Child care centerHours not listed· call to confirm

Tender Care Child Development Center

3375 NC Hwy 127S, Hickory, NC 28602

licensed capacity: 156
a week, county median: $183

Call (828) 294-3636 Directions

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Licensed by the stateInspection record

About

About Tender Care Child Development Center

Tender Care Child Development Center is a licensed child care center in Hickory, North Carolina. It is licensed by the state, for up to 156 children, serving infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.

The North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education made 8 visits in the last 3 years and cited 9 rules across 5 of them. The visit list, in the state's words, is below.

InfantsSchool-ageAccepts child care subsidy

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

6 wk

6 mo

12 yr

From the state license

Ask when you call: rates, current openings, staff-to-child ratio, teacher qualifications and hours.

Type: Child care center
Ages: Infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children
Hours today: Not listed
Licensed capacity: 156 children

Hours

Hours not listed. Call (828) 294-3636 to confirm.

Call to confirm

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	156 childrenFrom the state license

Cost

Tuition and costs

Tender Care Child Development Center has not listed its tuition. For comparison, full-time infant care at a child care center in Catawba County has a median price of $183 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.

Catawba County medians, full time, per week

Infant

Center$183

Home daycare$172

Toddler

Center$142

Home daycare$136

Preschool

Center$109

Home daycare$133

School age

Center$110

Home daycare$210

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 Tender Care Child Development Center

License

Status: Licensed and operating
License type: Five Star Center License
Capacity: 156 children
Ages: Infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children
License number: #1855145

See the state's record

Summary

8 visits in the last 3 years · Last visit Apr 1, 2026: 2 rules cited

Rules cited on 5 of 8 visits · 9 rules in all · 9 corrected

Records and paperwork 3
Building, equipment and play areas 2
Health, medication and illness 2
Safety and hazards 2

For comparison: 92% of North Carolina daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 8.

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 8 visits

Apr 1, 2026Inspection2 rules cited
- Records and paperwork
  A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days.
  The state verified the correction on Apr 13, 2026
- Building, equipment and play areas
  All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair.
  The state verified the correction on Apr 13, 2026
Nov 24, 2025InspectionNo rules cited
Jun 17, 2025Inspection2 rules cited
- Records and paperwork
  Written permission was not given by parent for child to participate in aquatic activity.
  The state verified the correction on Jun 19, 2025
- Building, equipment and play areas
  Plastic bags, materials that could be torn apart and toy parts small enough to be swallowed were accessible to children under three years of age.
  Corrected during the visit
Dec 11, 2024Inspection2 rules cited
- Health, medication and illness
  Parent's medication authorization did not include required information.
  The state verified the correction on Dec 12, 2024
- Safety and hazards
  All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet.
  Corrected during the visit
Sep 12, 2024InspectionNo rules cited
Jul 10, 2024Inspection2 rules cited
- Records and paperwork
  Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file.
  The state verified the correction on Jul 11, 2024
- Safety and hazards
  A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children.
  The state verified the correction on Oct 7, 2024
Jun 19, 2024Inspection1 rule cited
- Health, medication and illness
  Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container.
  The state verified the correction on Jun 27, 2024
Jan 4, 2024InspectionNo rules cited

Copied from the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education on October 4, 2026; the state's records start around Oct 2023. Rule wording, severity and dates are the state's.

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