Children at daycare

Best Before or After School Daycare in Merrick, NY

Compare 4 before or after school daycare in Merrick. Average rating: 4.18/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Merrick, New York at a glance

Programs
4
Avg rating
4.18/5
Parent reviews
100
Top rated (4.5+)
6

Merrick has 4 licensed before or after school daycare with 100 parent reviews averaging 4.18/5.6 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 46% of rated programs, well above average.The largest concentration is in 11566 with 14 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Merrick

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
    Tlc @ Brookside
    4.8 score
    5(20)

    1260 Meadowbrook Road, Merrick, NY · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    TLC @ Brookside receives consistently excellent feedback from parents across all reviews. Parents praise the caring, attentive staff, clean facilities, strong communication, and developmental progress their children make. The center creates a warm, family-like environment where children feel safe, loved, and engaged in learning.

    Warm and caring staffPatient and attentive teachersClean and safe facilitiesStrong parent-teacher communication
  2. 2
    Tlc Daycare Center
    4.59 score
    4.8(14)

    1731 Merrick Ave., Merrick, NY · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Parents consistently praise TLC Daycare Center for exceptional staff care, family-like atmosphere, and strong communication. Children reportedly thrive academically, socially, and emotionally while enjoying engaging activities and celebrations. Multiple families have remained enrolled for years and highly recommend the center.

    Caring and patient staffresponsive managementfamily-oriented atmosphereexcellent communication with parents
  3. 3
    South Shore Y.J.C.C-Merrick E.C.C.
    4.58 score
    4.8(13)

    225 Fox Blvd, Merrick, NY · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Reviews appear to be mislabeled and primarily reference the Merrick Jewish Center rather than the early childhood center. The few relevant comments praise professionalism, supportive staff, and a welcoming community atmosphere.

    Professional staffsupportive environmentwelcoming to new familiesorganized events
  4. 4
    Precious Kids Too INC.
    4.47 score
    4.6(19)

    2220 Hewlett Ave., Merrick, NY · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Parents consistently praise Precious Kids Too for excellent staff, particularly Ms. Karson, with all recent reviews rating 5/5 stars. They highlight the clean facility, small class sizes, responsive communication, and strong developmental progress of their children across all age groups.

    Warm and caring staffexcellent daily communicationdetailed progress notesclean and safe facility
  5. 5
    Merrick Community Nursery School
    4.16 score
    4.3(6)

    69 Willis Avenue, Merrick, NY · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: -999 children

    Merrick Community Nursery School receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its caring, professional staff and engaging curriculum. Parents praise Director Christine and the teaching team for creating a welcoming environment where children thrive. One parent expressed disappointment with the mandatory parent commitment requirement that led to their child's removal from the program.

    Professional and caring staffsupportive directorengaging curriculumwelcoming environment
  6. 6
    The Children'S Nest Early Childhood Education Center
    3.55 score
    3.3(9)

    2350 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, NY · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    The Children's Nest Early Childhood Education Center in Merrick receives highly polarized reviews. Five parents praise the caring staff, child development outcomes, and positive experience, while four parents report aggressive discipline practices, poor communication, isolation of children, missing items, and difficulty reaching the facility during emergencies.

    Patient and kind staffstrong language and academic developmentbeautiful ceremonies and graduationscar
  7. 7
    Children'S Nest Early Childhood Education Center
    3.55 score
    3.3(9)

    2323 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, NY · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Children's Nest Early Childhood Education Center in Merrick receives highly polarized reviews. Multiple parents praise the caring staff, child development outcomes, and positive learning environment, while others report aggressive staff behavior, poor communication, inappropriate discipline practices, and unresponsiveness to parent inquiries.

    Patient and kind staffstrong child development and speech improvementwell-prepared students for kindergartenengaging programs and ceremonies

Rating Distribution

Based on 13 daycares with Google ratings in Merrick

4.5 - 5.0
6
4.0 - 4.4
1
3.0 - 3.9
6
Below 3
0

Daycare Types Compared

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

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.24avg rating
10 daycares · 9 rated

Before or After School Daycare

4.05avg rating
4 daycares · 4 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Merrick zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
1156614
4.18
6

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Merrick (– children)

Small

up to 30 children

0

Medium

31–75 children

0

Large

76–150 children

0

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Merrick based on parent reviews

Merrick Woods Country Day School

5(4)

1075 Merrick Ave., Merrick, NY

Parents report that children have had outstanding experiences across preschool and summer camp programs, highlighting the caring and accommodating nature of the staff. Reviewers appreciate the competitive rates, excellent bus service, and high-quality meals, with specific praise for the art instruction at camp.

outstanding teacher and staff qualitycompetitive ratesexcellent bus service

Merrick Community Nursery School

4.3(6)

69 Willis Avenue, Merrick, NY

Merrick Community Nursery School receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its caring, professional staff and engaging curriculum. Parents praise Director Christine and the teaching team for creating a welcoming environment where children thrive. One parent expressed disappointment with the mandatory parent commitment requirement that led to their child's removal from the program.

Professional and caring staffsupportive directorengaging curriculum

Bellmore-Merrick Cc Program/Fayette School

3.9(2)

1057 Merrick Ave., Merrick, NY

One parent highlights the program's ability to provide specific directions for their child's general practitioner, while another simply notes it is intended for high school students.

Clear GP directionshigh school program

Merokee Day School

3(1)

2655 Clubhouse Rd, Merrick, NY

One former employee describes a negative experience involving neglectful care for children in foster care, including poor hygiene and inadequate clothing. The reviewer also notes that management discouraged speaking up about safety concerns and alleged favoritism with social workers.

None mentioned

Map

Daycare types in Merrick

Child Daycare & Preschools 10Before or After School Daycare 4

Before or After School Daycare in Merrick, New York

There are 4 before or after school daycare in Merrick, New York, making up 29% of the 14 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 Merrick have an average rating of 4.18 out of 5 across 13 rated facilities, with 46% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.24 stars. Our analysis covers 100 parent reviews.

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

All Before or After School Daycare in Merrick

Showing 4 results

Merrick Woods Country Day School
Before or After School Daycare
5

Parents report that children have had outstanding experiences across preschool and summer camp programs, highlighting the caring and accommodating nature of the staff. Reviewers appreciate the competitive rates, excellent bus service, and high-quality meals, with specific praise for the art instruction at camp.

outstanding teacher and staff qualitycompetitive ratesexcellent bus service
Address
1075 Merrick Ave., Merrick, NY
Phone
(516) 483-7272
Merrick Community Nursery School
Before or After School Daycare
4.3

Merrick Community Nursery School receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its caring, professional staff and engaging curriculum. Parents praise Director Christine and the teaching team for creating a welcoming environment where children thrive. One parent expressed disappointment with the mandatory parent commitment requirement that led to their child's removal from the program.

Professional and caring staffsupportive directorengaging curriculum
Address
69 Willis Avenue, Merrick, NY
Phone
(516) 868-1071
Bellmore-Merrick Cc Program/Fayette School
Before or After School Daycare
3.9

One parent highlights the program's ability to provide specific directions for their child's general practitioner, while another simply notes it is intended for high school students.

Clear GP directionshigh school program
Address
1057 Merrick Ave., Merrick, NY
Phone
(516) 868-6027
Merokee Day School
Before or After School Daycare
3

One former employee describes a negative experience involving neglectful care for children in foster care, including poor hygiene and inadequate clothing. The reviewer also notes that management discouraged speaking up about safety concerns and alleged favoritism with social workers.

None mentioned
Address
2655 Clubhouse Rd, Merrick, NY
Phone
(516) 378-6333

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Frequently asked questions

There are 4 before or after school daycares in Merrick, New York, out of 14 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 Merrick have an average Google rating of 4.18 out of 5 across 13 rated facilities. About 46% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Merrick, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with New York's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in New York)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Merrick offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 10 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 4 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 York 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 Merrick for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Merrick must be licensed by New York'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.