Find licensed child care in Massachusetts in three steps: search the state’s official list, visit two or three programs, then check the license and ask about openings and help paying.
Find care in 3 steps
- Search the state’s list. The Massachusetts child care search, run by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), lists licensed programs near you.
- Visit two or three programs. Bring our tour questions so you can compare them side by side.
- Check the license and ask about money. Confirm the license is current, ask about openings, and see if you qualify for financial aid.
Guides to help you choose
- How to find a good daycare near you
- Daycare tour questions, plus how to check a license
- Home daycare vs. daycare center: how to compare
- Daycare vs. preschool vs. pre-K: which fits your child
- Free pre-K in Massachusetts: who gets a seat
- Help paying for child care: financial aid and vouchers
Questions to ask before you enroll
Visit at least two programs if you can. Ask about ratios, staff training, the daily schedule, meals and sick-child rules. Also ask how the program supports children with extra needs. Our tour questions guide lists what to ask, so you can compare programs side by side. Trust your gut, too. A good program feels calm, and teachers get down on the floor with the children.
Check the license
Every licensed program in Massachusetts has a license on file with the state. Before you sign, confirm that the license is current. In addition, ask the director when the last licensing visit took place and what came out of it. If something seems off, you can contact EEC with questions about a program.
More free places to look
- Head Start Center Locator (headstart.gov): find Head Start and Early Head Start programs near you. They are federally funded early education programs for children from birth to 5 in families with low incomes. Learn how Head Start works in Massachusetts (Mass.gov).
- Apply for help paying for child care (Mass.gov): the state’s official application page.
- Childcare.gov: the federal government’s child care site, with links to Massachusetts resources.
Coming next: a list of every program
We’re building a searchable list of every licensed program in Massachusetts, not just ours, with what families ask about most: bilingual staff, therapy on site and programs that accept financial aid. Get the weekly briefing to hear when it’s ready.