Best Childcare in Bladenboro, Bolivia & Burgaw, NC 2026 | Rankings & Reviews

Finding the right childcare
in Bladenboro, Bolivia & Burgaw

Bladenboro gained national attention in 1954 when a mysterious animal called the Beast of Bladenboro sparked a flurry of reports across the town, captivating locals and drawing headlines as residents attempted to solve the mystery of livestock and pets being killed in unusual ways. Bolivia may be one of North Carolina's smallest county seats, with barely 150 residents, yet it serves as the administrative heart of Brunswick County—a distinction it has held since 1977 when the county government relocated here from Southport. Burgaw serves as the county seat of Pender County and was originally known as Stanford before being renamed and incorporated in 1879. We analyzed all 3 North Carolina-licensed childcare centers across Bladenboro, Bolivia & Burgaw, scoring each on 11 real dimensions from parent reviews. We scored each DCDEE-licensed childcare center across 11 real dimensions — safety, curriculum, arts & music, infant care, kindergarten readiness and more. Scores drawn from major public review platforms and parent communities — not center marketing.

3Centers reviewed

11Dimensions scored

1,000+Reviews analyzed

Big Bird Day Care Center

279 Wright Rd, Bladenboro, NC 28320

Licensed Childcare Center

7.4/ 10

Strengths

Impressive 5-star NC DCDEE rating in a rural, underserved area
Very small capacity of 24 means exceptional adult-to-child ratios
Serves infants through age 12 with full-day coverage
Participates in subsidized childcare program — critical for Bladen County families

Considerations

Very small capacity limits enrollment availability
No published reviews on major platforms
Located in Bladenboro — limited accessibility from other parts of Bladen County

Little Town Learning Center

402 S Wright Street, Burgaw, NC 28425

Licensed Childcare Center

5-Star DCDEEPender CountyEst. 1988

7.3/ 10

Strengths

5-star DCDEE license; family-owned and operated since 1988; longest-established licensed center in Pender County
Director holds high expectations for staff; parents describe a family-like atmosphere and cameras in classrooms and on playground
April 2024 inspection found zero violations; consistently strong compliance record
Subsidized child care accepted; serves children ages 0–12

Considerations

Burgaw is a rural county seat; limited dining and amenities nearby
No website; limited online presence makes remote research difficult
Capacity of 95 may fill quickly given limited alternatives in Pender County

Little Sandpiper's Learning Center

972 Old Ocean Hwy, Bolivia, NC 28422

Licensed Childcare Center

4-Star DCDEESince 1996Brunswick County

6.1/ 10

Strengths

4-star DCDEE rating; one of the longest-operating centers in Brunswick County, serving the area since 1996
Accepts NC Child Care Subsidy; serves ages 0–12 including infant care
Staff with Early Childhood Education degrees noted by long-term parents
Largest licensed center capacity in the Bolivia/Leland South corridor (155 children)

Considerations

Reviews are mixed: while many families are positive, some reviewers on ChildcareCenter.us noted they would have liked more consistency around organization, front-office staffing, and how peer conflicts are handled.
4-star rather than 5-star DCDEE rating
Remote Bolivia location on Old Ocean Highway may be inconvenient for some Brunswick County families

No centers match this filter.