Swansboro, Tabor City & Wallace, NC · Wilmington Metro, NC · Based on public reviews & parent communities

Finding the right childcare
in Swansboro, Tabor City & Wallace

Swansboro earned its nickname as the "Friendly City by the Sea" along North Carolina's Crystal Coast, where waterfront charm and local hospitality define this historic riverside town. Tabor City earned the nickname "Yam Capital of the World" in the mid-1930s when the region became a major producer of sweet potatoes, shipping more than any other place in the United States—at one point, 95 percent of the local economy depended on the crop. Wallace is steeped in strawberry heritage—by 1927, the town was recognized as the world's largest strawberry exchange, earning it a place as one of the Southeast's premier agricultural communities. We analyzed all 3 North Carolina-licensed childcare centers across Swansboro, Tabor City & Wallace, 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
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Score key
9–10 exceptional
7–8 strong
4–6 average or below

1
Childcare Network #79
783 West Corbett Ave, Swansboro, NC 28584
Licensed Childcare Center
7.3/ 10

Strengths

  • Highest 5-star NC DCDEE rating
  • Serves infants through age 12 with broad age coverage
  • High Reach Learning curriculum with structured enrichment
  • Participates in subsidized childcare program

Considerations

  • Large center with 129 capacity — may feel less intimate
  • No publicly available Google or Yelp reviews to assess parent satisfaction
2
Lynda's Play and Learn Too, Inc.
314 N Railroad Street, Wallace, NC 28466
Licensed Childcare Center
5-Star DCDEEDuplin CountyAges 0–5yr
7.2/ 10

Strengths

  • 5-star DCDEE license; locally owned by Lynda with a sister location (Lynda's FunTime Junction) for school-age care
  • A+ BBB rating with zero complaints; long track record of satisfied families
  • Smaller enrollment (74 children, ages 0–5) allows for more individualized attention
  • Duplin County's primary 5-star infant and toddler program; subsidized care accepted

Considerations

  • Wallace is approximately 45 miles northwest of Wilmington; serves primarily Duplin County families
  • Focuses on ages 0–5 only; school-age children must transition to the separate FunTime Junction site
  • Limited online presence and no published Google or Yelp reviews
3
Bri's Caring Heart Child Care
706 E 5th Street, Tabor City, NC 28463
Licensed Childcare Center
7.0/ 10

Strengths

  • 4-star NC DCDEE license in Columbus County
  • Serves up to 86 children ages 0-12
  • One of the larger licensed centers available in Tabor City
  • Related sister facility (Bri's School Age Care) holds a 5-star license nearby

Considerations

  • No published parent reviews on major platforms
No centers match this filter.

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