Recognition of Excellence · Defiance, OH · 2026

Close To Home Childcare Center & Preschool

150 Grand Ave., Defiance, OH 43512
https://close-2-home.com/
🏆 Ranked #6 in Defiance · 6.0 / 10 overall
Awards Earned
Top 10 in Defiance
Top 10 in Defiance
Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Defiance. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.
Best Culture
Best Culture
Earned the highest culture score in Defiance. This dimension captures a sense of community, inclusivity, staff morale, and the feeling families describe when they walk through the door.
Full Ranking Detail
childcareSUTQ Silver

Close To Home Childcare Center & Preschool is a 3-Star Step Up to Quality rated center at 150 Grand Ave. in Defiance, Ohio, serving infants through pre-K and after-school care. Founded in 2004, the center brings together a team with over 150 years of combined early childhood experience and maintains a BBB A+ rating with a perfect 100% parent recommendation rate. The Creative Curriculum, aligned with Ohio Department of Education standards, spans cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development domains across all age groups, supported by structured activities from infant sensory play through advanced pre-K learning centers. Extended hours (6:30 AM–6:00 PM, Monday–Friday) and all-inclusive meals and snacks serve working families.

Safety5.0
Curriculum7.0
Art / Music5.0
Infant care5.0
Kindergarten readiness6.0
Teacher quality7.0
Compassion6.0
Management7.0
Culture6.0
Extracurriculars6.0

Programs & curriculum

Curriculum & approach: The Creative Curriculum for Preschool aligned with Ohio Department of Education standards. Three developmental domains: Cognitive (exploration, reasoning, memory, creative expression through sensory play), Social & Emotional (communication, peer interaction, emotional recognition), and Physical & Behavioral (motor skill progression, self-care independence).

Programs & activities: Infants: music stimulation, art, sensory activities, outdoor play. Toddlers: circle time, art, Wee School potty training program, outdoor play. Preschool: learning centers (language, math, science), book time, outdoor play, fine motor practice. Pre-K: advanced learning centers with pattern recognition, circle time, literacy, outdoor play. After School (K-12): homework assistance, tutoring, varied programs, free play.

What sets it apart: Step Up To Quality 3-Star Rated facility by Ohio Department of Education. Better Business Bureau A+ rating. Three consecutive Torch Award nominations, winner in 2016. All meals and snacks provided (except after-school). Staff has over 150 years combined early childhood experience. Founded 2004. Hours: Mon-Fri 6:30am-6:00pm.

Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
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Top 10 in Defiance
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Close To Home Childcare Center & Preschool --> <a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/toledo/defiance/close-to-home-childcare-center-preschool/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"> <img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/rank-10-city.jpg" alt="Top 10 in Defiance - Close To Home Childcare Center & Preschool - Defiance, OH" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy"> <span> <strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Top 10 in Defiance</strong> <span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Defiance. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.</span> </span> </a>
Best Culture
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Close To Home Childcare Center & Preschool --> <a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/toledo/defiance/close-to-home-childcare-center-preschool/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"> <img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-culture.jpg" alt="Best Culture - Close To Home Childcare Center & Preschool - Defiance, OH" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy"> <span> <strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Culture</strong> <span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest culture score in Defiance. This dimension captures a sense of community, inclusivity, staff morale, and the feeling families describe when they walk through the door.</span> </span> </a>
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This recognition is awarded independently by Creative Minds Montessori based on publicly available parent reviews and public records. Centers do not pay for or request these rankings. Scores reflect editorial synthesis of verified parent experience — not center marketing materials. Rankings are updated periodically as new reviews are analyzed.

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