachers. Parents report their children are excited about attending, have improved socially and emotionally, and are well-prepared for kindergarten. The school is described as well-run with a professionally designed curriculum and flexible care options for working families.
- Address
- 31 Third Street, South Orange, NJ
- Phone
- (973) 313-1132
One parent highlights a lovely environment and good staff at this center-based daycare. The single review provided offers positive feedback without mentioning any drawbacks.
- Address
- 60 Taylor Pl, South Orange, NJ
- Phone
- (973) 762-2679
One parent describes their children thriving at the school, highlighting excellent instruction, outstanding outdoor spaces, and strong community engagement. The review emphasizes that teachers prioritize the well-being of the whole child alongside top-notch academic instruction.
- Address
- 461 Vose Avenue, South Orange, NJ
- Phone
- (973) 762-6451
- Address
- 222 Irvington Ave, South Orange, NJ
- Phone
- (973) 763-0113
One parent describes the center as having a lovely environment and good staff. The single review provided is entirely positive, with no criticisms reported.
- Address
- 179 Irvington Avenue 1st Floor, South Orange, NJ
- Phone
- (973) 821-5238
Work and Play is a hybrid co-working and childcare facility in South Orange that receives strong praise from parents. Parents highlight the flexible childcare schedule, quality Reggio Emilia-based learning environment, and the added value of having a professional workspace on-site. The facility is well-soundproofed, allowing parents to work productively while their children receive care.
- Address
- 19 Prospect Street, South Orange, NJ
- Phone
- (973) 327-4729
Parents praise Mickey Fried School of Congregation Oheb Shalom as a warm, welcoming community with exceptional leadership and clergy. Reviews highlight the inclusive, non-judgmental atmosphere and the quality of spiritual engagement and programming. The preschool program receives positive mention as part of this broader community experience.
- Address
- 170 Scotland Rd, South Orange, NJ
- Phone
- (973) 762-7069
Parents consistently praise Totri Child Care as a warm, loving, small daycare with a home-like atmosphere. Children show strong academic progress (reading, writing, bilingual skills) while receiving attentive, caring instruction from dedicated staff. The center is noted for flexibility, cleanliness, and going above and beyond for families.
- Address
- 465 Valley Street, South Orange, NJ
- Phone
- (973) 216-3257
Village Babies Development Center receives consistently high praise from parents for its caring, experienced staff and clean, modern facilities. Parents highlight the welcoming environment, strong communication, and thoughtful educational programs that help children thrive. The director and teachers are frequently noted for their genuine care and support, particularly during challenging circumstances like the pandemic.
- Address
- 391-401 Valley Street, South Orange, NJ
- Phone
- (973) 378-5906
- Address
- 410 Irvington Avenue, South Orange, NJ
- Phone
- (973) 821-5584
One parent describes the facility as a great school, while others report severe allegations of physical abuse and neglect involving a disabled child. Specific complaints include a teacher holding a nonverbal child upside down, delaying notification to parents for 48 hours, and requesting baked goods for a playdate shortly after the incident.
- Address
- 358 Clark Street, South Orange, NJ
- Phone
- (862) 400-8994
- Address
- 111 Irvington Ave, South Orange, NJ
- Phone
- (973) 762-7879
- Address
- 432 Scotland Rd, South Orange, NJ
- Phone
- (973) 763-4600
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Frequently asked questions
- 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
- Child Daycare & Preschools — 13 facilities
- Before or After School Daycare — 4 facilities