Childcare in Boulder Creek: Start Here
Childcare is the quiet math problem behind every working family on the mountain, and the answer depends almost entirely on your child's age. Boulder Creek has real options for a town this size, but they're small, phone-based, and specific about the ages they take. So instead of one long list, we've split the map by band: pick your kid's age, and start there.
Ground rules across all of these: inclusion isn't endorsement, and for home-based daycares we print the community and phone number only, never a home address; the call is how you arrange a visit anyway.
Babies and toddlers (0 to about 2)
The scarcest band, and the one to start on earliest. In town, Little People's School holds a state infant-center license and Adina's Daycare has taken infants in its licensed family child care home since 1991, with more options in Ben Lomond. Who takes babies, and how the waitlists really work, is in our infant care guide.
Preschool age (about 2 to TK)
The widest band. Seeds of Knowledge is the town's licensed full-day preschool, Busy Bees runs play-based programs in Boulder Creek (mornings, Monday to Thursday) and Ben Lomond (a full 8-to-5 day), and the state-subsidized preschool option sits ten minutes south. The full list, including partial-day rec programs and the TK boundary, is in our preschools guide.
School-age kids
Once school covers the middle of the day, you're solving for the edges: before the bell, after it, early-out Wednesdays, and summer. The YMCA's on-campus care at Boulder Creek Elementary and the rec district's walk-down enrichment classes carry most of it; the details are in our after-school care guide.
For school itself, TK through 12th grade, our SLV schools guide covers enrollment, campuses, and transfers, and the valley-wide childcare explainer breaks down how the different license types work.
Two shortcuts that apply at every age
The county's Child Development Resource Center (831-466-5820, weekdays 8 to 5) gives free referrals to licensed programs with current openings anywhere in the county, including subsidized options. It's the fastest way past cold-calling.
And before you enroll anywhere, look the provider up on the state's Community Care Licensing search, which shows current license status for every licensed home and center in California.
Beyond the licensed programs, plenty of valley families rely on word-of-mouth and app-based sitters and nanny shares, and drop-in playgroups, story times, and kids' classes fill the gaps between care; those land on our events page when they're scheduled.
Frequently Asked Questions
What childcare exists in Boulder Creek itself?
Two licensed infant and toddler providers, a licensed full-day preschool, a licensed family child care home for preschool age, license-exempt rec programs, and YMCA before- and after-school care at the elementary school. Each age-band guide above has contacts and details.
Where do families go when in-town options are full?
Ben Lomond, mostly: a licensed child care center, a home daycare, and the Highlands Park Early Education Center, which runs the state preschool program for income-eligible families. Felton and Scotts Valley add more; the referral line at 831-466-5820 can search countywide.
How far ahead should I plan?
The younger the child, the longer the lead. Infant lists move slowest, preschool spots turn over yearly, and after-school programs fill at the start of each session. Calling early and joining several lists is normal here.
Related reading
- Schools, Preschools, and Daycare in the San Lorenzo Valley
- San Lorenzo Valley Schools: How the District Works
- Kids' Activities in and Around Boulder Creek, Season by Season
- Summer Camps and Kids Classes in the San Lorenzo Valley: The 2026 Guide
Last reviewed August 7, 2026. Provider details in the linked guides come from our verified business directory and each provider's own site. Openings change constantly, so call before you plan around anything.
Every provider appears in the business directory, and program announcements land on the events page. Running a licensed program we missed, or spot something out of date? Tell us.
