Donna Nichols
Wilmington, DE 19802 · toddlers to school-age · Home daycare: the provider shares the address with families
LJ's Playpen Academy
- licensed capacity
- 115
- open each week
- 5 days
- a week, county median
- $280
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About
About LJ's Playpen Academy
LJ's Playpen Academy is a licensed child care center in Wilmington, Delaware. It is licensed by the state, for up to 115 children, serving infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.
It is open Monday, 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM; Tuesday to Friday, 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM.
Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing made 4 visits in the last 3 years and cited 32 rules across 3 of them. The visit list, in the state's words, is below.
InfantsSchool-ageAccepts child care subsidyOpens before 7 AMOpen until 11 PM
Ages served: infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children
6 wk
6 mo
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
10
12 yr
Ask when you call: rates, current openings, staff-to-child ratio and teacher qualifications.
- Type
- Child care center
- Ages
- Infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children
- Hours today
- Closed today
- Licensed capacity
- 115 children
Hours
Hours
| Monday | 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM |
| Thursday | 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM |
| Friday | 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM |
| Saturday | Not listed |
| SundayToday | Not listed |
Programs
Programs and care
| Ages | Infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age childrenFrom the state license |
|---|---|
| Child care subsidy | Accepts state child care subsidiesFrom the state license |
| Licensed capacity | 115 childrenFrom the state license |
Cost
Tuition and costs
LJ's Playpen Academy has not listed its tuition. For comparison, full-time infant care at a child care center in New Castle County has a median price of $280 a week (U.S. Department of Labor, 2022).
Ask the daycare for its ratesIt has not listed its tuition. The county medians below are a starting point.
Infant
Center$280
Home daycare$182
Toddler
Center$199
Home daycare$154
Preschool
Center$210
Home daycare$155
School age
Center$106
Home daycare$86
State record
Inspection reports for LJ's Playpen Academy
License
- Status
- Licensed and operating
- License type
- Licensed Child Care Center
- Capacity
- 115 children
- Ages
- Infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children
- License number
- #641907
- Also at this site
- Facility #1528835: Child care center
Summary
4 visits with a cited rule in the last 3 years · Most recent Nov 13, 2025
32 rules cited in those visits. Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing publishes only visits where a rule was cited, so this record cannot show how often it was inspected.
- Building, equipment and play areas 9
- Records and paperwork 8
- Safety and hazards 3
- Food and nutrition 3
- Supervision and ratios 3
- Staff training and qualifications 2
- Transportation 1
- Discipline and child guidance 1
- Health, medication and illness 1
- Other rules 1
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
Nov 13, 2025InspectionFacility #15288359 rules cited
8U License Renewal
“Ensure application is turned in 60 days prior.”
Correction date in the state record: Nov 21, 2025
77U Infant and Toddler Care
“Styrofoam objects (bowls) and balloons are not permitted for children under 3 years old.”
Correction date in the state record: Dec 9, 2025
72U Feeding of Infants
“Send a monthly feeding schedule for each infant. All bottles need to be labeled with child's name.”
Correction date in the state record: Dec 11, 2025
67U Transportation
“Vehicle needs travel first aid kit and emergency contact information for children.”
Correction date in the state record: Dec 11, 2025
53U Outdoor Area
“Ensure there is 6 inches of rubber mulch under fall zones.”
Correction date in the state record: Dec 9, 2025
49U Indoor Space
“PreK ceiling tiles need to be replaced or repaired/painted. Toddler napping equipment (blankets) need to be stored separately.”
Correction date in the state record: Dec 9, 2025
48U Heating and Cooling
“Ensure space heaters are not used within the center. Center must maintain a temperature between 68-82 degrees.”
Correction date in the state record: Nov 14, 2025
40U Child Files
“Child #2 and 8 need blood lead results.”
Correction date in the state record: Dec 9, 2025
30U Personnel Files
“Staff #1 needs CPR/First Aid Staff #2 needs orientation, job description, references Staff #4 needs to apply/submit for DEEDS Staff #5 needs specializations on DEEDS certificate”
Correction date in the state record: Jan 16, 2026
Mar 17, 2025InspectionFacility #15288354 rules cited
49U Indoor Space
“Repair replace broken tile in the 2/3 year old classroom and in the hallway next to the ramp to ensure cleanability. Send picture to OCCL.”
Correction date in the state record: Apr 11, 2025
36U Staff Attendance
“Ensure all staff sign in and out of each classroom with each arrival and departure. Send attendance documents for the weeks of 3-24 and 3-31-25 to OCCL”
Correction date in the state record: Apr 11, 2025
30U Personnel Files
“Submit the following to complete staff files: OCCL H&S training for 4 staff members; orientation, 4 references and a health appraisal for 1 staff member, and service letters for one staff member.”
Correction date in the state record: Apr 11, 2025
27U Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision
“Ensure infant classroom has it own attendance sheet, there was one infant and one staff present with no record; the toddler room had 4 one-year-olds and one infant present with one staff member- records had three adults signed in.; the 2/3 year old room had 14 children present with 13 children signed in and 5 staff members present with 6 six signed in. One was signed in twice. Send attendance documents for the weeks of 3-24 and 3-31-25 to OCCL.”
Correction date in the state record: Apr 11, 2025
- Jul 15, 2024VisitFacility #641907No rules cited
Feb 20, 2024InspectionFacility #64190719 rules cited
77U Infant and Toddler Care
“Ensure all infants have a daily log documenting sleep checks, feeding, and diapering. Ensure there is adult seating in the infant room.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 6, 2024
74U Lesson Plans
“Ensure school-age room has a calendar of activities or a lesson plan. Send a picture of calendar to OCCL.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 11, 2024
72U Feeding of Infants
“Ensure all infant bottles are labeled. Ensure all infants have an infant feeding schedule.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 6, 2024
61U Diapering and Soiled Clothing
“Ensure diaper changing mat is not ripped. The mat in the one year old room is ripped. Replace mats and send a picture to OCCL.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 15, 2024
57U Equipment
“Ensure there are science and music materials in the infant and ones room. Send a picture of materials to OCCL.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 11, 2024
53U Outdoor Area
“Ensure there are no hazards outside. Remove all broken equipment on both sides of the playground, fix cracked slide, and remove all standing water. Send a picture of outdoor area to OCCL with corrections.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 15, 2024
51U Toilet Facilities
“Fix faucet in the children's bathroom and send a video of running water to OCCL.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 11, 2024
50U Kitchen and Food Preparation
“Ensure all open foods are labeled. The mixed fruit in the kitchen was open and not labeled. Send a picture of labeled fruit to OCCL. Ensure food/milk is not expired. The kitchen had a couple of expired cans of fruit and milk. Send picture of food/milk with up to date expirations.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 21, 2024
49U Indoor Space
“Replace ceiling tiles and wooden table in the library and send a picture to OCCL. Place lid on trashcan in the library and send to OCCL.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 11, 2024
48U Heating and Cooling
“Ensure the heating system is properly installed. The movie room downstairs reads 59 degrees, and the library/fours room reads 62 degrees. Send a picture of thermometer showing appropriate temperature to OCCL. Ensure there are no floor heaters available. There was one floor heater in the fours room. Send a picture of heater removed from the classroom to OCCL.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 6, 2024
45U Hazardous Materials
“Ensure hazardous materials are stored inaccessible to children. The ones/infant classroom had ant/mice poison traps in the cabinet, which was not locked. There was bug spray in the hallway of the ones classroom. Take a picture of hazards stored and locked away to OCCL.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 11, 2024
43U Children's Attendance
“Ensure accurate attendance is being maintained. The infant room did not have a sign-in/out sheet. There were 4 children signed in the ones room, but only 2 children were present. One child was removed and not signed out. The two's room had 7 children signed in and 6 children were present. The fours room had 6 children signed in and 5 children present. Send 2 weeks attendance for all classrooms to OCCL.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 11, 2024
40U Child Files
“Ensure child files are complete. Submit date of enrollment/hours and days of attendance for Children #2, 3, 4, 5, and 7. Submit health appraisal for Child #3, along with immunizations and their blood lead screening. Submit blood lead screening for Child #7. Submit infant feeding schedule for Children #2, 4, and 5. Submit developmental plans for Children 1-7.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 20, 2024
36U Staff Attendance
“Ensure staff sign in/out is accurately documented in each classroom. Staff do not sign in/out for each classroom as there is only a building attendance sheet. Submit documentation showing staff signing in and out of each classroom to OCCL.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 11, 2024
30U Personnel Files
“Ensure staff files are complete. Staff #2 needs annual review of safe sleep and OCCL's Health and Safety Training. Staff #3 needs a professional development plan, orientation form, and 4 references and a returned service letter or 2 documented attempts at sending the service letter. Staff #4 and 5 need a professional development plan. Staff #6 needs a professional development plan, review of safe sleep, OCCL Health and Safety training, job description, release of employment and service letter or 2 documented attempts. Staff #7 needs an attempted service letter or 2 documented attempts.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 21, 2024
28U General Qualifications
“Ensure staff are fingerprinted and determined eligible before start of employment. Staff #7 and 8 started employment without being determined eligible by the Criminal History Unit. Review regulation 28 and send a signed acknowledgement of this regulation to OCCL.”
Correction date in the state record: Feb 29, 2024
27U Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision
“Ensure proper ratio's and supervision are maintained. The one's teacher does not have a DEEDS certificate and was alone with 2 children. The two's and three's teachers do not have a DEEDS certificate and had 6 children. Have Staff #1, 2, and 3 apply for their DEEDS certificates and send a picture of application submission to OCCL.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 6, 2024
26U Staffing
“Ensure there is one staff member trained in day to day operations and send documentation to OCCL.”
Correction date in the state record: Feb 29, 2024
24U Staff Qualifications
“The one's teacher does not have a DEEDS certificate and was alone with 2 children. the two's and three's teachers do not have a DEEDS certificate and had 6 children. Have Staff #1, 2, and 3 apply for their DEEDS certificates and send a picture of application submission to OCCL.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 6, 2024
Feb 14, 2023InspectionFacility #64190711 rules cited
77U Infant and Toddler Care
“Ensure the walkers in use do not have wheels. This was corrected at the visit.”
Correction date in the state record: Feb 14, 2023
72U Feeding of Infants
“Ensure all bottles are labeled. This was corrected at the visit.”
Corrected during the visit
61U Diapering and Soiled Clothing
“Ensure all diaper changing mats are non-porous. This was corrected at the visit.”
Correction date in the state record: Feb 14, 2023
56U Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments
“Ensure all rest equipment is labeled in the infant, ones, twos, and three's room. This was corrected at the visit.”
Corrected during the visit
49U Indoor Space
“Ensure all ceilings are in good repair in the theater, infant, ones', and twos' rooms. This was corrected at the visit. Ensure the kitchen ceiling is repaired.”
Correction date in the state record: Feb 22, 2023
48U Heating and Cooling
“Ensure there are no space heaters. One space heater was observed in the infant room. This was corrected at the visit.”
Correction date in the state record: Feb 14, 2023
40U Child Files
“Ensure child files are complete. Children #1,3,4,9, and 11 need developmental plans. Children #4, 9, and 11 need blood lead results. Child #3 needs an infant feeding schedule, Child #11 needs transportation and screen time permissions, Children #5 and 9 need an undated immunization record and health appraisal. Child #11 needs emergency card information, days/hours of attendance, and date of enrollment.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 21, 2023
38U Parents Right to Know
“Submit parents right-to-know log. This was corrected at the visit.”
Correction date in the state record: Feb 14, 2023
30U Personnel Files
“Ensure staff files are complete. Staff #3, 9 and 4 need a copy of their fingerprinting receipt in file. Staff #10 need their health and safety training. Staff #11 and 12 need 2 documented attempts at sending service letters. Ensure Staff #1, 5, 7, 8, and 13 are re-fingerprinted as soon as possible. Fingerprnts will expire before license expiration. Send Out-Of-State background check for Staff #6 to CHU.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 31, 2023
28U General Qualifications
“Ensure staff have eligibility determination or a provisional eligibility notification on file. This was corrected at the visit when Staff #12 s ineligibility letter was placed in the file.”
Correction date in the state record: Feb 14, 2023
27U Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision
“Ensure staff/child ratios are being maintained. Staff #12 did not have an eligibility letter on file and was alone with children. This was corrected a the visit when Administrator Mathis placed a copy of Staff #12 s ineligibility letter in the file, and LS Hackett reminded Administrator Mathis that Staff #12 cannot be alone with children.”
Correction date in the state record: Feb 14, 2023
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FAQ
Questions about LJ's Playpen Academy
Is LJ's Playpen Academy licensed?
Yes. Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing lists it as licensed and operating.
When was LJ's Playpen Academy last inspected?
Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing lists the most recent visit on November 13, 2025, with 9 rules cited. It lists 4 visits in the last 3 years.
Has LJ's Playpen Academy had rules cited by the state?
Yes. Inspectors cited 32 rules across 3 of 4 visits in the last 3 years; 32 show a correction in the state record. 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 LJ's Playpen Academy care for?
115, the licensed capacity on the state record. It is licensed to serve infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.
Does LJ's Playpen Academy accept child care subsidies?
Yes. The state record says it accepts child care subsidies.
What are LJ's Playpen Academy's hours?
Monday, 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM; Tuesday to Friday, 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM. Holiday hours can differ.
How much does LJ's Playpen Academy cost?
It has not listed its tuition. Call (302) 764-5853 to ask.
What is LJ's Playpen Academy's phone number?
(302) 764-5853.
Where is LJ's Playpen Academy?
2601 Carter Street, Wilmington, DE 19802. The nearest other daycare we list is Little Arrows Christian Academy, 0.2 miles away.