There are more than 650 regulated early learning centers in the Kansas City area to serve the region’s working parents, preschoolers and after-school care needs.
Whether you choose a licensed day care facility, an in-home provider or nanny, the expert recommended consideration, is how the provider and your child interact.
Questions to get you started
- Are you licensed or registered? Ask to see their license or certificate of registrations.
- How long have you been providing care?
- How many children do you care for?
- Is there an open-door policy allowing parents to drop in any time for a visit?
- What program/curriculum will children be taught at school and how do the parents participate at home?
- What is the student-teacher ratio at the school?
- How is discipline handled?
- What hours is the facility open?
- What is the cost of care?
- Is there a place for children to play outdoors? What activities/exercise is the child allowed on inclement weather days?
- What kinds of meals/snacks are served?
- What are the qualifications of the teachers/care providers and how long have they been in this setting?
- What is the vacation/illness policy?
- Can you provide a list of references?
- How does the staff communicate with parents about the child’s day?
- What is the program’s philosophy and how is the day structured?
Kansas City area metro child care facilities
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City
- Child Care Aware of Kansas
- Child Care Aware of Missouri
- Country Kids Day Care Inc.
- Creative World
- Garcia Elementary Before and After School Program
- Jewish Community Center Child Development Center
- Kansas Department of Health & Environment
- Kinder Care Learning Center
- La Petite Academy
- Missouri Department of Health Senior Services, Child Care
- Spectrum Station Early Learning Center
- St. Vincent’s Operation Breakthrough
- St. Joseph Early Education Center
- YMCA of Greater Kansas City
Special needs facilities
- CAP4Kids – The Children’s Advocacy Project of Kansas City
- Crittenton Children’s Center
- KU Center on Developmental Disabilities
Licensed daycare centers
- Metro Daycare – national site where you can search by area code, etc.
- The Child Care Source – offers referral lists of child care providers in certain counties in Kansas and Missouri.
Licensing requirements
Given KC’s two-state area, it is important to note the differences in licensing requirements when choosing if you’ll live in Kansas or Missouri. Learn more about licensing.
Kansas Licensing Requirements
Home daycare facilities in Kansas must be licensed and registered with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Missouri Licensing Requirements
In Missouri, no license is required if the family childcare home provider cares for four children or less. Preschools do not have to be accredited by the state, but should be accredited by a nationally recognized organization.
