Choosing the right day care is a crucial choice for parents, particularly if they have busy jobs and can't care for their children all the time. An effective day care goes beyond supervision of kids. It's a safe space for little ones to play and sleep, to meet friends, to learn important life skills and more while parents work.
There are a large number of organised services for children in India such as special daycare centers, preschool and daycare chains and corporate daycare centers. The quality of service, hours of operation, staffing and facilities however, can be very different from branch to branch.
This guide lists 10 of the best daycare centres in India, outlines what to look for in a good day care and offers tips to help parents choose.
Top 10 Daycare Centres In India
The following is a shortlist of established providers of childcare and/or preschool services that offer daycare services. It is not an official national ranking. Full Day Care, Infant Care and After School Services must be confirmed with individual centres.
1. Makoons Preschool & Daycare
Makoons child care services are based on play, development and the age and developmental appropriate curriculum. Depending on the location, some centres will have daycare or extended-care services.
Parents are encouraged to check with the local branch of which of the child care services are offered, and not make the assumption that all centres offer full day care.
The following lessons are learned from parents:
Availability of preschools and day cares.
Daily learning and play activities.
Training of staff and child protection and hygiene.
Meals, rest breaks and communication with parents.
Perfect for: Families that are looking for a preschool that could provide additional child care.
2. KLAY Preschool And Daycare
KLAY is a well-established Early Education and Childcare provider with centres in various cities of India. It offers both daycare and preschool care, creative play and opportunities for children's social/emotional growth.
KLAY has over 180 centres in over 20 cities and collaborations with hundreds of corporate organisations, according to its official website.
What parents can investigate:
Learning and play activities suitable for the age.
Health, hygiene and child safety procedures.
Working parents' daycare facilities.
Communication with parents and developmental reports.
Ideal for: Families wanting a well structured childcare setting where children can access early learning as well as care.
3. Footprints Preschool And Daycare
Footprint is a preschool and daycare chain that operates in key Indian metros and some new urban markets. It takes a holistic approach which incorporates the HighScope curriculum, which focuses on active learning and the children's engagement with everyday experiences.
The company emphasises some features like live CCTV access, trained staff, child friendly infrastructure, parent communication via its app etc.
What parents can learn:
Organised routines and play opportunities.
Opportunities for social interaction and independent learning.
Food arrangements, meal planning.
Safety instructions and information about children.
Best for: Parents who wish to compare organised daycare services to a structured programme of early learning.
4. Ipsaa Childcare
Ipsaa provides Daycare, Infant care, preschool and after-school programs. It has a presence in cities and business areas such as Gurugram, Delhi, Noida, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Bengaluru, as mentioned on its official website.
Some of its programmes offer full-day, half-day and extended day-care depending on the centre and the age group.
Parents can explore:
Arrangements for babies and young children.
Flexible childcare schedules.
Scheduled play and rest times.
Meal services and communications with caregivers.
Ideal for: Families who are seeking flexible daycare solutions, such as after school care and infant care.
5. Kido Early Years And Amelio
Kido is an international early education provider and acquired Amelio Early Education in India in 2024. The merged network has been providing childcare and pre-school services in cities such as Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Gurugram.
Relevant for working parents: Amelio has worked in childcare facilities in Workplaces, Technology Parks and Residential Communities.
What parents can discover:
Early learning and childcare on a daily basis.
Appropriate activities and routines for age.
Childcare facilities in the workplace or in the local area.
Staff qualifications and safety procedures.
Ideal for: Families who want structured childcare, especially if close to the parent's employer.
Check the brand and services for the place to be installed before applying.
6. Little Ville Preschool And Daycare
Little Ville provides daycare and after school care and preschool programmes at participating centres. It's an early-learning approach with the IGNITE curriculum and incorporates guided discovery, creative activities, movement and play.
The company has a network of over 200 centres in India but the availability of individual services varies by centre.
What parents can explore:
Full Day care at participating centres.
Use of play-based learning and creative activities.
Daily routines and opportunities for social development.
Ensure access to setting & communication with parents.
Ideal for: Families who want a daycare/preschool in the same setting.
7. EuroKids Preschool With Daycare
EuroKids is a reputed preschool network with its centres spread throughout India. Others provide combined daycare and preschool services, giving families the opportunity to experience learning and childcare in the same building.
For instance, a Chembur Gandhi Maidan centre in Mumbai, run by EuroKids, calls for an integrated day care centre. Availability of daycares should not be taken for granted at each EuroKids centre, however.In fact, daycare facilities may not be available at all EuroKids centres.
What parents can explore:
Preschool and extended care facilities.
A classroom and activity areas suitable for children.
Training and safety measures of the staff.
Suitable timings for working families.
Ideal for: Parents who would like to put their children into preschool and have longer hours of childcare.
8. Little Elly Preschool And Daycare
Little Elly is an early childhood education brand that has a network of preschool centers in India. It aims to develop the children through play and exploration and some centres provide day care facilities.
The company claims to have over 170 centres in around 19 cities.
Parents can investigate:
Appropriate activities and play opportunities for age.
Full day/extended care.
Interactions between caregivers and children, and supervision in classrooms.
Arrangements for meal and rest times and pick-up.
Ideal for: Families seeking an early learning facility that provides childcare at certain branches.
8. Kidzee Preschool And Childcare
Kidzee, is a trusted brand in the preschool education field with a vast network of preschools in India. Parents who are interested in Kidzee may inquire about the branches that offer day care and extended day child care and preschool education.
The wide uptake of the brand can be useful to look at where other early learning services are available in the area, but the quality and variety of the services will need to be assessed at each centre.
The following things parents should check:
If the branch offers full day day care services.
The range of children who are in care.
Naps, meals and activity times.
Staff/pupil ratios and steps taken to ensure pupils' safety.
Ideal for: Parents interested in a successful preschool and who are considering nontraditional child care options.
10. Kangaroo Kids
Kangaroo Kids is a brand of Early Childhood Education with an experiential approach to learning. If available, parents can visit centres that offer day care or extended day care centers.
Its approach to education may appeal to families who would like children to have access to opportunities to explore, be creative and interact with others during their day to day care.
What parents must go to that is needed:
An acceptance rate of child care enrollments in the most popular branch(es).
The daily routine for children staying beyond preschool hours.
The abilities and oversight of carers.
Rest facilities and outdoor and/or indoor play opportunities.
Best for: Families seeking a child care facility with a well-developed early-learning program and close to home.
Related Topic: Top 10 Preschools In India Offering The Best Early Learning Programs
How To Choose Safe Daycare Centres For Children?
Having a favorite brand to choose from will help restrict your choices but what will happen at each center will be more important. Please use the list below to verify prior to enrolling your child.
1. Check staff qualifications and supervision
Request caregiver training, background checks, first aid and staff turnover, number of children for each caregiver. Supervise younger children as needed during eating times, sleep and when using the toilet/changing.
2. Check on safety and hygiene measures
Ensure secure entry points, approved pick-up systems, child safety furniture, clean toilets, safe sleeping conditions and emergency exits are in place.
Inquire whether the centre has necessary fire-safety approvals, plans and procedures and accident and illness policies in place.
3. Understand the daily routine
Kids require play, eat, play and be quiet. Request to look at an example of the program schedule, and if there is any variation for ages.
Be familiar with how the centre cares for the feeding, sleeping and comfort of babies and young children.
4. Review food and nutrition
Offer questions regarding menu planning, food preparation, allergies and drinking water and what occurs when special dietary requirements are present when meals are served.
5. Check parent communication
Learn about how caregivers share details of meals, naptimes, activities, mood and incidents. Ensure that the access of the CCTV is balanced with the direct communication/ supervision, do not use CCTV for direct communication/supervision.
6. Check the charges and timings
Ask to be given details of the registration fees, monthly fees, meals, extended hours, transport and late pick-up charges and holiday policy in writing.
Discuss what would happen if your work hours change and/or your child is not able to attend school due to illness.
What Makes A Daycare Good For A Child's Development?
The top child care services aren't only safe, they are also great. They offer opportunities for children to be confident, to communicate, independent and to have social skills.
All day care facilities should promote:
Emotional security: Carers show children a warm and responsive attitude to their needs.
Social development: All children have opportunities for social interaction, sharing and play.
Language development: language is used in story telling, conversation, music and in daily communication, all of which are used to introduce new words.
Physical development: Children practise age appropriate movement and play to develop their coordination skills.
Healthy Routines: The healthy upkeep of routine and everyday life is provided by regular eating, sleeping, cleanliness and routine.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development of Government of India has also emphasized the importance of having safe and secure creche facilities and has laid down the minimum standards & protocols for setting up the creche. These can be used as a guide to create questions for parents/providers related to safety and care.
Conclusion
In India there are numerous day care centers ranging from nurseries, day care centres to schools long day care. Families can use KLAY, Footprints, Ipsaa, Kido, Little Ville and more to help with their service comparisons.
There is no one daycare that is best for all children, however. This will be dependent on the age of the child, their daily activities, their needs and the type of centre they are going to and the quality of care provided to the child.
Limit providers to 2-3 local providers and call to schedule a visit, get to know the providers, and review the policies before enrolling. Quality childcare is based on a safe, caring and responsive setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which day care centres are the leading day care centres in India?
Parents can get to know the services provided like KLAY, Footprints, Ipsaa, Kido, Little Ville and some of the preschools that provide day care. These are recommendations on research and not a National Ranking. This will depend on the type of safety, staff, hours and suitability of your child's centre.
2. What is the earliest age that a child in India should take admission in a day care center?
This will depend on the facilities that the provider is able to offer and the age of the children. Places for babies from 4 months are available at some centres and there are some places for toddlers and preschool age children. Refer to minimum age requirements, the ratio of carers to children, feeding and sleeping and a child's transition to care.
3. What will be the cost of a day care centre in India?
Day care fees vary from city to neighborhood, day care age, hours, meals and facilities. Infants may require a higher cost of care than part-day or after school care. When comparing centres request a fee schedule in writing, including registration fee, meals, extended hours, holidays and extra fees.
4. How can I check whether a daycare is safe?
Inspect the centre and main entrance, sleeping spaces, toilets, play spaces and emergency exits. Ask about the staff's qualifications, First Aid training, staff/student ratio, illnesses policies, incident report and authorised pick up. Speak directly to the carer(s) and ask for copies of any relevant policy relating to safety.
5. What is the difference between daycare and preschool?
Daycare – a place which cares for kids throughout the day, cares for them, feeds them, sleeps them and plays with them. The focus for preschool is more specifically related to early learning and school readiness. Others combine both to allow children to attend to structured learning and remain in care for a greater period of time.
6. Before enrolling a child in day care, what information should parents ask for?
Discuss the qualifications of child care staff, the ratio of children to child care staff, fees, meals, sleeping schedules, rules for when children get sick, what to do in case of an emergency, communication with parents, and daily routine. Explain hours and holidays, late pick-up policy and how to encourage the children to get on with their work.
