The Best Daycare Centers in Ogden, KS
Discover the best licensed daycare centers in Ogden. Quality childcare with qualified staff and safe environments.
Top Daycare Centers in Ogden
Little Apple Child Care & Learning Center
Little Apple Child Care
Little Apple Child Care provides comprehensive early childhood education with a play-based learning approach that incorporates Creative Curriculum. Their qualified teachers hold early childhood education degrees and maintain low teacher-to-child ratios. The center features secure entry systems, modern classrooms with age-appropriate learning materials, and structured outdoor play areas. They emphasize social-emotional development through guided activities and offer nutritious meal programs. Serving the greater Riley County area including Ogden families, they maintain excellent state licensing compliance and strong parent communication systems.
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The Learning Center at CICO Park
Manhattan Parks & Recreation
Operated by Manhattan Parks & Recreation, The Learning Center offers nature-inspired early childhood education with certified teachers implementing HighScope curriculum. The facility benefits from its location within CICO Park, providing extensive outdoor learning opportunities and nature exploration. Classrooms are designed with learning centers that promote hands-on discovery and critical thinking. The center maintains excellent safety records with comprehensive background checks for all staff and secure facility protocols. Serving families throughout Riley County, they focus on school readiness through structured academic preparation and social development.
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ABC Infant and Child Development Center
ABC Development Centers
ABC Infant and Child Development Center specializes in early childhood development with a focus on individualized learning plans and developmental milestones tracking. Their curriculum blends Montessori principles with traditional early education, supported by degreed early childhood educators. The facility features secure, camera-monitored classrooms, dedicated infant rooms with separate sleeping areas, and developmentally appropriate learning materials. They emphasize language development and cognitive skills through structured activities and play-based learning. Serving the Manhattan-Ogden area, they maintain strong parent partnerships with regular progress updates and family involvement opportunities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about daycare and childcare services in Ogden, KS
What are the licensing requirements for daycare providers in Ogden, Kansas, and how can I verify a facility is properly licensed?
In Kansas, all childcare facilities caring for more than three children unrelated to the provider must be licensed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). This includes family daycare homes, group daycare homes, and childcare centers. Licensed providers in Ogden must meet specific standards for staff-to-child ratios, safety inspections, background checks, and health protocols. To verify a facility's license status, you can use the KDHE's online "Child Care Licensing Lookup" tool or contact the KDHE directly. It's highly recommended to only consider licensed providers, as this ensures a baseline of health, safety, and oversight regulated by the state.
What is the typical cost range for full-time daycare in Ogden, KS, and are there any local financial assistance programs available?
In Ogden and the surrounding Riley County area, full-time daycare costs can vary significantly based on the child's age and the type of facility. For an infant, you might expect to pay between $650 to $900 per month at a licensed center. Rates for toddlers and preschoolers are often slightly lower, typically ranging from $550 to $800 per month. Family daycare homes may offer more affordable options. For financial assistance, parents should apply for the Kansas Child Care Subsidy Program through the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF). Eligibility is based on income, family size, and need (such as employment or attending school). Additionally, some local providers may offer sliding scale fees or sibling discounts, so it's always worth asking directly.
How long are daycare waitlists typically in Ogden, and when should I start looking for care?
Due to Ogden's proximity to Fort Riley and Kansas State University, demand for quality childcare often exceeds supply, leading to waitlists, especially for infant care. It is not uncommon for popular centers or highly-regarded home providers to have waitlists of 6 to 12 months. For parents expecting a child or planning a move to the area, we strongly recommend beginning your search and getting on waitlists as early as possible—ideally during the second trimester of pregnancy or at least 6-9 months before you need care. Be proactive: contact multiple providers, get on multiple lists, and follow up periodically to check your status.
What are the main types of childcare options available specifically in Ogden, and what are the pros and cons of each?
Ogden offers several childcare options, each with distinct characteristics: 1. **Licensed Childcare Centers**: Often located in dedicated buildings. Pros include structured curriculum, multiple staff, and regulated environments. Cons can be higher cost and less flexibility. 2. **Licensed Family Daycare Homes**: Care provided in a provider's residence for a smaller group of children. Pros often include a homelike atmosphere, mixed-age interactions, and potentially more flexible hours. A con might be less formal curriculum and dependency on a single provider's availability. 3. **In-Home Care (Nanny/Au Pair)**: Less common in Ogden but an option. Pros are individualized care in your own home. Cons are significantly higher cost and you act as the employer, responsible for taxes and background checks. Given Ogden's size, family daycare homes and a limited number of centers are the most prevalent options. Your choice will depend on your child's needs, your budget, and your schedule.
Are there any unique resources or organizations in the Ogden area that help parents find and evaluate childcare?
Yes, a key local resource is the **Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas**, which serves Riley County. This organization provides free, personalized referrals to licensed childcare providers in Ogden and the surrounding area. They can help you search based on your specific needs (location, hours, child's age) and offer guidance on what to look for during a visit and questions to ask providers. You can contact them via their website or phone. Additionally, connecting with local parent groups on social media (like Facebook groups for Fort Riley or Ogden families) can provide invaluable word-of-mouth recommendations and insights into provider reputations and current availability.
Childcare Insights for Ogden
Finding reliable childcare that fits a non-traditional schedule can be one of the most significant challenges for working parents. In a community like Ogden, Kansas, where many families are connected to the nearby Fort Riley military base, emergency services, healthcare, or shift work, the need for flexible childcare solutions is especially pronounced. The search for "24 hour daycare near me" is often born out of necessity, not convenience, and we understand the weight of that search. While Ogden itself is a smaller community, your options are closely tied to the broader Riley County and Geary County area, including neighboring Junction City and Manhattan.
First, it's important to acknowledge that traditional, strictly 24/7 daycare centers are rare, even in larger cities. In the Ogden area, your search will more likely lead you to licensed home daycare providers or smaller centers that offer extended hours, overnight care, or flexible scheduling to accommodate shift workers. Many providers near Fort Riley are intimately familiar with the demands of military life, including unpredictable schedules and overnight duties. Start your search by contacting the Child Care Aware of Kansas hotline or visiting their website; they can provide a tailored referral list of licensed providers in Riley and Geary Counties who list extended hours as part of their services. This local resource is invaluable for filtering your options specifically for our region.
When you contact a potential provider, be very clear about your specific needs. Do you require overnight care five days a week, or just occasional overnight coverage? Is it for a consistent overnight shift, or does your schedule rotate? Providers in the Ogden and Junction City area who offer these services often structure their availability around the needs of their existing families, so transparency from the start is key. Ask detailed questions about their security protocols for overnight hours, their waking and sleeping routines for children, and how they handle a child who becomes ill in the middle of the night. A visit during the actual hours you would need care is highly recommended, as it gives you a true sense of the nighttime environment and staffing.
Don't overlook building a network with other local parents in Ogden. Often, the most practical solution can come from a recommendation for a trusted in-home provider who doesn't have a large online presence but has earned a stellar reputation through word-of-mouth. Community boards, local Facebook groups for Ogden and Fort Riley families, and conversations at places like the Ogden City Park or the PX can yield personal referrals you won't find through a simple internet search. Remember, flexibility might also mean combining solutions—perhaps a daycare for evening hours and a trusted babysitter for overnight. While the perfect 24-hour facility might not be on every corner in Ogden, KS, with persistence and these local strategies, you can find a safe, nurturing, and reliable childcare arrangement that gives you peace of mind during every hour of your demanding day.