Children at daycare

1 Headstart Programs in Meriden, Connecticut

Browse all 1 headstart programs in Meriden, Connecticut. Compare options and find the right childcare for your family.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Meriden

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
    Kinder Garden Learning Center
    4.4 score
    4.6(10)

    20 S Broad Ter, Meriden, CT · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 54 children

    KINDER GARDEN LEARNING CENTER receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from most parents, with 9 five-star reviews praising the educational curriculum, caring staff, and child development outcomes. However, one parent with special needs children reported serious concerns including inadequate medical care management, favoritism, staff unprofessionalism, and inappropriate handling of behavioral and health issues.

    Educational curriculum and academic advancementcaring
  2. 2
    Meriden Ymca Head Start
    4.07 score
    4.1(11)

    398 Liberty St, Meriden, CT · Headstart Programs · Capacity: 124 children

    Meriden YMCA Head Start receives mostly positive reviews praising caring, patient teachers who know children by name and provide individualized attention. However, some parents report serious concerns about management communication, safety responsiveness, allergy accommodation, and administrative issues with enrollment and lost items.

    Caring and patient teachersindividualized attention for students with special needstwo teachers per classroomvariety of toys and activities
  3. 3
    Meriden Ymca Little Hounds Preschool At Hanover
    4 score
    4(8)

    208 Main St, Meriden, CT · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 28 children

    Meriden YMCA Little Hounds Preschool receives mostly high praise for caring, dedicated staff and a nurturing environment. However, two negative reviews cite serious hygiene concerns including pest issues and cleanliness problems. The majority of parents report feeling confident in the daycare's safety and support, particularly noting the director Heather and staff's ability to address individual child needs.

    Caring and dedicated stafffamily-oriented environmentst
  4. 4
    Meriden Ymca Lil Rascals
    4 score
    4(8)

    43 Swain Ave, Meriden, CT · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 81 children

    Meriden YMCA Lil Rascals receives mostly positive reviews praising caring, attentive staff and a nurturing environment, though two negative reviews raise significant concerns about cleanliness, pest issues, and health safety practices.

    caring and patient teachersstrong communication with parentsindividualized support for children with special needsfamily-oriented and welcoming environment
  5. 5
    Meriden Ymca B/A School At Israel Putnam
    3.84 score
    3.8(20)

    133 Parker Ave, Meriden, CT · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 58 children

    The Meriden YMCA at Israel Putnam is highly rated for its cleanliness, friendly staff, and diverse programs including swimming, fitness classes, and team sports. Parents appreciate the facility's family-friendly atmosphere and quality instruction. Some concerns exist regarding payment processing issues and limited lap swimming availability.

    Clean facilitiesfriendly and helpful staffdiverse programs for all agesswimming instruction and teams
  6. 6
    Meriden Ymca B/A School At Thomas Hooker
    3.84 score
    3.8(20)

    70 Overlook Rd, Meriden, CT · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 52 children

    Reviews praise the YMCA's clean facilities, friendly and professional staff, and diverse programs including swimming, fitness classes, and team sports. Parents appreciate the family-friendly environment and individual staff members' dedication to customer service. However, some customers report billing issues and payment processing problems.

    Clean facilitiesfriendly and helpful staffdiverse classes and programsswimming instruction
  7. 7
    Meriden Ymca @ John Barry
    3.84 score
    3.8(20)

    124 Columbia St, Meriden, CT · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 134 children

    The Meriden YMCA @ John Barry receives overwhelmingly positive feedback with parents praising its family-friendly atmosphere, clean facilities, and quality instructors across swimming, fitness classes, and sports programs. Most reviewers highlight excellent staff friendliness and dedication. A few members report billing issues and limited lap swimming availability.

    Clean facilitiesfriendly and helpful staffvariety of classes (Zumbaaqua aerobics
  8. 8
    Fairy Tales Child Care & Development Center
    3.83 score
    3.7(7)

    470 Murdock Ave,Unit 9, Meriden, CT · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 84 children

    Fairy Tales Child Care & Development Center receives mostly positive reviews from long-term parents who praise the caring environment, strong academic curriculum, and cleanliness. However, a few negative reviews mention concerns about staff attentiveness, high tuition costs, and director behavior.

    Loving and caring environmentstrong academic curriculum with above-grade-level resultsclean facilitieswell-organized classrooms
  9. 9
    Meriden-New Britain-Berlin Ymca Early Learning Center
    3.44 score
    3.3(20)

    12 Johnson Ave, Meriden, CT · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 44 children

    Reviews are mixed with significant concerns about the daycare program. Multiple parents reported poor conditions in the basement childcare area, including inadequate supervision, limited space and activities, and unhygienic conditions. Gym facilities and fitness classes received positive feedback, but daycare operations were criticized for poor customer service and unsafe practices.

    Friendly and responsive staffclean gym facilitiesvariety of exercise classesaff

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Meriden based on parent reviews

Meriden Ymca Head Start

4.1(11)

398 Liberty St, Meriden, CT

Meriden YMCA Head Start receives mostly positive reviews praising caring, patient teachers who know children by name and provide individualized attention. However, some parents report serious concerns about management communication, safety responsiveness, allergy accommodation, and administrative issues with enrollment and lost items.

Caring and patient teachersindividualized attention for students with special needstwo teachers per classroom

Map

Daycare types in Meriden

Child Daycare & Preschools 16Headstart Programs 1Church Daycare 2Before or After School Daycare 7

Browse by type in Meriden

🎨 Preschools 7

Headstart Programs in Meriden, Connecticut

There are 1 headstart programs in Meriden, Connecticut, making up 4% of the 26 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.

When choosing a daycare in Meriden, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.

All Headstart Programs in Meriden

Showing 1 results

Meriden Ymca Head Start
Headstart Programs
4.1

Meriden YMCA Head Start receives mostly positive reviews praising caring, patient teachers who know children by name and provide individualized attention. However, some parents report serious concerns about management communication, safety responsiveness, allergy accommodation, and administrative issues with enrollment and lost items.

Caring and patient teachersindividualized attention for students with special needstwo teachers per classroom
Address
398 Liberty St, Meriden, CT
Phone
(203) 238-9166

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Frequently asked questions

There are 1 headstart programs daycares in Meriden, Connecticut, out of 26 total childcare facilities in the city. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
When choosing a daycare in Meriden, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with Connecticut's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Connecticut)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Meriden offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 16 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 1 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 2 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 7 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 Connecticut 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 Meriden for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Meriden must be licensed by Connecticut'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.