Aleah's Little Garden provides home day care for infants to pre-kindergarteners. The main room offers areas to play, eat, change diapers, learn, and read - and an infant play area that's separate from the older children.

The back yard is large and completely fenced-in, with two shaded infant swings, toddler swings, play structures, ride-along toys, and more. Each child has a separate naptime mat and personal cubby. Parents are asked to keep their child's cubby stocked with a change of clothes, and anything else they may need.

The center has an open-door policy for parents to drop-in and check on their child at any time. The owner is certified in CPR, First Aid, and Infant CPR.

Berian Family Daycare offers full-time and part-time quality care for children in a warm, loving, and safe home environment. They provide care for infants and toddlers (ages 6 months through 3.5 years). The daycare has been licensed since 2000, and all caregivers at the center are CPR and Pediatric First Aid certified.

Blanca's Family Daycare is a licensed small childcare, located in Oceanside. The school offers a preschool curriculum, large play yard, nutritious meals, and activities. All the providers are CPR/First Aid certified, and have an educational background in early childhood education.

Building Blocks Home Daycare offers childcare for children ages three months to five years in a fun and safe learning environment. Social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development are nurtured, and the children receive quality personal and individualized care in a warm and loving home.

Childcare Community Referral Service provides free referrals to state licensed family child care homes serving infants to older children in all parts of San Diego. Specify the hours of care you need (day, night, weekend, full/part time) and if you'd like, the care to be close to home or close to work.

Based on the initial information provided, the center gives you a second number to call - that of a person who knows the child care homes in your geographic location.

This parent-owned online directory of childcare options includes in-home providers, nannies, childcare centers, and babysitters, serving infants through school-age children. The website also offers links to helpful articles on parenting, state oversight agencies, and more.

The database is searchable by zip code, children's ages, and type of care required. Results include contact information; a description of the services offered; the staff, philosophy, licensing, and facilities of the provider; and hours of operation. Helpful icons beside search matches indicate which providers offer drop-in services and off-hours care; some listings include photos.

A very minimal amount of information can be gathered from a free search of the site - name of daycare, how many children of various ages are cared for by the provider, address, and phone number. To get additional information - hours of operation, website address, photos, etc. - parents must subscribe.

A note of caution: Listed providers are not screened, so while the site is a great starting point in a search for childcare, it's imperative that parents check out claims regarding licensing, staff, and facilities.

Licensed provider, Jenny Hayden, provides in-home child care in the Bankers Hill area.

Parents can feel safe when their child attends this in-home preschool, where the teachers are the very best. There is always at least one teacher for each 6 children, with an academic curriculum using a variety of fun and effective techniques. This is a must see if you need childcare for your preschool-age child.

Giggles And Grins, a licensed home child care center in Vista, accepts children ages 12 weeks to five years old. The caregivers are all health and safety certified, and have completed CPR, pediatric CPR, first aid. In addition, they have passed FBI background checks. The center's director is trained as and has worked for many years as a preschool teacher.

The children receive breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner - all of which conform to a child nutrition program. Arts and crafts, role-play, singing, dancing, and other activities that young kids enjoy, are all party of the daily curriculum. The center has plenty of indoor and outdoor play space and tons of toys that are cycled and cleaned daily. The home is spacious, clean, and smoke-free.

Additional services that are offered are potty training and pick-up and drop-off services, if needed.

Homestart Family Childcare is a licensed family childcare center run by Denise Arneson, a provider with over 20 years experience, a degree in child development, and specializing in working with toddlers and preschoolers.

The center's curriculum is based on the children's needs, and positive redirection is the form of discipline used, when necessary. Nutritious breakfasts, lunches, and snacks are provided, and vegetarian diets can be accommodated. The yard is fenced, and kids spend time each day playing outside, exploring, using their natural curiosity, and enlarging their view of the world.

Imperial Valley Kids offers a comprehensive kindergarten prep program. In a home-style environment, children are taught reading, math, science, and more.

Lemon Kids Academy is a home-based day care facility.

Lifetime Montessori is an AMI Montessori school with six primary classrooms (for three- to six-year-olds) and two toddler classrooms (for 18 months to three-year-olds).

Lil Tykes Daycare is a large (over 3000 square feet!) state licensed family daycare with a huge yard and six playrooms, accepting kids up to age 16. At the caring center, small provider/child ratios are maintained in order to ensure one-on-one individualized care and the opportunity for children to nurture socialization skills while building lasting relationships. To keep kids entertained and to help them exercise both their minds and bodies, tons of toys, slides, ride-on cars, merry-go rounds, doll houses, playground equipment, and gardens are available. Nature walks are an integral part of the curriculum; Estrella Nature Preserve is steps away, and winding paths lace through the huge property. The curriculum is age-appropriate, meals and snacks are nutritious, and the kids have many opportunities to participate in fun, educational activities.

Lil' Tykes Daycare is open 24/7.

All members of the staff have had their backgrounds checked, are CPR and First Aid certified, and are parents themselves.

For pictures of the spacious daycare, visit www.myspace.com.

Little Explorers is a small family child care that offers a nationally accredited program and where the director/teacher is a credentialed Child Development Master Teacher. The program provides a nurturing environment that guides children's learning through exploration, creative play, education and discovery. Toddler and preschool, large sunny playroom, park-like back yard, story telling, art, music and movement, nature, outdoor play, and preschool curriculum.

Little Sunshine Daycare is a small family day care in South Park. The owner has a degree in Early Childhood Education and a license to practice as a qualified infant/toddler educator.

The center is open to only four infants at a time, so each child receives personal attention. Sign language, a nutrition program, and circle time with songs and music are included in the program.

The Miller Family Daycare is a home daycare located in San Marcos offering a preschool curriculum, a large playroom, and a fenced play yard. The daycare invites those interested to tour the facility.

Providers are CPR/First Aid certified, and have an educational background in early childhood education.

Alternative/subsidized pay programs are accepted.

The State license number is 376605358. Call for additional information.

Mommy's Childcare Center provides care for children in a family style and loving environment. The daycare offers communication, music, story telling, and both indoor and outdoor games.

Peter Pan Child Care is a licensed in-home daycare facility that serves kids of all ages, both full-time and part-time. It accepts all child care subsidy programs, including YMCA and CDA.

All meals are included in the rates and the home has a completely fenced-in front and back yard. Transportation is provided to and from Fulton Elementary School.

Patti, the owner of Precious People Preschool & Childcare, has over 20 years of experience working with children and teaching different grades and ages. The center offers a Preschool program where kids participate in music and motor activities, arts & crafts, and storytime. Similarly, the Kindergarten Readiness program and Infant and Toddler programs offer age appropriate learning activities and toys. Potty training assistance is also available.

The center is located in a pleasant neighborhood, on the edge of a golf course, in a loving and educational environment. The backyard is a safe and entertaining place for the kids to play.

License # 376616975

At Roberts Family Daycare, the belief is that children learn through play. With this in mind, they have created a a safe and nurturing environment where children can have fun, explore,and learn. At circle time, kids sing songs, read books, and learn about colors, shapes, numbers and letters. During arts and crafts time, they can develop their creativity and motor skills. Additional time is allocated to ensure the children have time outside to run, climb, and play and participate in yoga.

Being a small family daycare, there is a 1:6 teacher child ratio which allows for time to give each child individual attention and to work with the group as a whole teaching respect and empathy towards others.

San Diego County Family Child Care Association, a non-profit organization operating in San Diego for more than 30 years, offers free child care referrals.

Parents looking for a caregiver should first contact the referral representative assigned to their home or work area. Visit the Association's website, enter the zip code(s), and the phone number displays. Contact the representative who will help your search. (As with any provider, parents still need to fully interview and investigate potential providers.)

Segura's Child Care, a licensed childcare provider, offers a variety of care options: part- and full-time, daytime and evening care. The center has a spacious indoor playroom with plenty of educational and fun toys to keep kids entertained, and the park-like backyard has lots of riding and climbing toys. Daily activities are provided for the children. All instructors are CPR and First Aid certified, and the facility maintains a smoke-free environment.

Susan Seiguer's Family Daycare is a licensed daycare facility located in the Point Loma/Ocean Beach area. The daycare offers full-time, part-time, and drop-off care in a fun, energetic, and caring environment.
Organic snacks and lunch are provided. Contact Miss Susan for more information.

License # 376619252

Tadpole's is a licensed child care home in the San Carlos area with indoor and outdoor play, arts and crafts, focus on ABCs and 123s, and lots of TLC.

At Tara's Family Child Care - a home-based, licensed daycare - children are provided with nurturing care, nutritious meals, and developmentally appropriate activities. If needed, care can be provided 24 hours a day.

At Teddy Bear Daycare, children receive loving individualized care, and are taught to appreciate the differences in others. In such an environment, their self-esteem and respect for others builds.

The Growing Tree Preschool offers a personalized preschool enrichment program that includes pre-K activities and academics for younger kids. Children are exposed to music, art, and fun, in a loving home atmosphere. All classes are kept to a small size, and teachers are licensed as well as CPR and First Aid certified.

Located in the Clairemont/University City area.

The Learning Nest is a licensed family child care provider for children ages six weeks to nine years. The facility's philosophy is based on the Reggio approach to child development, an environment that promotes and inspires learning.

All meals and snacks are provided. The infant and preschool curriculum features music and movement programming.

The Little School Family Childcare offers an innovative program and unique home environment, influenced by Reggio Emilia programs in Italy.

Tippy Toe is a home-based daycare for children ages five months to six years. The staff is CPR and First Aid trained, and the school offers educational programming that includes music, languages, gymnastics, swimming, and reading.

The facility is licensed by the state of California.