Watch CBS News

Best Day Care In Minnesota

It seems like there are more websites claiming the ability to find quality day care services near you than the number of centers generated by their search tools. Care.com, kindercare.com, momtrusted.com, Emilyslist.com, yellowpages.com and many other search tools on the Internet claim to have the answer for you. But don't be fooled. You are the best judge of whether a center will be right for your child. But it takes a lot of effort investigating resources available and determining the right fit. Read on for some great child care spots in Minnesota and find what works best for your family.

Child Care Aware of Minnesota
380 Lafayette Frontage Road, Suite 103
Saint Paul, MN 55107
(651) 290-9704
www.childcareawaremn.org

Call the number above and enter your zip code. You will be connected to your local child care licensing agency. To see names, contact information and quality ratings on providers in your area, go to the link provided above and click on "Families" and select "search." As Child Care Aware of Minnesota says on its website, it does not "license, endorse or recommend any particular provider." Child Care Aware recommends that you visit and interview more than one provider and make your own determination as to the right fit. The website provides helpful information on choosing child care, average child care rates and additional details on a provider's license.

Fraser School
2400 W. 64th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55423
(612) 861-1688
www.fraser.org

Children with autism present a special challenge for families seeking their care. Fraser has been answering the call for families with special needs for over 75 years and few can match the experience and expertise found in this one clinic. Clinicians at the school develop treatment plans for individuals with autism spectrum disorders by involving family and caregivers. It is especially helpful to have started with the child at an early age because Fraser provides lifelong support as the child ages.

Related: Local Charity Helping Adults With Autism

Bilingual Child Care & Education Center
Hamline Church
1514 Englewood Ave.
Saint Paul, MN 55104
(651) 644-2405
www.bilingualchildcaremn.org

Those seeking an environment that honors diversity where children can develop bilingual (Spanish/English) language skills and cultural awareness should be aware of the year-round preschool program located at Hamline Church in St. Paul. Teachers fully bilingual in Spanish and English provide a climate of immersion to help children prepare for success in school. The center strives to foster creativity and allow children to develop a healthy intellect and social and emotional awareness in a safe, caring and respectful environment.

Anna's Bananas Daycare Inc.
12018 County Road 11
Burnsville, MN 55337
(952) 707-1814
www.annasbananas.com

Nine parent reviewers on the Anna's Bananas website report that kids love the day care service and they are gratified by their kids' social and intellectual development. A parent of a child with special needs was similarly as positive as the others in their feelings about this day care service. Other good attributes by Google reviewers are the parents' positive feelings about the staff and the flexible scheduling.

Little Folks Daycare
6226 Bass Lake Road
Crystal, MN 55428
(763) 533-0169

Another outstanding day care service is Little Folks Daycare, rated 5.0 on Google by 18 clients. Parents report that their children are happy with the service and love going there. The staff performs above-and-beyond expectations. Parents like the staff's positive attitudes, flexible scheduling and great activities.

Related: Best Bilingual Extracurricular Activities For Kids In Minnesota

Robin Johnson was born in Annandale, Minn. and graduated from Richfield High School and then the University of Minnesota where he studied Political Science, Business and Industrial Relations. A writer for Examiner.com, he also consults with a variety of organizations and individuals helping them develop and grow. His work can be found at Examiner.com.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.