The Best Daycare Centers in Sharon, OK
Discover the best licensed daycare centers in Sharon. Quality childcare with qualified staff and safe environments.
Top Daycare Centers in Sharon
Kiddie Korner Childcare & Learning Center
Independent
Kiddie Korner provides comprehensive early childhood education with a structured curriculum that includes literacy development, math readiness, and social skills. The center features state-certified teachers with specialized early childhood training, maintaining low student-teacher ratios for individualized attention. Facilities include secure indoor learning environments and age-appropriate outdoor play areas with modern safety equipment. The center emphasizes developmental milestones tracking and offers nutritious meal programs. Their reputation in Northwest Oklahoma is built on consistent educational quality and strong parent communication systems.
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Little Sprouts Learning Center
Independent
Little Sprouts Learning Center offers a play-based educational approach combined with structured learning activities. The curriculum focuses on early literacy, STEM exploration, and creative arts, delivered by qualified early childhood educators. The facility features secure access systems, monitored playgrounds, and age-specific learning centers. They maintain comprehensive safety protocols including regular drills and health screenings. Parent involvement is encouraged through regular progress updates and family events. The center is known for its warm, nurturing environment and developmentally appropriate programming.
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Woodward Kindercare
KinderCare Education
As part of the national KinderCare network, this center provides research-based early childhood education with comprehensive curriculum standards. The program includes phonics-based literacy, mathematics concepts, and social-emotional learning components. Staff members hold early childhood credentials and participate in ongoing professional development. The facility features secure entry systems, dedicated age-group classrooms, and developmentally appropriate learning materials. KinderCare's established track record includes structured assessment systems and parent communication portals. Their national resources combined with local implementation make them a reliable choice for consistent quality care.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about daycare and childcare services in Sharon, OK
What are the typical costs for full-time daycare in Sharon, OK, and are there any local assistance programs?
In Sharon and the surrounding rural areas of Oklahoma, full-time daycare for an infant typically ranges from $500 to $700 per month, while toddler care is slightly lower, around $450 to $600 per month. These costs are generally lower than in Oklahoma's larger cities but can vary based on the type of provider (home-based vs. center-based). For financial assistance, parents in Sharon can apply for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Care Subsidy Program, which helps eligible low-income families. It's also worth checking with the Alfalfa County DHS office in nearby Cherokee for local application support and to inquire about any community-specific scholarships or sliding-scale fees that might be offered by local churches or non-profits.
How can I verify if a daycare provider in Sharon is properly licensed and what are Oklahoma's key regulations?
All licensed childcare facilities in Oklahoma, including those in Sharon, are regulated by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS). You can verify a provider's license and review their compliance history by using the "Child Care Locator" tool on the Oklahoma DHS website. Key state regulations for licensed providers include staff-to-child ratios (e.g., 1:4 for infants, 1:8 for 3-year-olds), required background checks for all employees, and annual health and safety inspections. Given Sharon's small size, many providers may be licensed family childcare homes, which have slightly different capacity rules but must meet the same core safety and training standards.
Are there long waitlists for daycare in Sharon, and what's the best time to start looking for infant care?
Due to the limited number of providers in a small town like Sharon, availability can be tight, especially for infant care slots. It is not uncommon for the few licensed home daycares or the nearest center in a surrounding town to have waitlists of 3 to 6 months. The best practice is to start your search and make inquiries as early as possible during pregnancy, ideally by the second trimester. Be proactive in contacting providers directly, getting on multiple waitlists, and following up periodically. Also, consider expanding your search to nearby towns like Cherokee or Helena to increase your options.
What types of childcare options are most commonly available in Sharon, OK?
Given its rural setting, Sharon primarily offers licensed family childcare homes, where a provider cares for a small group of children in their own residence. These are often the most accessible and may offer more flexible hours. There are no large daycare centers within Sharon itself. Some parents also utilize legally exempt "relative care" or small in-home babysitting arrangements, though these are not licensed or regulated by the state. For structured preschool programs, parents often need to look at options in neighboring communities, through the local public school district's pre-K, or at faith-based programs in nearby towns.
What should I look for and ask about during a daycare tour in a small community like Sharon?
When touring a daycare in Sharon, beyond general cleanliness and safety, ask specific questions tailored to a rural setting. Inquire about their emergency preparedness plan for severe weather (common in Oklahoma) and their protocol for medical emergencies given the distance to a hospital. Ask about their staff's ongoing training requirements and longevity—low turnover is a good sign in a small community. Check if meals are provided or if you need to pack them. Importantly, ask about their communication style with parents and how they handle closures for personal reasons, as a single-provider home daycare closing can significantly impact your childcare. Request references from other local parents to get firsthand community feedback.