How do I choose the right daycare in Harrisburg?

When choosing a daycare in Harrisburg, consider visiting facilities in person and checking: Licensing status with Pennsylvania's regulatory agency Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Pennsylvania) Safety measures and cleanliness Daily routines and educational curriculum Parent reviews and ratings Location and hours that fit your schedule

What types of daycare are available in Harrisburg?

Harrisburg offers several types of childcare facilities: Child Daycare & Preschools — 82 facilities Church Daycare — 3 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.

Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Harrisburg, PA

Q: What is the average cost of daycare in Pennsylvania?

Daycare costs in Pennsylvania 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 Harrisburg for current pricing.

Compare 82 child daycare & preschools in Harrisburg. Average rating: 3.9/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania at a glance

Programs: 82
Avg rating: 3.9/5
Parent reviews: 466
Top rated (4.5+): 14

Harrisburg has 82 licensed child daycare & preschools with 466 parent reviews averaging 3.9/5.The highest-rated options cluster around the 17112 zip code, averaging 4.45 stars across 16 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Harrisburg

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
Best Idea Child Development Center
4.64 score
4.8(20)
104 Roberts Valley Rd, Harrisburg, PA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 59 children
The reviews provided do not pertain to BEST IDEA CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER. Instead, they describe Legacy Faith Church, a religious organization in Harrisburg, PA. No actual daycare reviews are available for analysis.
None applicable - reviews are for a churchnot the daycare center
2
Hansel & Gretel Early Learning Center
4.62 score
5(8)
2206 Walnut St, Harrisburg, PA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 144 children
Hansel & Gretel Early Learning Center receives uniformly positive feedback from parents and former attendees. Parents consistently praise the caring, friendly staff who know children by name and communicate regularly about their development. The center is noted for creating lasting memories through activities like summer camp, swimming, and field trips.
Caring and attentive staffpersonalized attention to each childexcellent communication with parentsfriendly greeting and dismissal
3
Linglestown Umc Sch-Age Child Care Prgm
4.59 score
4.8(14)
1430 N Mountain Rd, Harrisburg, PA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 22 children
Reviews praise Linglestown UMC's welcoming community atmosphere and strong family-oriented environment. Parents highlight excellent children's programs, quality educational curriculum, and engaging pastoral leadership. The facility is consistently described as a supportive church community where families feel they belong.
Welcoming atmosphereexcellent children's and preschool programsquality sermons and teachingstrong music programs
4
Jewish Community Center Of Harrisburg
4.56 score
4.7(20)
3301 N Front St, Harrisburg, PA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 28 children
The Jewish Community Center of Harrisburg receives consistently positive feedback, with reviewers praising the clean facilities, friendly and attentive staff, and excellent amenities including a heated pool and fitness center. Parents appreciate the family-friendly environment, diverse programming for all ages, and overall value of membership.
Clean facilitykind and helpful staffheated poolfitness equipment
5
Alphabet Express Early Learning
4.55 score
5(6)
2205 Forest Hills Dr, Harrisburg, PA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 49 children
Parents consistently praise Alphabet Express for its caring, professional staff and loving environment. The facility is noted for quality education, kid-friendly activities, and strong community engagement. Multiple families have enrolled siblings and maintain connections with staff after their children graduate.
Caring and loving staffprofessional ownerreliable childcarekid-friendly facilities and activities
6
Bright Beginnings Child Dev. Center
4.49 score
4.7(12)
98 S Clover Ln, Harrisburg, PA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 81 children
Bright Beginnings receives consistently excellent reviews from parents who praise the center for providing exceptional, loving care that extends beyond typical daycare services. Parents highlight the staff's genuine commitment to child development, creative activities, and strong parent communication. The director Amy and her team are frequently described as treating children like family members.
Caring and attentive staffclean and well-organized facilitieseducational activities and creative projectsstrong parent-staff communication
7
From The Heart Church Ministries Of Hbg
4.49 score
4.8(8)
951 S 13th St, Harrisburg, PA · Church Daycare · Capacity: -999 children
Parents praise this religious facility for its welcoming atmosphere, strong biblical teaching, and inclusive community. Reviews highlight the quality of services, messages, and the sense of spiritual family and peace found there.
Welcoming environmentstrong biblical instructioninclusive communityenergetic services
8
Imagination Island Learning Center
4.48 score
4.6(20)
4969 Berkley St, Harrisburg, PA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 26 children
Parents consistently praise Imagination Island Learning Center as a caring, family-oriented daycare with highly dedicated and experienced teachers. The non-profit center is noted for combining warm, home-like environments with quality early education curriculum and strong parental involvement. Families report feeling welcomed and confident in their children's safety, growth, and happiness.
Loving and experienced teachers with long tenurecaring administratorssafe and welcoming atmospherelarge and colorful classrooms
9
U-Gro Learning Centre
4.4 score
4.5(20)
3501 Canby St, Harrisburg, PA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 88 children
Parents consistently praise U-GRO Learning Centre for its caring, dedicated staff and strong developmental programs. Children show measurable progress in academic skills, potty training, and social development. The center is noted for excellent communication, live camera access, and a warm, welcoming environment.
Caring and attentive teachersstrong curriculum and learning activitieslive camera access to classroomsprovided meals and supplies
10
Little Learners Child Development Ctr
4.39 score
4.5(17)
2300 Vartan Way, Harrisburg, PA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 106 children
Little Learners Child Development Center in Harrisburg receives consistently excellent feedback from parents. All 11 reviews rate the facility 5/5 stars, praising the caring and experienced staff, strong educational programs, safe environment, and family-oriented atmosphere. Parents report their children thrive academically and emotionally, with many noting significant improvements in speech, social skills, and school readiness.
Caring and experienced staff with low turnoverpassionate teachers who treat children as their ownexcellent communication with parentssafe facility with security measures and cameras

Rating Distribution

Based on 42 daycares with Google ratings in Harrisburg

4.5 - 5.0

4.0 - 4.4

3.0 - 3.9

Below 3

What Parents Value Most

Top qualities mentioned across 466 reviews, analyzed by AI

1Welcoming atmosphere

2Caring and attentive staff

3Excellent communication with parents

4Welcoming environment

5Clean facilities

Daycare Types Compared

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

Child Daycare & Preschools

3.84avg rating

82 daycares · 39 rated

Before or After School Daycare

Church Daycare

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Harrisburg zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip Code	Daycares	Avg. Rating	Top Rated
17112	16	4.45	3
17110	14	4.4	4
17109	13	4.15	2
17111	14	3.78	0
17103	13	3.78	3
17102	6	2.62	0

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Harrisburg (20–331 children)

Small

up to 30 children

Medium

31–75 children

Large

76–150 children

Very Large

150+ children

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Harrisburg based on parent reviews

Best Idea Child Development Center

4.8(20)

104 Roberts Valley Rd, Harrisburg, PA

The reviews provided do not pertain to BEST IDEA CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER. Instead, they describe Legacy Faith Church, a religious organization in Harrisburg, PA. No actual daycare reviews are available for analysis.

None applicable - reviews are for a churchnot the daycare center

Hansel & Gretel Early Learning Center

5(8)

2206 Walnut St, Harrisburg, PA

Hansel & Gretel Early Learning Center receives uniformly positive feedback from parents and former attendees. Parents consistently praise the caring, friendly staff who know children by name and communicate regularly about their development. The center is noted for creating lasting memories through activities like summer camp, swimming, and field trips.

Caring and attentive staffpersonalized attention to each childexcellent communication with parents

Linglestown Umc Sch-Age Child Care Prgm

4.8(14)

1430 N Mountain Rd, Harrisburg, PA

Reviews praise Linglestown UMC's welcoming community atmosphere and strong family-oriented environment. Parents highlight excellent children's programs, quality educational curriculum, and engaging pastoral leadership. The facility is consistently described as a supportive church community where families feel they belong.

Welcoming atmosphereexcellent children's and preschool programsquality sermons and teaching

Jewish Community Center Of Harrisburg

4.7(20)

3301 N Front St, Harrisburg, PA

The Jewish Community Center of Harrisburg receives consistently positive feedback, with reviewers praising the clean facilities, friendly and attentive staff, and excellent amenities including a heated pool and fitness center. Parents appreciate the family-friendly environment, diverse programming for all ages, and overall value of membership.

Clean facilitykind and helpful staffheated pool

Alphabet Express Early Learning

5(6)

2205 Forest Hills Dr, Harrisburg, PA

Parents consistently praise Alphabet Express for its caring, professional staff and loving environment. The facility is noted for quality education, kid-friendly activities, and strong community engagement. Multiple families have enrolled siblings and maintain connections with staff after their children graduate.

Caring and loving staffprofessional ownerreliable childcare

Bright Beginnings Child Dev. Center

4.7(12)

98 S Clover Ln, Harrisburg, PA

Bright Beginnings receives consistently excellent reviews from parents who praise the center for providing exceptional, loving care that extends beyond typical daycare services. Parents highlight the staff's genuine commitment to child development, creative activities, and strong parent communication. The director Amy and her team are frequently described as treating children like family members.

Caring and attentive staffclean and well-organized facilitieseducational activities and creative projects

Map

Daycare types in Harrisburg

Child Daycare & Preschools 82 Church Daycare 3 Before or After School Daycare 3

Child Daycare & Preschools in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Harrisburg offers a diverse landscape of 82 childcare and preschool facilities, ranging from community-based centers to independent programs. Parents frequently highlight the welcoming atmosphere and attentive staff as key reasons for their satisfaction. Neighborhoods like 17104 stand out for their consistently high ratings, making it easier to find a fit that prioritizes clear communication and a supportive environment.

Based on Google reviews, daycares in Harrisburg have an average rating of 3.9 out of 5 across 42 rated facilities, with 33% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 4.67 stars. Our analysis covers 466 parent reviews. Parents in Harrisburg most frequently praise daycares for welcoming atmosphere, caring and attentive staff, and excellent communication with parents.

When choosing a daycare in Harrisburg, 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 Harrisburg

Showing 82 results