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Child care center 

Little Explorers Daycare

Graettinger, IA
open each week
5 days
weekly, posted tuition
$190

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Licensed by the stateInspection record

About

About Little Explorers Daycare

Little Explorers Daycare is a licensed child care center in Graettinger, Iowa. It is licensed by the state.

It is open Monday to Friday, 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM. It lists weekly tuition of $190.

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services made 3 visits in the last 3 years and cited 16 rules across 3 of them. The visit list, in the state's words, is below.

Accepts child care subsidyPosts tuition
Ask when you call: current openings, staff-to-child ratio and teacher qualifications.
Type
Child care center
Ages
Ask the daycare
Hours today
Closed today
Capacity
Not listed

Hours

Hours

Monday6:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Tuesday6:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Wednesday6:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Thursday6:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Friday6:30 AM to 5:30 PM
SaturdayNot listed
SundayTodayNot listed

Programs

Programs and care

Assistance it acceptsApproved to Accept Child Care Assistance: Yes
A daycare without an item may still offer it; ask.

Cost

Tuition and costs

Little Explorers Daycare lists weekly tuition of $190. For comparison, full-time infant care at a child care center in Palo Alto County has a median price of $149 a week (U.S. Department of Labor, 2022).

Weekly · program, in its own wordsPrice
Infant (up to 24 months), Weekly$190
1 posted price. Rates change, so confirm before you enroll.
Palo Alto County medians, full time, per week

Infant

Center$149
Home daycare$100

Toddler

Center$128
Home daycare$99

Preschool

Center$128
Home daycare$99

School age

Center$103
Home daycare$95

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 Little Explorers Daycare

License

Status
Licensed and operating
License type
Licensed Center
License number
#52026
See the state's record

Summary

3 visits in the last 3 years · Last visit Sep 25, 2026: 5 rules cited

Rules cited on 3 of 3 visits · 16 rules in all

  • Safety and hazards 3
  • Records and paperwork 2
  • Staff training and qualifications 2
  • Health, medication and illness 2
  • Background checks 2
  • Food and nutrition 1
  • Building, equipment and play areas 1
  • Supervision and ratios 1
  • Safe sleep 1
  • Other rules 1

For comparison: 88% of Iowa daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 0.

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 5 visits
  1. Sep 25, 2026Inspection5 rules cited
    • Records and paperwork

      109.4(1)

      “Written policies on: • Enrollment and discharge. • Field trips and non-center activities. • Discipline/Behavior/Biting. • Nutrition. • Health and safety policies. • Transportation if applicable. • Assurance people do not have unauthorized access to children at the center. • Protecting children’s confidentiality.”
    • Staff training and qualifications

      109.9(1)c

      “All files contain documentation to indicate that ongoing staff training requirements are met, including current certifications in first aid/CPR and mandatory child abuse training.”
    • Health, medication and illness

      109.9(2)i

      “Preschool (for children five years and younger not enrolled in school): Physical exam report submitted within 30 days of admission, was obtained no more than 12 months prior to admission, is signed by a licensed MD, DO, Chiropractor, PA, or ARNP, and contains health history; present health status including allergies, medications, and acute/chronic conditions; and recommendations for continued care if necessary.”
    • Food and nutrition

      109.13(5)b

      “• Sanitary and safe methods in food preparation, serving, and storage sufficient to prevent transmission of disease, infestation, and spoilage are followed. • Staff preparing food that have injuries on hands wear protective gloves. • Staff serving food use clean serving utensils and have clean hands/wear protective gloves.”
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      109.11(2)a

      “The center will provide sufficient and safe indoor play equipment, materials, and furniture. It must meet the developmental, activity and special needs of the children.”
  2. Oct 29, 2025Inspection6 rules cited
    • Safety and hazards

      109.10(13)b

      “Emergency instructions, phone numbers, and diagrams for fire, tornado, and flood shall be visibly posted and documented at least once a month for fire and tornado. Records shall be maintained for current and previous year.”
    • Supervision and ratios

      109.11(2)b

      “Program space must meet the following conditions: • Room must be arranged so as not to obstruct the direct observation of children by staff. • Individual covered mats, bed, or cots and appropriate bedding will be provided for all children who nap. • Equipment and materials are maintained in a sanitary manner. • Sufficient spacing must be maintained. • The center will have sufficient toilet articles for each child for hand washing.”
    • Background checks

      109.9(1)b

      “All files contain a pre-employment physical exam report completed within six months prior to hire and at least every three years. Physical exams shall be documented on form 470- 5152, Child Care Provider Physical Examination Report.”
    • Staff training and qualifications

      109.9(1)c

      “All files contain documentation to indicate that ongoing staff training requirements are met, including current certifications in first aid/CPR and mandatory child abuse training.”
    • Health, medication and illness

      109.12(4)b

      “Each infant and toddler shall be diapered in a sanitary manner as frequently as needed at a central diapering area. Diapering, sanitation, and hand-washing procedures shall be posted and implemented in every diapering area. There shall be at least one changing table for every 15 infants.”
    • Background checks

      109.6(4)c

      “Center repeats Iowa record checks at a minimum of every two years or when aware of additional child abuse or criminal history that occurs.”
  3. Jul 30, 2024Inspection5 rules cited
    • Safe sleep

      109.12(5)e

      “The provider shall follow safe sleep practices recommended by AAP for infants under one year of age: • Infants shall always be placed on their back for sleep. • Infants shall be placed on a firm mattress with a tight fitted sheet that meets Consumer Product Safety Commission federal standards. • Infants shall not be allowed to sleep on a bed, sofa, air mattress or other soft surface. No child will be allowed to sleep in any items not designed for sleeping but not limited to, an infant seat, car seat, swing, bouncy seat. • No toys, soft objects, stuffed animals, pillows, bumper pads, blankets, or loose bedding shall be allowed in the sleeping area with the infant. • No co-sleeping shall be allowed. • Sleeping infants shall be actively observed by sight and sound. • If an alternate sleeping position is needed, a signed physician or physician assistant authorization with statement of medical reason is required.”
    • Records and paperwork

      109.9(2)

      “All files are updated at least annually and when a change occurs.”
    • Safety and hazards

      109.11(7)b

      “Centers at ground level that use basement area as program space, or have a basement beneath program space: Testing and plan for remedy of radon is conducted.”
    • Safety and hazards

      109.10(15)b

      “Emergency instructions, phone numbers, and diagrams for fire, tornado, and flood shall be visibly posted and documented at least once a month for fire and tornado. Records shall be maintained for current and previous year.”
    • Other rules

      109.10(1)a

  4. Mar 30, 2023Inspection5 rules cited
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      109.11(1)

      “• 35 square feet of usable floor space per child. • Rooms with cribs have 40 square feet of space per child.”
    • Other rules

      109.10(15)a

    • Background checks

      109.9(1)b

      “All files contain: 1. A signed copy of DHS criminal history record check or any other permission form approved by the Department of public Safety for conducting an Iowa or national criminal history check. 2. A copy of Request for Child Abuse Information. 3. Copies of the results of Iowa records checks conducted. 4. Copies of national criminal history check results. 5. Any Department-issued documents sent to the center related to records check.”
    • Health, medication and illness

      109.9(1)d

      “All files contain a pre-employment physical exam report completed within six months prior to hire and at least every three years. Physical exams shall be documented on form 470- 5152, Child Care Provider Physical Examination Report.”
    • Other rules

      109.10(1)a

  5. Feb 7, 2023InspectionNo rules cited

Copied from Iowa Department of Health and Human Services on October 2, 2026; the state's records start around Nov 2021. Rule wording, severity and dates are the state's.

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FAQ

Questions about Little Explorers Daycare

Is Little Explorers Daycare licensed?

Yes. Iowa Department of Health and Human Services lists it as licensed and operating.

When was Little Explorers Daycare last inspected?

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services lists the most recent visit on September 25, 2026, with 5 rules cited. It lists 3 visits in the last 3 years.

Has Little Explorers Daycare had rules cited by the state?

Yes. Inspectors cited 16 rules across 3 of 3 visits in the last 3 years. For comparison: 88% of Iowa daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 0. A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.

What are Little Explorers Daycare's hours?

Monday to Friday, 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Holiday hours can differ.

How much does Little Explorers Daycare cost?

Weekly tuition of $190, as it lists it.

What is Little Explorers Daycare's phone number?

(712) 859-3773.

Where is Little Explorers Daycare?

Graettinger, IA.

Sources: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (license and visits) · U.S. Department of Labor, 2022 (county prices).