Daycare in Brooklyn Park, MN: Ratings, Hours and How to Choose
Last updated: October 4, 2026. Written by Brandon Young, Executive Director, Little Learning Academy.
Choosing a daycare in Brooklyn Park, MN comes down to four things you can verify: the state license, the Parent Aware rating, the staff-to-child ratio in your child's room, and the hours. Check those first. Then tour during the day.
This guide walks through each step. It also explains how Little Learning Academy, a four-star Parent Aware rated center on Humboldt Avenue, fits into that picture.
Quick facts for Brooklyn Park parents
- Every childcare center in Minnesota must hold a state license, and you can look it up online.
- Parent Aware rates Minnesota programs from one to four stars. Four is the highest.
- Minnesota requires at least one adult for every four infants in a licensed center.
- Many Brooklyn Park centers open at 6:30 AM. Little Learning Academy opens at 5:30 AM.
- Infant rooms are small by law, so infant spots fill first.
Is there help paying for childcare in Minnesota?
Yes, for eligible families. Minnesota does not offer universal free childcare. However, two state programs reduce the cost.
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
CCAP helps families with low incomes pay for care while parents work, look for work or attend school. Brooklyn Park families apply through Hennepin County. In addition, the state pays providers a higher maximum rate when they hold a strong quality rating, such as four-star Parent Aware.
Early Learning Scholarships
Early Learning Scholarships help eligible families pay for care at Parent Aware rated programs. Consequently, a program's rating affects more than its reputation. It can also decide whether your scholarship applies there.
Little Learning Academy accepts CCAP, Early Learning Scholarships, and other county and state childcare assistance. Ask us on your tour and we will help you understand your options.
What types of daycare are available in Brooklyn Park?
Brooklyn Park families can choose between childcare centers, licensed family child care homes, and specialty programs such as Montessori or language-focused schools. Each type suits a different family.
Childcare centers
Centers group children into classrooms by age. They employ several teachers, so care continues when one teacher is out. They also tend to keep longer hours.
Licensed family child care
A licensed provider cares for a small, mixed-age group in a home. Home programs often cost less. However, a single provider may close for illness or vacation.
Specialty programs
Some Brooklyn Park programs build their day around a method or a second language. These can be a strong fit if that focus matters to your family. Even so, check the same basics: license, rating, ratios and hours.
How do I check a daycare's quality?
Check three public records before you rely on reviews: the state license, the Parent Aware rating and the staffing ratios. Reviews tell you how parents feel. These records tell you what the program must do.
Step 1: Confirm the license
Every childcare center in Minnesota must hold a state license. Search the program's name on the state's licensing lookup and read any correction orders. A short history of minor corrections is common. Repeated safety findings are not.
Little Learning Academy is a state-licensed childcare center. You can look us up by name.
Step 2: Look up the Parent Aware rating
Parent Aware is Minnesota's quality rating and improvement system for childcare and early education. Programs volunteer to be rated from one to four stars. The rating looks at practices tied to school readiness, including teaching, child assessment, teacher training, and health and safety.
Little Learning Academy holds a four-star rating, the highest available. You can confirm it here: Little Learning Academy on Parent Aware.
Step 3: Ask about ratios and group size
Minnesota Rules, chapter 9503, sets the minimum staffing for licensed centers.
| Age group | Minimum staff-to-child ratio | Maximum group size |
|---|---|---|
| Infants | 1 to 4 | 8 |
| Toddlers | 1 to 7 | 14 |
| Preschoolers | 1 to 10 | 20 |
| School age | 1 to 15 | 30 |
These are legal minimums. Therefore, ask each center what the ratio is in your child's actual room at the busiest time of day.
Which Brooklyn Park daycares open early?
Little Learning Academy opens at 5:30 AM, Monday through Friday, and closes at 6:00 PM. Several Brooklyn Park centers list a 6:30 AM opening time instead.
That hour matters if you work in healthcare, a warehouse, transit or any job with a 6:00 or 7:00 AM start. So, before you tour, map the drive from home to the center to work. Then check that drop-off fits with time to spare.
Also ask about breakfast. At Little Learning Academy, we serve breakfast until 9:00 AM, so early drop-off kids can eat here.
What programs should I expect by age?
Most centers divide children into infant, toddler, preschool and school-age groups. However, not every center serves every age. Some stop at pre-K, which means you will need a new provider once your child starts kindergarten.
Infants
Infant rooms should be small and calm, with one crib per child and a safe-sleep policy you can read. We enroll infants from 4 months old. Our infant room holds four babies. As a result, it stays at the state's one-to-four ratio with a single consistent teacher.
Toddlers
Toddlers need routine, room to move and plenty of language. Our toddler room holds up to 14 children and has its own play area, a toddler curriculum and a separate toddler playground. At 3 years old, toddlers move up to our preschool class.
Preschoolers
Preschool should build the skills kindergarten teachers look for: listening, taking turns, early letters and numbers, and independence. Our preschool program serves children ages 3 to 5 with a preschool curriculum and daily outdoor play.
School-age children
School-age care covers before school, after school and summer. We care for children ages 5 to 12, so siblings can stay at one location. In summer, we add field trips.
What should I ask on a daycare tour?
Tour during the day, when children are in the rooms, and bring a written list. A good tour answers your questions before you ask them.
Questions about people
- How long have the teachers in this room worked here?
- Who covers when a teacher is out?
- How often are the directors in the classrooms?
Questions about the day
- What does a normal day look like for my child's age?
- How much time do children spend outside?
- How do you handle naps, meals and potty training?
Questions about communication and safety
- How will I hear about my child's day?
- What is your illness policy?
- How do you control who enters the building and who picks up?
What to notice without asking
- Are teachers at the children's level, talking with them?
- Do the children look busy and comfortable?
- Is the room clean without feeling unused?
About Little Learning Academy
Little Learning Academy is a state-licensed childcare center at 7600 Humboldt Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55444. We serve children from 4 months through age 12.
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 5:30 AM to 6:00 PM
- Rating: four-star Parent Aware, and 5 stars on Google
- Payment help: CCAP, Early Learning Scholarships, and county and state assistance accepted
- Classrooms: infant, toddler, preschool and school age
- Outdoors: a toddler playground and a preschool and school-age playground
- Leadership: Brandon Young, Executive Director; Derrylin Young, Operations Director; Teajhae Williams, Assistant Director
- Phone: (763) 231-5119
- Also on: Care.com and Parent Aware
We are locally owned, and our directors work on site. Above all, we would rather you compare us honestly than take our word for it. So bring this guide on your tour and hold us to it.
Current openings
As of October 4, 2026, we have openings in every room:
| Room | Openings |
|---|---|
| School age | 8 |
| Preschool | 5 |
| Toddler | 4 |
| Infant | 2 |
Infant spots fill first because the room holds only four babies. Call (763) 231-5119 or book a tour to hold a spot.
Frequently asked questions
Is there free daycare in Brooklyn Park?
There is no universal free daycare. However, eligible families can get help through the Child Care Assistance Program and Early Learning Scholarships. Little Learning Academy accepts both, along with other county and state assistance.
What is the best daycare in Brooklyn Park, MN?
The best daycare is the one that passes your checks and fits your schedule. Compare the license record, Parent Aware rating, ratios and hours. Then tour your top two or three.
What age can a baby start daycare in Minnesota?
Minnesota licensing rules define an infant as a child from six weeks to 16 months old. Each center sets its own minimum age, so confirm it directly. Little Learning Academy enrolls infants from 4 months old.
How early should I get on a waitlist?
Start as early as you can, especially for infant care. Infant rooms are small by law, so they fill first. Our infant room holds four babies.
Does Little Learning Academy have openings?
Yes. As of October 4, 2026, we have 8 school-age, 5 preschool, 4 toddler and 2 infant openings. Call (763) 231-5119 or book a tour to hold a spot.
Which daycares in Brooklyn Park open before 6 AM?
Little Learning Academy opens at 5:30 AM, Monday through Friday. Many other Brooklyn Park centers open at 6:30 AM.
Book a tour
Seeing a classroom tells you more than any website. You can also read what parents say on Google. Book a tour online or call (763) 231-5119. We will show you the rooms and introduce the teachers.
Sources
- Parent Aware: parentaware.org
- Minnesota Rules, chapter 9503: revisor.mn.gov/rules/9503
- Hennepin County, Child Care Assistance: hennepin.us
