When you’re looking for licensed daycare, you’re likely to find an overwhelming range of options that can make choosing the right daycare difficult. The most important quality in a licensed daycare is finding a place that feels like a good fit for your child, with caregivers that support your child’s growth and development. And because the first few years of life are so formative, it’s helpful to find a licensed daycare with early learning programs that can better prepare your child for success in school and life.
Learn About Choices in Licensed Daycare
Learn About Choices in Licensed Daycare
Your Choices for licensed daycare
Bright Horizons is More Than Daycare
What parents and teachers have to say about Bright Horizons graduates
What Questions Should I Ask About a Licensed Daycare Provider?
Is Bright Horizons a licensed daycare?
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Yes. All Bright Horizons daycare centers are licensed by the state in which the center is located. Our safety, security, and cleanliness practices meet all local, state, and national regulations for child care centers.
What ages does Bright Horizons serve in its licensed daycare programs?
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Most of our child care centers serve children ages six weeks to six years. Bright Horizons is more than daycare. We have programs with developmentally appropriate curriculum for infants, toddler, preschool and pre-K.
How can I find licensed daycare near me?
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Learn about our licensing, tuition, openings or schedule a meeting to visit our:
- Boston Daycare
- NYC Daycare
- Washington, DC Daycare
- Chicago Daycare
- San Francisco Daycare
- Los Angeles Daycare
- Seattle Daycare
Or, Search by Zip to find a Bright Horizons child care center in your local city.
What daycare programs does Bright Horizons have?
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Our early education programs offer more than daycare. Our goal is not just to help children learn, but to cultivate the joy of learning. We are currently enrolling families in our:
- Infant care: Our infant and baby daycare programs provide safe spaces, welcoming environments, and inspired caregivers that support all your baby’s developmental milestones.
- Toddler care: Our toddler preschool programs provide a place to test out and learn new skills, make new friends, and celebrate the joy of wonder and discovery.
- Preschool program: Our preschool classes are designed to prepare children for kindergarten and all the big steps ahead, supporting inquisitive young minds as they tackle new challenges, take chances, and experiment with new things.
- Pre-Kindergarten: Our kindergarten preparation programs support children during a time of enormous and exciting growth, building the academic, social, and physical skills that will get them ready for school.
- Summer camp: Through Summer Explorations at Bright Horizons®, your child will have the opportunity to enjoy everything summer has to offer.
How does a parent start a daycare comparison?
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Advice from other parents, web searches through search engines, or online web portals from state or local governments can provide lists of licensed daycares to consider. For a parent whose company provides on-site child care, back-up care or summer camp as a benefit, the human resources department will be able to provide information. If your company provides a daycare benefit through Bright Horizons, please log into your account to access your benefits. If your company does not provide this benefit, search by zip to find a Bright Horizons center near you.
Can a parent visit a daycare without an appointment?
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No. A parent should schedule an appointment if they want to inspect a daycare facility and learn about licensing . No parent would want any adult to be able to enter the facility without warning, and thus daycare facilities should require an appointment. At Bright Horizons, we offer Zoom and in-person visits so we can understand what your family needs for child care, including when you would start your first day of child care, what your schedule would be and how old your child is. We also want to allow ample time for you to ask questions about our early education and preschool programs.
I've compared licensed daycares, but some of my choices have long wait lists. What if I want to enroll at a Bright Horizons center but space is not available?
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Depending on where you live, age of your child, and schedule you need for care, you may see daycare waitlists, particularly at licensed, premium child care centers. You can select and register with up to three Bright Horizons child care locations, including the center in which you are most interested. By registering, you are confirming interest in all three centers. Once registered, we will add you to our daycare waitlist and offer you a space as soon as one becomes available. Our goal is to accommodate families as soon as space allows, and so during the entire process, we will keep in touch with you regarding your status. While waiting for a space to become available at the first-choice location, many families enroll at their second or third choices temporarily until space becomes available at their first-choice centers. Enrolling at another location will not only solve your immediate child care needs, but will provide you priority access to your first preference.
How can I compare the safety of daycares or preschools?
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Ask each child care provider you're considering to take the time to explain all health and safety policies to you. Consider asking:
1. How will you contact me if my child gets sick at daycare?
2. Can a mildly ill child (stuffy nose, cough) still come to daycare?
3. How do you decide if a child needs emergency medical care?
4. Are daycare staff trained in first aid and CPR?
5. How do you approach wellness, exercise, healthy eating and self-care for children?
Bright Horizons is trusted by parents including many doctors and nurses, to care for their children. We’ve partnered with pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Kristin Moffitt of Boston Children’s Hospital to implement enhanced safety protocols for all areas including daily health screening, distancing, cleaning, and disinfecting. Our goal is to ensure that all of our health and safety practices in every center are in line with recommendations provided by the CDC and requirements of state and local municipalities. All Bright Horizons centers have the well-being of children, families, and staff at their core.
What about licensing inspections?
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A parent may review the licensing data for any given facility through an online web portal. Any recent violations should be reviewed by the parent, as the violations often include valuable information about the facility.
Are there specific philosophies in daycare?
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Different daycare programs have different ideas about how a child should grow. A parent should familiarize themselves with the early childhood learning philosophies a daycare uses before entrusting a child to that facility. Learn more about what makes the Bright Horizons curriculum different in its approach to support early learning and the support Bright Horizons provides to working parents and daycare teachers.
How can I compare daycare costs?
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Daycare costs will depend upon on your child’s age when they begin care as well as the center location where you'd like to attend. To get a customized tuition quote for Bright Horizons, we will set up a Zoom or in-person meeting with you to discuss your family’s needs and calculate what tuition would look like for you.
Child Care Checklist
Comparing different care options? Print out our checklist to make it easy to make comparisons and choose the best care for your family.
The Bright Horizons® Difference
We offer a unique early education experience built on 30 years of
expertise, and on what working families have told us they want and need
for their children...and for themselves. Child care and early education
isn’t just what we do – it’s who we are.
Inspired Teachers
Dedicated early childhood professionals fully engaged in teaching careers, who benefit from our award-winning training and ongoing support.
Support for the Whole Family
Thoughtfully and carefully designed centers, programs, and schedules – all created with the needs of both children and parents in mind.
Proven Approach to Early Education
Research-informed care designed by caring, nurturing educators to inspire our youngest learners to become joyful, confident learners for life.
More About Bright Horizons licensed daycare centers
Bright Horizons has been championing child care for working families since 1986. Our founders recognized that parents faced an enormous obstacle as they sought to find quality early learning experiences for their children that also accommodated their work schedules. Bright Horizons was created to provide easy access to licensed daycare with a strong foundation in early education. Techniques in early education are always evolving, and we work continuously to update our curriculum and care practices to reflect the latest research on what works best for young children.
Get Started Today
Find a center near you to get started with Bright Horizons
Or call us to start the conversation 877-624-4532
Bright Horizons offers more than a traditional daycare. It helps parents looking for education-based Boston daycare, NYC daycare, Chicago daycare, Washington, DC daycare, Los Angeles daycare, San Francisco daycare, Seattle daycare and local daycares in other cities. It also provides back-up daycare and elder care, employer-sponsored child care, employer tuition assistance, workforce education, and student loan repayment programs. Bright Horizons Global Headquarters is located in Newton, Massachusetts, USA.