Skip to content
Child care center 

First Step Day Care

317 Washington St, Watertown, NY 136013.6· 17 reviews
licensed capacity
64
open each week
5 days
weekly, posted tuition
$230
year first licensed
1991

We are a directory, not the daycare. We cannot hold a spot, enroll a child or answer questions about care.

Own this daycare? Claim it
Licensed by the stateInspection record

About

About First Step Day Care

First Step Day Care is a licensed child care center in Watertown, New York. The state has licensed it since August 19, 1991, for up to 64 children, serving infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.

It is open Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. It describes its programs: infant care, pre-k, preschool and summer camp. It lists weekly tuition from $230 to $280.

New York State Office of Children and Family Services made 15 visits in the last 3 years and cited 19 rules across 8 of them. The visit list, in the state's words, is below.

InfantsPreschool / pre-KSchool-ageSummer campAccepts child care subsidyPosts tuition

Ages served: infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children

From the state license
Ask when you call: current openings, staff-to-child ratio and teacher qualifications.
Type
Child care center
Ages
Infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children
Hours today
7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Licensed capacity
64 children

Hours

Hours

MondayToday7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Tuesday7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Wednesday7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Thursday7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Friday7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
SaturdayNot listed
SundayNot listed
Hours it lists: “Mon 07:30 am – 05:30 pm (Mon-Fri listed); Sat & Sun Closed”

Programs

Programs and care

AgesInfants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age childrenFrom the state license
ProgramsInfant care, pre-k, preschool, summer camp and toddler care
Assistance it acceptsDSS & Child Care Aware
Discounts10% discount (page text truncated)
Licensed capacity64 childrenFrom the state license
A daycare without an item may still offer it; ask.

Cost

Tuition and costs

First Step Day Care lists weekly tuition from $230 to $280. For comparison, full-time infant care at a child care center in Jefferson County has a median price of $247 a week (U.S. Department of Labor, 2022).

Weekly · program, in its own wordsPrice
Infant (6 weeks - 18 months)$280
Pre-k (4-5 years)$265
Preschool (3 years old)$270
SACC: (School age child care) 5-12 years$230
Toddler (18 months- 3 years)$275
5 posted prices. Rates change, so confirm before you enroll.
Jefferson County medians, full time, per week

Infant

Center$247
Home daycare$190

Toddler

Center$230
Home daycare$180

Preschool

Center$200
Home daycare$175

School age

Center$194
Home daycare$175

County median full-time prices at centers and home daycares, U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022 (the latest year). Not this daycare's rates; prices have risen since.

State record

Inspection reports for First Step Day Care

License

Status
Licensed and operating
License type
Licensed Day Care Center
Capacity
64 children
Ages
Infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children
First licensed
1991
License number
#40860
See the state's record

Summary

15 visits in the last 3 years · Last visit Sep 11, 2026: 4 rules cited

Rules cited on 9 of 15 visits · 19 rules in all

  • Health, medication and illness 5
  • Safe sleep 3
  • Staff training and qualifications 2
  • Discipline and child guidance 2
  • Safety and hazards 2
  • Records and paperwork 2
  • Supervision and ratios 2
  • Food and nutrition 1

For comparison: 79% of New York daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 4.

A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.

Own this daycare? Add your response to the state record

See all 15 visits
  1. Sep 11, 2026Complaint investigation4 rules cited
    • Staff training and qualifications

      418-1.15(b)(4) The staff and volunteers must be in good health and be of good character and habits. (not corrected)

    • Discipline and child guidance

      418-1.9(m) Methods of discipline, interaction or toilet training which frighten, demean or humiliate a child are prohibited. (not corrected)

    • Discipline and child guidance

      418-1.9(j) Corporal punishment is prohibited. For the purposes of this Subpart, the term corporal punishment means punishment inflicted directly on the body including, but not limited to, physical restraint, spanking, biting, shaking, slapping, twisting or squeezing; demanding excessive physical exercise, prolonged lack of movement or motion, or strenuous or bizarre postures; and compelling a child to eat or have in the child's mouth soap, foods, hot spices or irritants or the like. (not corrected)

    • Staff training and qualifications

      418-1.8(b) The child day care center must employ staff who will promote the physical, intellectual, social, cultural and emotional well-being of the children. (not corrected)

  2. Jul 10, 2026InspectionNo rules cited
  3. Apr 9, 2026InspectionNo rules cited
  4. Apr 9, 2026InspectionNo rules cited
  5. Jan 8, 2026Inspection1 rule cited
    • Health, medication and illness

      418-1.11(c)(1) The licensee must prepare a health care plan on forms furnished by the Office. Such plan must protect and promote the health of children. The health care plan must be on site, followed by all staff and available upon demand by a parent or the Office. In those instances in which the program will administer medications, the health care plan must also be approved by the program's health care consultant unless the only medications to be administered are:

  6. Oct 17, 2025InspectionNo rules cited
  7. Aug 22, 2025Inspection1 rule cited
    • Safe sleep

      418-1.3(e) A firm clean crib, cot, bed or washable padded mat of age appropriate size and construction must be provided for all children requiring a rest period.

      Corrected during the visit

  8. Jun 5, 2025Inspection2 rules cited
    • Safety and hazards

      418-1.15(c)(32) The program must maintain on file at the child day care center, available for inspection by the Office or its designees at any time, the following records in a current and accurate manner: documentation from service personnel qualified to perform fire suppression systems maintenance, repair and testing showing that fire suppression equipment and systems have been tested and maintained during the current license period in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Fire and Building Code of New York State;

    • Records and paperwork

      418-1.15(c)(22) The program must maintain on file at the child day care center, available for inspection by the Office or its designees at any time, the following records in a current and accurate manner: documentation from the local health department or the New York State Department of Health showing that the facility has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the New York State Department of Health;

  9. Jun 5, 2025Inspection2 rules cited
    • Safety and hazards

      418-1.15(c)(32) The program must maintain on file at the child day care center, available for inspection by the Office or its designees at any time, the following records in a current and accurate manner: documentation from service personnel qualified to perform fire suppression systems maintenance, repair and testing showing that fire suppression equipment and systems have been tested and maintained during the current license period in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Fire and Building Code of New York State;

    • Records and paperwork

      418-1.15(c)(22) The program must maintain on file at the child day care center, available for inspection by the Office or its designees at any time, the following records in a current and accurate manner: documentation from the local health department or the New York State Department of Health showing that the facility has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the New York State Department of Health;

  10. Feb 10, 2025InspectionNo rules cited
Show 5 earlier visits
  1. Feb 7, 2025Inspection1 rule cited
    • Safety and hazards

      418-1.5(v) All matches, lighters, medicines, drugs, cleaning materials, detergents, aerosol cans and other poisonous or toxic materials must be stored in their original containers. Such materials must be used in such a way that they will not contaminate play surfaces, food or food preparation areas, or constitute a hazard to children. Such materials must be kept in a place inaccessible to children.

      Corrected during the visit

  2. Oct 15, 2024Complaint investigation1 rule cited
    • Food and nutrition

      418-1.12(d) Food must be prepared and stored in a safe and sanitary manner and served at appropriate intervals.

  3. Aug 9, 2024Visit2 rules cited
    • Health, medication and illness

      418-1.15(c)(6) The program must maintain on file at the child day care center, available for inspection by the Office or its designees at any time, the following records in a current and accurate manner: children's individual health care plans; parental consents for emergency medical treatment; child's medical statement, immunizations, and any available results of lead screening for children not yet enrolled in kindergarten or a higher grade only; the name and dosage of any medications used by a child, the frequency of administration of such medications, and a record of their administration by child care center staff; daily health check documentation; a record of illnesses and injuries occurring while in care; and any indicators of child abuse or maltreatment;

    • Supervision and ratios

      418-1.8(a) Children cannot be left without competent supervision at any time. Competent supervision includes awareness of and responsibility for the ongoing activity of each child. It requires that all children be within a teacher's range of vision and that the teacher be near enough to respond when redirection or intervention strategies are needed. Competent supervision must take into account the child's age emotional, physical, and cognitive development.

  4. Aug 2, 2024Complaint investigation7 rules cited
    • Records and paperwork

      418-1.15(c)(5) The program must maintain on file at the child day care center, available for inspection by the Office or its designees at any time, the following records in a current and accurate manner: daily attendance records, which must be filled out at the time a child arrives and departs, and must include arrival and departure times;

    • Health, medication and illness

      418-1.11(i)(18)(v) When disposable diapers are used, soiled diapers must be disposed of immediately into an outside trash disposal, or placed in a tightly covered plastic-lined trash can inaccessible to children until outdoor disposal is possible.

    • Health, medication and illness

      418-1.11(i)(7) Equipment that is frequently used or touched by children on a daily basis must be cleaned and then sanitized or disinfected, using an EPA registered product, when soiled and at least once weekly.

      Corrected during the visit

    • Health, medication and illness

      418-1.11(c) The Health Care Plan.

    • Supervision and ratios

      418-1.8(a) Children cannot be left without competent supervision at any time. Competent supervision includes awareness of and responsibility for the ongoing activity of each child. It requires that all children be within a teacher's range of vision and that the teacher be near enough to respond when redirection or intervention strategies are needed. Competent supervision must take into account the child's age emotional, physical, and cognitive development.

    • Safe sleep

      418-1.7(w) Children unable to sleep during nap time shall not be confined to a sleeping surface (cot, crib, etc) but instead must be offered a supervised place for quiet play.

    • Safe sleep

      418-1.7(r)(7) The resting/napping places must: be at least two feet apart from each other.

  5. Mar 25, 2024InspectionNo rules cited

Copied from New York State Office of Children and Family Services on October 2, 2026; the state's records start around Oct 2023. Rule wording, severity and dates are the state's.

Reviews

Parent reviews

No parent reviews yet

If your child goes or went here, your review helps other parents. We check every review against our review guidelines.

Your rating

Daycares near First Step Day Care

Home daycare

Chyenne George

Watertown, NY 13601 · Home daycare: the provider shares the address with families

FAQ

Questions about First Step Day Care

Is First Step Day Care licensed?

Yes. New York State Office of Children and Family Services lists it as licensed and operating, first licensed August 19, 1991.

When was First Step Day Care last inspected?

New York State Office of Children and Family Services lists the most recent visit on September 11, 2026, with 4 rules cited. It lists 15 visits in the last 3 years.

Has First Step Day Care had rules cited by the state?

Yes. Inspectors cited 19 rules across 9 of 15 visits in the last 3 years. For comparison: 79% of New York daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 4. A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.

How many children can First Step Day Care care for?

64, the licensed capacity on the state record. It is licensed to serve infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.

What are First Step Day Care's hours?

Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Holiday hours can differ.

How much does First Step Day Care cost?

Weekly tuition from $230 to $280, as it lists it.

What is First Step Day Care's phone number?

(315) 788-5437.

Where is First Step Day Care?

317 Washington St, Watertown, NY 13601. The nearest other daycare we list is New Day Children's Center, 0.2 miles away.

Sources: New York State Office of Children and Family Services (license and visits) · U.S. Department of Labor, 2022 (county prices).