Growing Kids on West Bristol Street provides daycare and preschool in Elkhart, Indiana, for children from six weeks through age 12. The center is NECPA accredited and holds Indiana’s Level 4 Paths to QUALITY rating. Center hours are 4:30 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday, offering early care for families working shifts in Elkhart’s manufacturing and RV plants. The building has monitored entry, biometric check-in, parent watch areas and a Main Street mini town.
The Elkhart center sits on West Bristol Street on the north side of town, a short hop from the US 20 bypass, State Road 19 and the Toll Road, which is what makes it work for commuters heading to South Bend, Mishawaka or the plants along County Road 17. Inside there are parent watch areas so you can see your child settle in after drop-off. Outside there is a garden the kids help tend and plenty of outdoor play space. Classrooms are cleaned continuously by in-house staff and sanitized nightly.
Early care for early shifts. The Bristol Street center opens at 4:30 am Monday through Friday, helping parents fit child care around early work schedules. Confirm your child’s room hours with the center.
Security designed by people who do it for a living. Growing Kids' safety protocols were designed with a child care security company run by former Secret Service agents. One locked, monitored entrance, biometric check-in and check-out, cameras in every classroom and an emergency call system in every room, coordinated with local police and fire departments.
Main Street. At the heart of the center is Main Street, a child sized mini town where kids play through real life, running a cafe, a post office and a store. It is the thing parents remember from the tour.
You can watch them settle in. Parent watch areas let you see your child join the room after drop-off, which makes the first weeks easier on everyone.
Accredited, not just licensed. Indiana licensing is the floor. NECPA accreditation and a Level 4 Paths to QUALITY rating are earned on top of it. The Elkhart center participates in CCDF vouchers and On My Way Pre-K.
Open when schools are not. Eight closure days a year. Two hour delays, snow days and in-service days are covered for school age kids.
What daycare costs in Elkhart
Tuition at Growing Kids depends on your child's age and the days you need, so the accurate number comes from the center. Call Bristol Street and ask for current weekly rates, or request them when you book a tour.
Several things can bring the cost down. The Elkhart center accepts Indiana CCDF child care vouchers and participates in On My Way Pre-K, which provides free prekindergarten for families who qualify. Families who set up weekly AutoPay earn a weekly tuition discount. The Refer-a-Friend program typically credits $100 to the referring family and $100 to the new family, with no cap. Growing Kids also has child care benefit arrangements with a number of area employers, so ask HR whether yours is one of them.
Families come to Bristol Street from across Elkhart and the north half of Elkhart County, including Dunlap, Simonton Lake, Bristol, Osceola, Middlebury, Jimtown and the neighborhoods along County Road 17 and State Road 19. It is also the nearest Growing Kids center for families just over the Michigan line in Edwardsburg and Cassopolis.
Your Elkhart daycare questions, answered
Is there a daycare in Elkhart that opens before 6 am?
Yes. Growing Kids on West Bristol Street opens at 4:30 am Monday through Friday, and stays open until 6:00 pm. Infant room hours may differ; confirm your child’s drop-off time with the center.
Does Growing Kids in Elkhart take infants?
Yes. The infant program accepts babies from six weeks old until they are walking, with low teacher to child ratios and your own feeding and nap schedule. Infant rooms fill first, so join the waiting list early.
Is Growing Kids in Elkhart accredited?
Yes. The Elkhart center is accredited by the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA) and holds a Level 4 rating from Indiana's Paths to QUALITY, the highest level the state awards.
Where exactly is the Elkhart center?
825 W Bristol Street, Elkhart, IN 46514, on the north side of town near the State Road 19 and US 20 interchange.
How much does daycare cost in Elkhart at Growing Kids?
Rates depend on age and schedule, so the center gives you a current quote. Growing Kids accepts CCDF vouchers, participates in On My Way Pre-K, offers an AutoPay discount and a Refer-a-Friend credit. It also has benefit arrangements with several area employers.
Does Growing Kids offer before and after school care in Elkhart?
Yes. The School Age program covers children 5 to 12 before and after school, plus full days on two hour delays, snow days and breaks. Ask the center about transportation to and from your child's school.
How does the Elkhart center keep kids safe?
One locked entrance that is always monitored, biometric check-in for parents, security cameras in every classroom and an emergency call system in every room. The protocols were designed with a security firm run by former Secret Service agents.
Is there a preschool program or just daycare?
Both. Preschool for ages 3 to 5 runs on the Learning Beyond Paper curriculum and is built around kindergarten readiness. Younger children move up from the infant and toddler rooms when they are ready.
How many days a year is the Elkhart center closed?
Eight. Growing Kids stays open on most school holidays and on weather days when schools close.
How do I schedule a tour in Elkhart?
Book online at growingkids.com/book-a-tour or call (574) 266-1800. Tours take about 30 minutes and children are welcome.
Come See It For Yourself
Book a 30 minute tour at Bristol Street. Bring your child, see Main Street and meet the teachers.
