Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Dayton, OH
Compare 101 child daycare & preschools in Dayton. Average rating: 4.02/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Dayton, Ohio at a glance
- Programs
- 101
- Avg rating
- 4.02/5
- Parent reviews
- 665
- Top rated (4.5+)
- 36
Dayton has 101 licensed child daycare & preschools with 665 parent reviews averaging 4.02/5.36 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 46% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 45419 (avg 5 stars), while 45405 has the largest selection (13 programs).Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Dayton
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.
- 1A Great Start Preschool INC4.8 score5(20)
7001 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
A Great Start Preschool receives universally positive feedback from parents who praise the school's educational quality, safe environment, and strong staff leadership under director Christina Miller. Parents consistently report significant developmental progress in their children, who enjoy attending and form lasting friendships. The school is noted for its engaging activities and welcoming atmosphere.
Excellent director leadershipcaring and professional staffstrong academic preparation for kindergartenfun activities and events - 2Little Heart School House Early Learning Academy LLC4.72 score4.9(20)
4501 Riverside Drive, Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Little Hearts School House Early Learning Academy receives consistently high praise from parents who describe it as a nurturing, family-oriented environment where children thrive academically and emotionally. Parents highlight the staff's genuine care, patience, and dedication to individual child development, along with the center's commitment to education and community engagement. Multiple parents credit the daycare with supporting their children's long-term success and pers
- 3Little Hearts School House Evening Family4.72 score4.9(20)
1823 N Main St, Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Little Hearts School House Evening Family receives consistently perfect ratings from parents who praise the caring, nurturing environment and dedicated staff. Parents report their children thrive academically and emotionally, with the center going above and beyond to meet individual needs including special needs accommodation. The facility is also recognized for community involvement through mentoring programs and educational scholarships.
Caring and attentive staffnurturing family-like environmentstrong child development and progresspersonalized attention - 4Little Hearts School House Infant Toddler Academy4.72 score4.9(20)
4821 Salem Ave., Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Little Hearts School House Infant Toddler Academy receives consistently high praise from parents who describe it as a nurturing, family-oriented center with dedicated staff who provide personalized attention and genuine care. Parents highlight the center's educational focus, strong community involvement, and willingness to accommodate individual child needs, including special needs support. Multiple reviewers credit the center with significant developmental progress in their children and express long-term loyalty.
Dedicated and attentive staffpersonalized child carefamily-oriented atmosphereeducational curriculum - 5Playtime Nursery School4.72 score4.9(20)
821 Whitmore Ave, Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 33 children
Playtime Nursery School receives universal 5-star praise from parents who highlight the welcoming environment, caring staff leadership under owner Ms. Terri, and strong educational curriculum that prepares children for grade school. Parents consistently report their children are excited to attend, feel safe, and thrive developmentally in a clean, family-oriented setting.
Convenient hourswelcoming staffeducational curriculumclean facility - 6Center For Jewish Culture & Education4.71 score5(12)
525 Versailles Drive, Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 88 children
Parents praise the Center for Jewish Culture & Education as an outstanding daycare with consistently excellent staff who are described as family-like and welcoming. The facility is well-organized, clean, and offers quality childcare alongside special events, community programs, and kosher food. All reviews are 5-star ratings highlighting the positive experience for both children and families.
Caring and family-like staffquality childcarewell-organized programsspecial events - 7For Love Of Chidren4.64 score4.8(20)
128 W. First St, Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
For Love of Children (FLOC) is a highly-regarded nonprofit organization in the Dayton area that provides comprehensive support to struggling children and youth through tutoring, mentorship, and assistance programs. Parents consistently praise the dedicated volunteer staff for their genuine care, transformative impact on children's academic performance and well-being, and generous support including clothing, food, and educational resources. The organization serves foster children, homeless youth, and families in need across Montgomery and Greene Counties.
Caring and dedicated volunteersAcademic improvement in studentsSafe and welcoming environmentComprehensive support programs including tutoring and mentoring - 8On Purpose Academy And Mentoring Center4.56 score4.7(20)
51 Best Street, Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 74 children
On Purpose Academy receives consistently excellent feedback from parents, with particular praise for Director Ms. Kim's personal attention and hands-on leadership. Parents highlight the qualified teaching staff, individualized education focused on kindergarten preparation, and strong partnerships with families for child development across academic, social, and emotional domains.
Director Ms. Kim knows families by name and is highly involved in enrollmentcompassionate and dedicated teaching staffindividualized attention to each child's needslive classroom cameras for parents - 9The Word Youth Center4.55 score4.9(8)
3401 W. Siebenthaler Ave, Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 21 children
Unable to provide daycare summary. The reviews provided are for a church (The Word Youth Center functioning as a place of worship), not a daycare center. No reviews about childcare services, staff qualifications, activities, safety, or educational programs were found.
None applicable - reviews discuss religious worship experiencenot childcare - 10Steps Creative Center4.5 score5(5)
1930 N Main Street, Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 100 children
STEPS CREATIVE CENTER receives perfect 5-star ratings from parents who praise the professional and caring staff, clean and safe facility, and engaging educational activities. Parents highlight the family atmosphere, nutritious meals, field trips, and annual pageant as standout features, with children expressing enthusiasm about attending.
Professional and caring staffclean and safe facilityfamily atmosphereengaging activities and field trips
Rating Distribution
Based on 78 daycares with Google ratings in Dayton
What Parents Value Most
Top qualities mentioned across 665 reviews, analyzed by AI
Daycare Types Compared
Average ratings by facility type in Dayton, based on parent reviews
Best Rated Neighborhoods
Dayton zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45419 | 6 | 5 | 2 | |
| 45459 | 5 | 4.76 | 3 | |
| 45429 | 5 | 4.6 | 1 | |
| 45402 | 11 | 4.56 | 3 | |
| 45416 | 6 | 4.17 | 2 | |
| 45431 | 5 | 4.05 | 0 | |
| 45417 | 10 | 4.05 | 4 | |
| 45410 | 7 | 4.03 | 1 | |
| 45414 | 10 | 3.86 | 3 | |
| 45405 | 13 | 3.76 | 5 |
Facility Sizes
Capacity distribution of daycares in Dayton (21–225 children)
Small
up to 30 children
2
Medium
31–75 children
23
Large
76–150 children
20
Very Large
150+ children
4
Top Rated
Highest rated daycares in Dayton based on parent reviews
A Great Start Preschool INC
7001 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, OH
A Great Start Preschool receives universally positive feedback from parents who praise the school's educational quality, safe environment, and strong staff leadership under director Christina Miller. Parents consistently report significant developmental progress in their children, who enjoy attending and form lasting friendships. The school is noted for its engaging activities and welcoming atmosphere.
Little Heart School House Early Learning Academy LLC
4501 Riverside Drive, Dayton, OH
Little Hearts School House Early Learning Academy receives consistently high praise from parents who describe it as a nurturing, family-oriented environment where children thrive academically and emotionally. Parents highlight the staff's genuine care, patience, and dedication to individual child development, along with the center's commitment to education and community engagement. Multiple parents credit the daycare with supporting their children's long-term success and pers
Little Hearts School House Evening Family
1823 N Main St, Dayton, OH
Little Hearts School House Evening Family receives consistently perfect ratings from parents who praise the caring, nurturing environment and dedicated staff. Parents report their children thrive academically and emotionally, with the center going above and beyond to meet individual needs including special needs accommodation. The facility is also recognized for community involvement through mentoring programs and educational scholarships.
Little Hearts School House Infant Toddler Academy
4821 Salem Ave., Dayton, OH
Little Hearts School House Infant Toddler Academy receives consistently high praise from parents who describe it as a nurturing, family-oriented center with dedicated staff who provide personalized attention and genuine care. Parents highlight the center's educational focus, strong community involvement, and willingness to accommodate individual child needs, including special needs support. Multiple reviewers credit the center with significant developmental progress in their children and express long-term loyalty.
Playtime Nursery School
821 Whitmore Ave, Dayton, OH
Playtime Nursery School receives universal 5-star praise from parents who highlight the welcoming environment, caring staff leadership under owner Ms. Terri, and strong educational curriculum that prepares children for grade school. Parents consistently report their children are excited to attend, feel safe, and thrive developmentally in a clean, family-oriented setting.
Center For Jewish Culture & Education
525 Versailles Drive, Dayton, OH
Parents praise the Center for Jewish Culture & Education as an outstanding daycare with consistently excellent staff who are described as family-like and welcoming. The facility is well-organized, clean, and offers quality childcare alongside special events, community programs, and kosher food. All reviews are 5-star ratings highlighting the positive experience for both children and families.
Map
Daycare types in Dayton
Browse by type in Dayton
Child Daycare & Preschools in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio, offers a robust selection of 101 childcare and preschool facilities, providing parents with diverse options to suit their specific needs. The directory highlights a strong concentration of highly-rated centers in the 45419 zip code, where facilities consistently earn perfect scores. Parents frequently highlight the importance of clean environments and professional, caring staff when evaluating these programs.
Based on Google reviews, daycares in Dayton have an average rating of 4.02 out of 5 across 78 rated facilities, with 46% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 4.42 stars. Our analysis covers 665 parent reviews. Parents in Dayton most frequently praise daycares for clean facility, none mentioned, and caring and professional staff.
When choosing a daycare in Dayton, 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 Dayton
Showing 101 results
Rosa Parks Early Learning Center has received mixed reviews reflecting a significant incident involving staff misconduct toward a neurodivergent child. While some parents praise individual teachers and report positive developmental outcomes for their children, multiple reviews document serious safety concerns and allegations of abuse that have generated widespread concern.
- Address
- 3705 Lori Sue Ave, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 542-4390
One parent reports severe safety concerns including staff aggression, verbal abuse, and physical injury to a child, while another reviewer describes the facility as extremely minimalist.
- Address
- 3980 Philadelphia Drive, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 275-4366
THE KIDS INSTITUTE has extremely polarized reviews with two 5-star ratings praising cleanliness and staff professionalism, but seven 1-2 star ratings citing serious concerns about owner T. Ivory's unprofessional and rude behavior, poor communication about closures, inadequate bullying response, and overall management issues. Multiple parents report feeling disrespected and unwelcome.
- Address
- 5300 Philadelphia Drive, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 277-9681
One parent reports that children were left in heavily soiled diapers and encountered rude, unprofessional staff during night shifts, while another criticizes the front desk for being disrespectful and notes high staff turnover. A third reviewer alleges that the facility's care standards are inadequate, resulting in their child developing rashes and fevers.
- Address
- 4700 Philadelphia Dr, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 938-8061
Parents describe the staff as unprofessional, rude, and disrespectful, with specific complaints about front desk interactions. Caregivers are criticized for being unorganized, showing favoritism, and failing to meet basic hygiene standards, such as leaving children in soiled diapers. Additionally, one parent reports their child developing rashes and fevers, attributing these health issues to the daycare environment.
- Address
- 333 Salem Ave, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 826-0000
All About Us Learning Center receives mixed reviews with significant concerns. While a few parents praise long-term care and the owner Ms. Rochelle, the majority of reviews report serious issues including unprofessional behavior from staff, poor hygiene, inadequate feeding, lack of supervision, and allegations of physical discipline.
- Address
- 114 Brandt Street, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 567-8807
One parent reports that the provider appears impaired and the facility is dilapidated, unclean, and located in an unsafe area. The reviewer also cites news reports and other online feedback regarding alleged abuse of a toddler as reasons for leaving.
- Address
- 1333 Wisconsin Blvd, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 223-2745
- Address
- 3221 W. Siebenthaler, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 281-1400
One parent reports severe concerns regarding unsanitary conditions, including the use of improper cleaning agents and serving leftover food, alongside allegations of inadequate supervision leading to unaddressed injuries. The review also criticizes the facility for being understaffed, using broken toys, and prioritizing profit over child safety and care.
- Address
- 4215 N. Dixie Drive, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 221-9043
- Address
- 333 Salem Ave, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 826-0000
- Address
- 320 South Main Street, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 829-3339
- Address
- 3701 Salem Ave, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 274-9176
- Address
- 155 E. Thruston Blvd., Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 815-6557
- Address
- 168 Avondale Drive, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 952-5201
Youthland Academy of Dayton receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with all reviews rating 5/5 stars. Parents praise the caring, professional staff, child development support, and welcoming family-like environment. Children are reported to be happy, thriving, and developing well across multiple age groups.
- Address
- 2350 Catalpa Dr, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 535-5437
- Address
- 4401 Free Pike, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 542-4220
- Address
- 440 Shoup Mill Rd, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- NOT AVAILABLE
- Address
- 1480 Edendale Rd, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- NOT AVAILABLE
- Address
- 228 N Broadway St, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 542-4540
- Address
- 2314 Elsmere Ave, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 542-4590
- Address
- 615 Shiloh Dr, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 274-7195
- Address
- 715 Krebs Ave, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 542-4890
- Address
- 1630 Miami Chapel Rd, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 542-4290
- Address
- 4870 Denlinger Rd, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 277-2291
- Address
- 5151 Denise Dr, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- NOT AVAILABLE
- Address
- 4020 Bradwood Dr, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 542-5690
- Address
- 2805 Oakridge Dr, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 542-4990
- Address
- 1402 W Third Street, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 222-4105
Parents consistently praise KinderCare #1480 in Dayton for its caring, experienced staff and quality educational programming. Children show measurable developmental progress in language, academics, and social skills. The facility uses an app to provide daily updates and photos to parents.
- Address
- 951 E Rahn Rd, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 435-2353
Parents consistently praise KinderCare Learning Center in Dayton for its caring staff, engaging activities, and welcoming environment. Children reportedly enjoy attending and look forward to returning. The center appears to meet individual family needs while maintaining high standards of care.
- Address
- 4700 Bufort Boulevard, Dayton, OH
- Phone
- (937) 237-8975
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Frequently asked questions
- Licensing status with Ohio's regulatory agency
- Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Ohio)
- Safety measures and cleanliness
- Daily routines and educational curriculum
- Parent reviews and ratings
- Location and hours that fit your schedule
- Child Daycare & Preschools — 101 facilities
- Church Daycare — 9 facilities
- Before or After School Daycare — 24 facilities