Childcare Openings

For working parents, one of the issues is the availability of childcare. The Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington (ECCS) has been tracking childcare availability and openings in Southington.

Childcare providers in Southington and nearby have limited openings. Many can’t find teachers and assistants and the Covid pandemic has made the staffing situation even worse. As a result centers have empty classrooms and waiting lists. In addition, there was a mini baby-boom in 2021 with greater than 5o more children born then in each of the previous few years and that baby-boom continued in 2022. There was already as shortage of infant and toddler spots and now there are more babies looking to fill them.

Contact information for local providers is in the ECCS Resource Directory, look under either Childcare Centers or Family Childcare Provider categories.

You can also visit https://www.211childcare.org or call 2 – 1 – 1 for childcare openings State-wide. Once you do a search on the 211 Childcare website, and select a provider, you have the option to “View Inspection and Complaint History.”

The ECCS periodically surveys childcare providers in Southington and the neighboring communities to create this list.

Openings List Updated 3/14/2024:

Nursery Schools/Preschool Programs (school year, part-time):

As these programs run on a school-year basis, registration starts over the winter for the following fall. Do not wait until the summer to look for a program, they will likely be full.

  • UPDATE 2/7/24: St. Luke Catholic School – Enrolling for the 2024-2025 school year for their three-year-old, four-year-old, kindergarten, and grades 1 to 8 programs. They do offer after-school care up to 5:30 pm.
    For the 2023-2024 school year, there are a few spaces in their 3-year-old class for students born on or before 9/1/2021  and their 4-year-old classes for children who were born on or before 9/1/2020.
  • UPDATE 2/9/24: Southington Public School’s Integrated Preschool Program Families with developmental concerns can contact the district for an evaluation at any time once their child turns three years old. The integrated preschool also has spots for “community peers” (who pay tuition), they model behavior for the children in the special education program. For the 2024-2025 school year, the district is no longer accepting applications for community peers.  The application may be reopened in March 2024 if openings become available, check on their website. Interested parents can contact Joanna Karcz at 860-628-3200 Ext. 10332.
  • UPDATE 2/7/24: Southington-Cheshire Community YMCA’s nursery school program – Enrolling for the 2024-2025 school year: Nursery School 3s (Tuesday/ Thursday 9:00-11:30) have 1 spot open. Nursery School 4s (MWF 9:00 – 11:30) is Full – Waitlisted. Nursery School Ext 4s (MWF 9:00 – 1:00) has 2 open spots. Jumpstart/Preschool 5s is Full – Waitlisted.
    Full for the 2023-2024 school year.
  • UPDATE 3/7/24: Village Green Nursery School – Enrolling for the 2024-2025 school year.  Two openings for PreK3 and several spots for PreK4.
    For the 2023-2024 school year, is full for 3 year olds but have 2 spaces for 4 year olds for a mid-year start.
  • UPDATE 2/6/24: Zion Lutheran Nursery School – Full for the 2024-2025 school year for the 3- and 4-year-old programs.  Spots available in their pre-K program which is geared towards those older preschoolers, including children with “late in the year” birthdays, who are not ready for the rigors of all-day kindergarten.

Contact information for local providers is in the ECCS Town Resource Directory, look under the Preschool/Nursery School category.

Childcare Centers (full day, year round):

  • UPDATE 1/21/2022: Bright Beginnings – has a few openings for infants and for ages 3, 4, and 5.  For school-age they have openings for before and aftercare.
  • UPDATE 3/14/2024: Cub Academy – opening a new center at 316 North Main Street in mid-April. They are now enrolling for age 6 weeks to 5 years.
  • UPDATE 10/6/23: Giggles & Grins Child Care Center – No openings at this time.
  • UPDATE 10/9/2023: Jack and Jill II Day Care Center – part time openings in Infant, Toddler and Preschool classrooms.  Will have full time openings within the next few months in Toddler and Preschool classrooms.
  • UPDATE 7/10/2023: Leadership Martial Arts in Southington – has openings for their after school program which includes transportation to several elementary schools.
  • UPDATE 1/9/24: Margaret C. Griffin Child Development Center in Southington – Currently full for 3, 4, and 5 year old classrooms with a waiting list. Accepting names for enrollment in fall 2024. Priority given to families who are income-eligible, payment on a sliding scale. They are not licensed for infants and toddlers.
  • UPDATE 3/7/2024: My Little Rascals – Now full.  The current operator is moving to a new, expanded center at 316 North Main Street under the name CUB Academy in mid-April. They will have several openings for age 6 weeks to 5 years. The current owner, who also owns My Little Rascals Too, will re-open My Little Rascals in the current space, under a new OEC license. They expect to re-open in late May and will begin enrollment in April.
  • UPDATE 3/7/2024: My Little Rascals Too – Current openings for PreK and Preschool programs (age 3 to 5). Will have openings for infants in September/October 2024.
  • UPDATE 9/29/23: The Nurturing Nest Early Learning Center – have 2 Tuesday/Thursday spots available in the Two year old program (Explorers) & 3 Tuesday/Thursday spots available in the Preschool 3 class. Currently full for other ages.
  • UPDATE 8/23/23: Saint Dominic Childcare Center – Openings preschool – age 3 and 4. Full with a waiting list for other ages.
  • UPDATE 2/7/24: Southington-Cheshire Community YMCA’s full-day program –  The full day 3’s preschool is full with a waitlist. There are a few opening for full day 4’s (all schedules available).
  • UPDATE 11/28/2023: Stork Club – Accepting applications.
  • UPDATE 1/12/2024: Town and Country Early Learning Center in Southington – Currently enrolling for infants starting in August of ’24, and currently have part-time availability in their Preschool program.  They are full for other ages with a waiting list.

Contac information for local providers is in the ECCS Town Resource Directory, look under the Childcare Centers category.

Family Childcare (in private homes):

Note, due licensing regulations, the family childcare providers are restricted in the number of children they can enroll and so they usually don’t have openings unless a family leaves or a child graduates to kindergarten.

  • UPDATE 5/22/23: Robyn Angeli, Vernondale Day School – Currently Full.
  • UPDATE 8/27/21: Kristin Bausch, Kristin’s Family Day Care – Currently Full.
  • UPDATE 11/17/21: Terry Bouchard, Tlc Services – Currently Full.
  • UPDATE 1/2/2023: Darlene Butkiewicz – Currently Full, no expected openings until September 2024.
  • UPDATE 8/27/2021: Jennifer Cook, Jennifer Cook Day Care – Currently Full.
  • UPDATE 5/31/23: Loraine Carbone, Loraine Carbone’s Day Care – Currently Full.
  • UPDATE 1/12/24: Susan Cyr, Hugs N Cuddles Home Day Care – Has one opening for a child who is any age. Offers a pre-school program. Parents can call to schedule an appointment – 860-620-7500.
  • UPDATE 1/5/2023: Gloria Dorau, Gloria’s Day Care – Before and after school availability for Derynoski (bus stop at end of the driveway). 1 opening for 2 years and above.  End of August 2023, additional openings for 2 years and above and an Infant.
  • UPDATE 6/10/2022: Angela Griffis, Little Miracles Family Childcare & Preschool – One full-time opening for 18 months and older and one part-time opening for 18 months and older. She has a full-time assistant. They provide before school care only with transportation to Flanders, Hatton, Thalberg, and Derynowski.  Hours of operation are 6 AM to 3:30 PM.
  • UPDATE 7/18/2022: Beth Mearkle, Precious Cargo Child Care – Currently Full.
  • UPDATE 5/22/23: Tracy Munson, Tracy’s Tender Tots – Currently Full.
  • UPDATE 1/2/23: Jennifer Natal, Tiny Feet Home Daycare – 3 spots open. Ages 2 month to 5 years old.
  • UPDATE 1/2/2023: Maria Nelson, Country Kids Home Daycare – Two opening age 18 months or older.
  • UPDATE 1/2/23: Marzena Radziwon, Polish Home Day Care – Currently Full until August 2023.
  • UPDATE 10/9/23: Marilyn Sargent, Marilyn’s Farmhouse Daycare – Currently full.
  • UPDATE 4/4/23: Justyna Szymczyk – Currently Full
  • NEW 7/7/23: Crissy Wight, Peanut Gallery Daycare – Newly licensed. Has openings for all ages.

Contact information for these licensed family childcare providers is in the ECCS Resource Directory; look under the Family Childcare Provider category. There are additional licensed family childcare providers who either did not respond to requests for information about open spots or who preferred not to be listed.

Note that anyone caring for other people’s children in their own home for at least 3 hours a day on a regular basis they must be licensed by the CT Office of Early Childhood. Interested in becoming a licensed family childcare provider? The ECCS can connect you with the right people at the OEC and local mentors.

Childcare Costs

The cost for childcare depends on the age of the child and their schedule. The cost per day is lower if attending all five days instead of part-time. Extended day options usually cost extra. The cost for infants and toddlers is usually higher since there is a lower teacher-child ratio and can run $230 to $320 per week. Care for preschool age children can be $36 to $60 per day depending on the hours. Some centers offer financial assistance or sibling discounts.

Lower and moderate income working families can apply for the Care4Kids childcare subsidy program. Phone: 1-888-214-KIDS (5437) or web site: http://www.ctcare4kids.com