Best Childcare Centres In Singapore

One minute you’re wiping Milo off the wall, the next you’re on a work Zoom while your toddler uses your leg as a racetrack, and the baby decides 10 am is the perfect time for a full-blown meltdown. The laundry pile is growing its own ecosystem, the helper’s on an off-day, and the idea of drinking a hot coffee (while it’s still hot) feels like some mythical legend your mum friends whisper about.
You love your kids to bits. But let’s be real: sometimes you just need 60 minutes (okay, maybe 120) where nobody is screaming “Mummyyyyy” or asking why the sky is blue for the 87th time. You need a proper break. A shower that lasts longer than three minutes. A grocery run without someone trying to sneak 17 packets of gummy bears into the trolley. Or an actual date night that doesn’t end with one of you asleep on the couch by 9 pm. That’s where BusyKidd swoops in like your new best friend who totally gets it.
We’ve done the legwork (the endless tours, the reading of 500-page handbooks, the sneaky visits during meal times) and rounded up the absolute best childcare and infant care centres across the island. Places that don’t just “watch” your kid! Childcare centres that love them, teach them, feed them real food, and still manage to send them home happier (and miraculously cleaner) than when you dropped them off.
These aren’t just drop-off points. Childcare centres are sanity-savers. Childcare centres are guilt-free zones where your little one is having the time of their life while you finally breathe. Go get that manicure. Smash out a workout. Sit in a café and scroll TikTok without sharing your fries. Take that meeting without muting yourself every two seconds because someone’s having a toy-related crisis.
Because here’s the truth nobody says out loud: great childcare isn’t just for the kids. It’s for YOU. So you can show up as the parent you want to be. Patient, present, and actually enjoying the chaos instead of drowning in it.
BusyKidd’s got your back. Let’s find the perfect childcare centre for your kid (and that long-overdue moment of peace for you). You deserve both.

Related Reading: Check out our guides to the Best Diaper Bags, Kids and Baby Haircuts, Best Infant Care Centres, Best Places to Drop Off Kids in Singapore.

What’s The Difference?

If you’re a new parent (or just moved here and suddenly got 47 WhatsApp groups about “preschools”), the whole system can feel like a total headache. Childcare? Infant care? Kindergarten? Playgroup? Enrichment? All sound the same but cost differently and do different things. Don’t worry, let Aunty BusyKidd break it down super simple, no jargon, promise. Here’s the real-talk guide every Singapore parent needs in their life.

Childcare Centres In Singapore

Childcare centres here cater to kids aged 18 months to 6 years old. These Childcare centres are perfect for working parents since they typically offer both half-day and full-day programs. Most Childcare centres open their doors at 7 am and close by 7 pm. They ensure you’ve got a safe space for your child while you’re at work. Some even open on Saturdays with half-day sessions, although this option is being phased out by 2025.

One of the big pluses of childcare centres is that they don’t shut down during MOE school holidays. They’re only closed on Sundays and for seven additional days a year. That’s super convenient when you need reliable care! Meals are all sorted too—most centres provide breakfast, lunch, and a tea-time snack. Plus, some places even have shower time for the little ones.

Singapore Infant Care

If you’ve got a tiny one at home (babies as young as two months old) infant care is a great option. Some childcare centres also offer infant care programmes,. They provide the same full-day and half-day arrangements. But since infants need a lot more care and attention, you can expect higher fees compared to childcare programmes.

Like childcare centres, infant care follows a similar schedule, so you can rely on them during weekdays with minimal closures. It’s peace of mind for parents who have to head back to work soon after maternity or paternity leave in Singapore in 2025.

Preschools And Kindergartens In Singapore

When people say “kindergarten” or “preschool” here, they usually mean those cute half-day programmes for kids 18 months all the way to 6–7 years old.

You drop off at 8 or 9 am, pick up by noon or 1 pm, Monday to Friday only. They follow MOE school holidays like a religion. June holidays, December holidays, all the public holidays, even Youth Day (yes, really). So if you’re a working parent… good luck. Suddenly, you’re juggling annual leave, helper off-days, and praying your boss doesn’t notice you’re online from the indoor playground.

Most local kindies stick to this schedule. It’s great for stay-at-home parents, or if you’ve got grandparents on standby, or you just want your kid to learn the ABCs without committing to 10-hour days.

Then you’ve got the international kindergartens (Stamford American, Canadian International, Dulwich, the super atas ones). They laugh at MOE holidays. They follow their own calendar (maybe American, British, or IB) and some even run slightly longer hours or offer optional full-day add-ons. Confusing? 100%.

Bottom line:

Local preschool/kindergarten = half-day, MOE holidays, cheaper, perfect if you don’t need full-day care.
International kindergarten = different holidays, often pricier, sometimes more flexible hours.

If both parents work full-time, most of us just skip the half-day drama altogether and go straight to full-day childcare centres (more on that coming up). But if you’ve got the luxury of flexible work or family support, these half-day programmes can be a chill, affordable way to ease your kid into school life without the 7 am–7 pm grind.

Choose your fighter based on your schedule, not just the cute uniform. Your sanity will thank you.

Childcare Preschool Subsidy In Singapore

As fellow moms in Singapore, we know how important it is to find affordable and reliable childcare. If your little one is a Singapore Citizen, there are some great financial subsidies that can help ease the burden of childcare and infant care costs. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Basic ECDA Subsidy for Childcare. You can get up to $300 a month for full-day childcare or up to $600 a month for full-day infant care as long as the centre is ECDA-licensed. Super helpful, right?
ECDA Additional Subsidy. For working moms like us, there’s even more support available. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you could get an extra boost to help cover fees.
Higher Subsidies for Lower-Income Families. Families with a lower household income can receive even bigger subsidies, making childcare more accessible to everyone.

If you want to dive deeper into all the details, definitely check out the ECDA website. Just remember, the fees below are what you’d expect to pay before these awesome subsidies kick in!

Carpe Diem Preschool Childcare Singapore

Carpe Diem Preschool Childcare is a fantastic option for many Singaporean families. With 32 centres spread across the island, finding a Carpe Diem location near you is a breeze. They cater to children from 18 months to 6 years old and offer a unique bilingual program that helps kids confidently learn both English and Mandarin.

If you’re curious about fees, just give your nearest centre a call. Carpe Diem childcare is perfect if you want your child to grow up fluent in two languages while enjoying a welcoming and supportive learning environment.

Is this infant care near me? Multiple locations in Singapore, including Toa Payoh, Bukit Panjang and Hougang
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Cherrybrook Childcare @ Thomson

Cherrybrook Childcare @ Thomson (and their East Coast one too) is basically Montessori done the Singapore way. Chill but still got that structure parents love.

Who is it for? Kids 2.5–6 years at Thomson, or as young as 18 months at East Coast. Perfect for that Nursery-to-Kindergarten stretch.

What does the classroom look like? Walk in and it’s proper Montessori vibes—low shelves, wooden everything, no plastic fantastic chaos. Kids pick what they want to work on: pouring water without spilling a drop (Practical Life), feeling textures blindfolded (Sensorial), stacking pink towers, counting with golden beads, tracing sandpaper letters in English and Chinese, globes, animal figurines, the whole deal. There’s even a corner for Art, Music, Movement, and PE. So they’re not just sitting quietly all day.

The daily flow:

Mornings are a classic Montessori work cycle. Kids choose their own activities, teachers guide without hovering. Then they break off into small groups for proper English and Chinese language lessons with friends the same age (super useful in Singapore lah). Afternoons: more Montessori time, extended Chinese immersion, nap/quiet rest for the smaller ones, then creative play, dance, or outdoor gross-motor madness so they don’t bounce off the walls when you pick them up.

They say they focus on the full Nurturing Early Learners (NEL) framework too, so you’ll still hear the Singapore buzzwords:

Language & Literacy (English + Mandarin, strong)
Motor Skills (fine and gross—think threading beads, then climbing the playground)
Aesthetics & Creative Expression (paint, music, drama, no forcing the kid to draw a perfect sun)
Discovery of the World (science experiments, geography, “why is the sky blue” answered properly)
Numeracy (Montessori maths materials are legit magic)
Social & Emotional (mixed-age classes mean the big kids help the small ones—instant leadership and empathy lessons)

The mixed-age setup is the secret sauce: a 3-year-old watches the 5-year-old tie shoelaces and suddenly wants to try. By the time they’re the oldest, they’re the mini teachers. Confidence level: sky high.

In short, super hands-on, bilingual, calm but not boring, and teachers who are actually trained in Montessori (not just slapped the name on the door). If you want your kid to love learning instead of just memorising, Cherrybrook’s one of those places parents fight tooth and nail to get into. Worth a tour, especially if you’re around Thomson or East Coast.

Address: Cherrybrook Childcare Thomson, 14A Marigold Drive, Singapore 576416
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Little Footprints Preschool @ Thomson

Image Credit: Little Footprints Preschool via Facebook

Little Footprints Preschool Childcare is a community-focused brand under Babilou Family Singapore, part of the Babilou Family Group from France. This global network boasts over 1,000 nurseries worldwide.

The Little Footprints Preschool @ Thomson is conveniently located in the centre of Sin Ming, surrounded by both residential and commercial buildings. The centre offers the best infant care and childcare programs in Singapore.

Children at the centre benefit from a variety of engaging learning corners and recreational facilities.

The preschool offers programs for different age groups: infant care for children aged 2 to 17 months and childcare for those from 18 months to 6 years old.

Is this infant care near me? Little Footprints Preschool @ Thomson, 157 Sin Ming Road, Amtech Building #02-01, Singapore 575624
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:00 am-7:00 pm, Saturday: 7:00 am-2:00 pm, Sunday: Closed
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Mulberry Learning Preschool Centre

Mulberry Learning Childcare, established in 2006, is a top choice for childcare in Singapore. They’re award-winning and the first preschool network certified by the USA for the Habits of Mind framework. Their learning spaces, inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, encourage creativity and curiosity through areas like the Imaginary Playscape.

Kids develop strong vocabularies in English and Mandarin, and enjoy field trips and learning journeys. For infants, they offer unique programs like Little Explorer and Muscle Master, plus activities like infant spa and massage.

They cater to children from 2 months to 6 years old. Full-day Mulberry preschool childcare fees start from S$2,000, and full-day infant care from S$2,400.

Is this preschool near me? Multiple locations in Singapore, including Alexandra, Jurong East, and East Coast
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PCF Sparkletots Preschool

PCF Sparkletots Childcare is like the go-to for many Singaporean parents, including me! With over 360 centres island-wide, it’s literally everywhere, making it super convenient for working moms like us. Established way back in 1986, Sparkle tots has been a trusted name for decades, providing both infant care and childcare for kids aged 2 months to 6 years old.

What I really love about Sparkletots is how they offer a full-day programme, so I don’t have to stress about picking up my little one in the middle of a workday. The PCF Sparkletots childcare fees are reasonable too, with full-day childcare starting at $741.20 and Sparkletots infant care at $1,346.15. For the quality of care and the peace of mind you get, it’s totally worth it. Plus, with so many day care centres around, you’ll likely find one just a short drive from home or work!

Is this infant care near me? Multiple locations in Singapore, including Simei, Yishun, and Clementi
Opening Hours: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, Monday – Friday
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Star Learners

Image Credit: Starlearners.com.sg

With 43 centres spread across the island, Star Learners Child Care Singapore makes it super easy to access top-quality care and education for the little ones in Singapore. Their curriculum is fantastic—literature-based, so kids as young as 2 months to 6 years old enjoy storytelling while developing essential skills through engaging, interactive activities.

As the largest partner under the ECDA Partner Operator (POP) scheme, Star Learners is committed to providing excellent early childhood education without breaking the bank. Full-day childcare starts at 0, and the full-day Star Learners infant care fee is priced at S$290.

If you’re on the lookout for a place where your kids can learn, grow, and have a blast, Star Learners review says that it is worth considering!

Is this infant care near me? Multiple locations in Singapore, including Star Learners Rivervale, Star Learners Boon Keng, and Star Learners Sengkang
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Raffles Kidz International

Image Credit: Raffleskidz.com

Since 2013, Raffles Kidz International has been a go-to preschool for parents seeking a trusted and nurturing environment for their children. With awards like ‘Best Bilingual Preschool’ and ‘Best Preschool for Building Strong Academic Foundation,’ it’s clear why this place gets such glowing reviews from moms and dads alike!

Raffles Children’s Centre focuses on more than just academic growth. They’re all about nurturing every aspect of a child’s development, from cognitive to emotional, social, and physical. Lessons are run by passionate, highly-trained teachers who know how to keep kids excited and engaged.

The learning spaces are thoughtfully designed and filled with everything your little one needs to explore and grow, from well-equipped classrooms to fun indoor and outdoor areas.

Is this infant care near me? multiple locations in Singapore, including Yio Chu Kang, Punggol and Yishun
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My World Preschool

Since 1980, MY World Preschool has been helping kids grow. They focus on teaching children good values. This helps them develop into kind and curious individuals.

One cool thing about MY World is their ‘spiral’ way of teaching. They keep building on what kids already know. This helps them learn new things while remembering the old.

At MY World, kids are encouraged to explore and ask questions. They offer care and education for little ones from two months old up to six years old. Whether it’s infant care, playgroups for toddlers, or preschool classes, MY World has something for every stage.

Is this infant care near me? Multiple locations
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Posso Preschool

Posso Preschool in Singapore is dedicated to getting kids ready for a changing world. They focus on building confidence and resilience through a well-rounded education.

Their approach uses the Multiple Intelligences method and aligns with the Ministry of Education’s Nurturing Early Learners (NEL) framework. This means kids get a rich learning experience.

At Posso, children start exploring different areas of learning early on. They offer a fun, bilingual program with lots of hands-on activities. The teachers are experienced, and the low child-to-teacher ratio ensures each child gets plenty of individual attention.

Is this infant care near me? 5 locations, including Jurong East, Tampines, West Coast Rise, Rivervale, and Fernvale
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Kids And Kins Child Care Centre

Kids and Kins is a super cozy kindergarten in Singapore for kids 18 months to 6 years old. It’s like a second home with bright colors and smiling teachers. They love playtime here—think arts, crafts, and fun outdoor games that get kids excited to learn. The staff are so kind and keep parents in the loop with updates. If you’re using extended childcare leave, their full-day and half-day programs are a lifesaver. Plus, it’s wallet-friendly, and you can get ECDA subsidies to help with costs.

Is this kindergarten near me? 18 months to 6 years
Options: Full-day or half-day childcare
Why Parents Love It: Fun activities, caring teachers
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Our Children’s House International Childcare Centre

This kindergarten in Singapore is awesome for parents who want their kids to learn in a global, fun way. Our Children’s House takes kids from 18 months to 6 years and uses hands-on activities to spark curiosity. Kids dive into science, stories, and play in big classrooms or outdoor areas. They even offer English and Mandarin classes to get kids ready for Singapore’s diverse world. For parents on extended childcare leave, the flexible hours are a big win. The teachers are warm and make every kid feel special.

Is this childcare near me? 18 months to 6 years
Options: Full-day or half-day, bilingual classes
Why Parents Love It: Global learning, fun spaces
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Superland Pre-School (Bukit Timah)

Superland Pre-school at 911 Bukit Timah Rd is a favorite in kindergarten in Singapore. It’s great for kids 18 months to 6 years, with a mix of learning and fun stuff like art, music, and sports. The teachers really get to know each kid, making learning personal and exciting. Parents give it a 4.9 rating from 74 reviews—that’s huge! If you need extended childcare leave in Singapore, their full-day and half-day options are super handy. They also keep you updated on how your kid’s doing.

Ages: 18 months to 6 years
Options: Full-day or half-day childcare
Why Parents Love It: Kid-focused learning, great vibe
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My First Skool

Picking a childcare centre in kindergarten Singapore can feel like a big job, especially when you’re juggling work and parenting. You want a place where your little one is happy, learning, and cared for. My First Skool is a top pick in kindergarten Singapore, with over 160 centres across the island. Known as MyFirstSkool online, it offers a warm, fun environment, affordable My First Skool fees, and flexible hours that work for parents needing extended childcare leave.

My First Skool, run by NTUC First Campus, welcomes kids from 2 months to 6 years for infant care and childcare. Their centres feel like a cozy home, with bright spaces and super kind teachers. The curriculum is built around relationships, helping kids grow confident through fun activities like storytelling, music, and outdoor play. Whether you’re in Punggol, Jurong, or Tampines, there’s likely a My First Skool nearby, making it easy for busy parents in Singapore. For those using extended childcare leave, their full-day programs, running from 7 am to 7 pm, are a total win.

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Why These Centres Rock

These childcare centres are top-notch for their caring teachers, fun programs, and flexibility. They’re open from 7 am to 7 pm, even during school holidays, and offer full-day or half-day options. Perfect for parents using extended childcare leave! Singapore citizens can grab ECDA subsidies (up to $300/month for childcare and $600/month for infant care) to keep costs down.

When choosing, think about what’s close to home or work, the kind of learning your kid needs, and if the teachers feel welcoming. Pop by for a visit or open house to see it for yourself. Check out the ECDA website for infant care subsidy details.

Easy Tips For Picking A Centre

Location: Find one near home or work.
Learning Style: Pick a place with fun or structured programs your kid will love.
Teachers: Look for kind, caring staff.
Spaces: Make sure there’s room for play and learning.
Updates: Choose a centre that keeps you posted on your kid’s day.

Plus, you can explore these spots for even more variety and options that suit your needs.

FAQ

What age is childcare in Singapore? In Singapore, childcare services are typically available for children from 18 months to 6 years old. Some centres also offer infant care for babies as young as 2 months.

What does childcare mean? Preschool and childcare are related but not the same. Childcare centres cater to younger children (from 18 months) and often offer full-day or half-day care. Preschools, on the other hand, focus on early education for children typically aged 3 to 6 years, and may operate only during school hours.

What does childcare cost per hour? Childcare fees in Singapore vary depending on the centre and type of care. Generally, full-day childcare costs range from $720 to $1,200 per month, while half-day care costs range from $540 to $900. To get an hourly rate, divide the monthly fee by the number of hours the centre is open each day.

How to get a 1-year-old used to daycare? Getting a 1-year-old used to daycare can be gradual. Start with short visits to the centre so they can get familiar with the environment. Gradually increase the time they spend there. Establish a consistent drop-off and pick-up routine to provide stability. It’s also helpful to talk positively about the daycare and encourage them to explore and play.

What is the difference between childcare and kindergarten? In Singapore, childcare centres provide full-day or half-day care for children aged 2 months to 6 years, focusing on holistic care, play-based learning, and flexibility for working parents. Kindergarten Singapore programs, typically for kids aged 4 to 6, emphasize structured, academic-focused learning to prepare for primary school. While childcare often includes extended childcare leave options and longer hours, kindergarten in Singapore has shorter sessions with a stronger focus on school readiness.

Featured Image Credit: Little Footprints Preschool via Facebook