About MinnesotaDaycares — How We Help MN Families

The Short Version

MinnesotaDaycares.com indexes 7 814 child care providers licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. We reorganize that public data into a fast, searchable format covering 649 cities and 0 counties — from the western prairie towns to the Arrowhead region on Lake Superior.

No login walls. No sponsored placements. Just the licensing facts, organized by geography.

How Child Care Licensing Works in Minnesota

The Department of Human Services (DHS) oversees licensing for all non-exempt child care in the state. Minnesota’s system is notably thorough: providers undergo background studies, meet health and safety standards, and are subject to unannounced inspections. The state recognizes three license types:

Child Care Centers — Commercial or institutional settings, typically serving larger groups with multiple staff members and age-separated classrooms.
Group Family Child Care — A residential provider licensed to serve up to 14 children with the help of an assistant, offering a home-like environment at a slightly larger scale.
Family Child Care — A single provider in their own home, licensed for a smaller number of children. Often valued for the personal attention and flexible hours.

Each listing in our directory reflects one of these categories, along with the provider’s DHS license number when available.

Parent Aware Ratings & School Readiness

Minnesota’s Parent Aware program is a voluntary quality rating system (one to four stars) that helps families identify programs going above and beyond basic licensing requirements. Rated programs demonstrate stronger learning environments, better teacher qualifications, and measurable school-readiness outcomes.

While we do not display Parent Aware ratings directly (they change frequently), we encourage families to cross-reference their search results with the Parent Aware website for the most current star ratings.

Research from the University of Minnesota shows that children attending four-star Parent Aware programs enter kindergarten with measurably stronger literacy and math skills — something worth considering when you narrow down your shortlist.

Winter and Weather Considerations

Minnesota weather is a real factor in choosing child care. Windchills below −30°F are routine in January, and snow days can disrupt commute plans from Bemidji to Rochester. A few things MN parents often weigh:

Proximity to home or work — a shorter commute matters more when roads are icy.
Closure policies — some centers close for severe weather; family providers may stay open when schools do not.
Indoor play space — children in Minnesota may spend months primarily indoors; adequate space and enrichment activities become critical.
Backup care plans — many families identify two providers on opposite ends of their commute for storm days.

We include city and county data so you can focus your search on the geography that works best for your family’s daily routes, regardless of what the forecast brings.

Where Our Data Comes From

Every record in this directory originates from DHS licensing files. We pull and reformat these records periodically so the information stays current. That said, licensing status can change between our updates — a provider might close, relocate, or receive a corrective action.

Before enrolling your child anywhere, confirm the provider’s current license status on the DHS website and schedule an in-person visit. No directory replaces seeing a space firsthand.

Independence & Transparency

MinnesotaDaycares.com is a privately maintained directory. We have no contract, partnership, or data-sharing agreement with DHS, county agencies, or any provider listed here. No provider can pay to be featured or ranked higher.