Choosing childcare is one of the biggest decisions a family makes. You are trusting someone else with your child during the hours you cannot be there, so it is worth taking the time to choose well. If you live in Dilworth, Moorhead, Fargo, or anywhere in the Fargo Moorhead area, here is a clear way to think about it.

Start with licensing

In Minnesota, childcare programs are licensed by the state. A license is not a small thing. It means the program has met the state’s standards for health, safety, supervision, and the care environment, and that it is visited and monitored over time. When a program is licensed, there is a public record behind it.

You can look up any Minnesota provider on the state’s public licensing lookup. Searching by name or by ZIP code shows you the license holder, the type of license, and the program’s monitoring history. Before you fall in love with a place, confirm that it is licensed and in good standing. You can read more about our own licensing on our Health and Safety page.

Family child care and child care centers

You will see two main kinds of licensed care. A family child care program is run in a home setting, often with a small, mixed age group and a consistent caregiver. A child care center is usually larger, with separate rooms by age. Neither is better than the other. The right choice depends on your child and what you are looking for. Some families love the warmth and consistency of a home program, where the same caring adult greets their child every day.

Questions worth asking on a tour

A tour tells you more than any website can. Walk through the space, watch how the caregivers talk to the children, and pay attention to how the room feels. Some good questions to ask:

Are you licensed by the state, and what is your license number
What does a typical day look like for a child my child’s age
How do you keep children safe, and is your staff trained in first aid and CPR
How will I hear about my child’s day
Do you provide meals and snacks
What are your hours, and do you offer full time, part time, or drop in care
Do you accept childcare assistance

At Joyful Learning Childcare, our staff is First Aid, CPR, and AED certified, we provide nutritious meals and snacks, and we send daily updates through our app so you always know how the day is going.

Trust your eyes and your gut

Look for clean, secure spaces, caregivers who get down to a child’s level, and children who seem comfortable and busy. Notice whether the program is honest with you. A good provider will answer your questions plainly and will not promise things they cannot deliver. If something feels off, keep looking. If a place feels warm, safe, and genuinely happy, that matters.

Think about the practical details

The best program in the world does not help if the hours do not fit your life. Think about your commute across the metro, your start time, and whether you need flexibility. Our hours run Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 6 PM, with Saturday drop in care, which works for families commuting between Dilworth, Moorhead, and Fargo. You can learn more about how we serve different communities on our Areas We Serve page.

Take the next step

The only way to really know if a program fits your family is to visit. Come see the rooms, meet the people who would care for your child, and ask everything on your mind. Schedule a tour with Joyful Learning Childcare, or call us at (701) 977 8287. We would love to meet you.

How to Choose Licensed Childcare in the Fargo Moorhead Area