Finding the right licensed child care, preschool, or school-age program in Michigan is a critical decision for families. The state offers a centralized resource, Great Start to Quality, to make this search easier for parents. This tool allows families to search all licensed programs in Michigan, filtering by area, cost, or specific needs to find care that is both safe and educational.
Understanding the types of licensed care available is the first step. Child Care Centers are center-based settings, often with multiple classrooms, and include programs like preschool, Head Start, and Great Start Readiness Programs. For a home-based setting, Michigan offers Family Child Care Homes for up to 7 children and Group Child Care Homes for up to 14 children. Additionally, Schoolage Only Programs are licensed centers specifically for children from 4 years 9 months to 12 years old.
The Great Start to Quality program is the definitive resource for finding licensed daycare providers across Michigan. The website lists every licensed childcare facility in the state, providing a transparent and comprehensive database for parents.
When using the search tool, parents can look for free Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) and Head Start programs. For any specific daycare, the website shows its licensing report, including any necessary corrective action plans, violations, or special incident reports. This transparency empowers parents to make informed decisions. If a parent has a concern, complaints against any Michigan childcare facility can be made online or by mail.
Starting a program that meets and exceeds these state standards is a significant undertaking. At Wonderschool, we provide business coaching and classes to help new directors navigate these requirements and build a high-quality program from the ground up.
For families looking for licensed daycare in Lansing, Michigan, cost is a major consideration. As of July 2025, the average starting cost for child care providers in the city is $15.84 per hour, with the average maximum rate reaching $22.67 per hour.
This translates to a weekly rate of around $634 for a standard 40-hour week and a monthly cost of approximately $2,059 for 130 hours of care. These rates are notably lower than state and national averages. The cost of hiring child care providers in Lansing is about 9% lower than the Michigan average starting rate of $17.42 per hour and 19% lower than the national average of $19.63 per hour.
For those considering opening a childcare business in the area, understanding the local market rates is crucial for financial planning. Our provider earning calculator can help you estimate your potential income and create a sustainable business.
In Petoskey, Michigan, parents have access to licensed daycare providers with diverse educational philosophies. These options cater to children from infancy through elementary school, ensuring a continuum of care and learning.
Watch Me Grow Child Development Center is a licensed child care facility in Petoskey that serves children from six weeks old and up. The center utilizes a blend of curricula, including Zoo-phonics, Creative, and the Bucket Filler Program. Daily activities are designed to be engaging and developmental, incorporating circle time, music and movement, and outdoor play.
Petoskey Montessori Children's House & Elementary is another local option with a verified state license. It offers a wide range of programs, including Infant & Toddler Care, Child care, Preschool, Kindergarten, and education for Grades K-5. The core of its programming is the Montessori Approach, which offers a broad vision of education as an aid to life. This method is designed to help children with their task of inner construction as they mature, drawing its principles from the natural development of the child.
In a Montessori classroom, children find a prepared environment where they are free to respond to their natural tendency to work. Their innate passion for learning is encouraged by giving them opportunities to engage in spontaneous, purposeful activities with the guidance of a trained adult. Through this work, children develop concentration and joyful self-discipline, progressing at their own pace and rhythm according to their individual capabilities.
Providers who are passionate about a specific educational philosophy, like Montessori, can find the support they need with Wonderschool to start a program that brings their unique vision to life.
When searching for licensed daycares in Traverse City, Michigan, parent reviews offer invaluable insight into the quality and atmosphere of a program. Positive feedback from fellow parents can highlight centers that not only meet licensing standards but also create a nurturing and enriching environment for children.
Pathfinder School in Traverse City stands out with a 5.0-star rating based on parent reviews. One parent noted that their daughter "flourished" in the school's prek program and that they have "seen so much growth in her." Another described the entire community at Pathfinder School as being "like a warm hug," emphasizing the supportive and welcoming atmosphere.
This sentiment is echoed by another parent who stated, "Pathfinder is exactly the kind of place I want for my children to become who they are." These reviews paint a picture of a program that parents trust to foster their children's development and individuality. Strong parent partnerships are the cornerstone of a successful childcare program, and at Wonderschool, we help new directors build that powerful community from day one through our child care management tools.
For parents seeking licensed daycare providers in Grand Rapids, Michigan, understanding the state's licensing and oversight system is key. Michigan provides comprehensive tools for parents to verify the quality and safety of potential childcare options.
The Great Start to Quality website serves as the centralized database for all licensed childcare providers in Michigan. This means every licensed facility in Grand Rapids will be listed. More importantly, each daycare's detailed licensing report is available for public viewing on the site.
Parents are encouraged to check these reports for any violations or special incident reports associated with a specific location. The reports also show any corrective action plans that were required, offering a transparent look into how a facility addresses and resolves issues. This level of access ensures parents can perform thorough due diligence before enrolling their child.
Navigating these state licensing requirements can be one of the biggest hurdles for new entrepreneurs. This is why Wonderschool offers dedicated support to help new providers with licensing and insurance, ensuring they establish their business on a solid, compliant foundation.
If you've been inspired by the need for quality care in cities like Lansing, Petoskey, Traverse City, or Grand Rapids, you might be considering starting your own licensed daycare. Wonderschool is a childcare marketplace dedicated to helping passionate educators and caregivers start, run, and grow successful childcare businesses, right from their homes or in commercial centers.
We believe that creating more high-quality childcare options begins with supporting the providers themselves. We offer a comprehensive suite of tools and resources tailored for every stage of your business journey. For those just starting, we provide expert guidance on how to start a childcare or daycare. Our support includes helping you navigate the complex world of state licensing and insurance requirements to ensure your program is compliant from day one.
Securing funding is often a challenge, which is why we help connect potential and existing childcare providers with available government grants to get their programs off the ground. To build your business acumen, we offer specialized business coaching and classes for starting and running a daycare. Once your program is up and running, our child care management software helps you operate efficiently, and we provide resources to help you grow your childcare business and reach more families in your community.
Whether you are a parent searching for the perfect program or an aspiring entrepreneur ready to create one, Michigan offers robust resources to support your journey. Parents can use the state's Great Start to Quality website to find and vet licensed providers, while future directors can turn to partners like Wonderschool for comprehensive support.
By connecting families with excellent local providers and empowering new directors to launch their own programs, we can work together to build a stronger, more accessible childcare landscape across Michigan. Explore what Wonderschool has to offer and take the next step in your childcare journey today.
Find a child care program that meets your needs from thousands of listings using our Child Care Finder. If you're a provider, create a listing to get discovered by families near you!