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Child care center 

Wonder Years Academy

Des Moines, IA5.0· 10 reviews
open each week
5 days
a week, county median
$177

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Licensed by the stateInspection record

About

About Wonder Years Academy

Wonder Years Academy is a licensed child care center in Des Moines, Iowa. It is licensed by the state.

It is open Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM. It describes a Play-based approach, with infant care, preschool and toddler care.

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services made 3 visits in the last 3 years and cited 7 rules across 3 of them. The visit list, in the state's words, is below.

Infants
Ask when you call: rates, current openings, staff-to-child ratio and whether it accepts child care subsidies.
Type
Child care center
Ages
Ask the daycare
Hours today
7:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Capacity
Not listed

Hours

Hours

MondayToday7:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Tuesday7:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Wednesday7:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Thursday7:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Friday7:00 AM to 5:30 PM
SaturdayNot listed
SundayNot listed
Hours it lists: “Monday - Friday 6:30 am - 5:30 pm”

Programs

Programs and care

ProgramsInfant care, preschool and toddler care
ApproachPlay-based
StaffState licensing standards plus 21 hours of continuing education annually
MoreFounded Since 1992
A daycare without an item may still offer it; ask.

Cost

Tuition and costs

Wonder Years Academy has not listed its tuition. For comparison, full-time infant care at a child care center in Polk County has a median price of $177 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.
Polk County medians, full time, per week

Infant

Center$177
Home daycare$119

Toddler

Center$153
Home daycare$117

Preschool

Center$153
Home daycare$117

School age

Center$122
Home daycare$113

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 Wonder Years Academy

License

Status
Licensed and operating
License type
Licensed Center
License number
#27725
See the state's record

Summary

3 visits in the last 3 years · Last visit Mar 3, 2026: 3 rules cited

Rules cited on 3 of 3 visits · 7 rules in all

  • Building, equipment and play areas 4
  • Health, medication and illness 2
  • Safety and hazards 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 4 visits
  1. Mar 3, 2026Inspection3 rules cited
    • Health, medication and illness

      109.10(1)

      “Medications: The center shall have written procedures for dispensing, storage, and authorization, and recording of all prescription and non-prescription medications. • Staff must be over 18 to administer medication. • All medications shall be stored in original containers with physician or pharmacist directions. Labels should be intact and stored so they are inaccessible to children and public. Nonprescription medications shall be labeled with the child’s name. • For every day an authorization for medication is in effect and child is in attendance, there shall be a notation of administration including the name of medicine, date, time, dosage, given or applied, and the initials of the person administering the medication or the reason the medication was not given. • For ongoing, long term medications, authorization shall be obtained for a period not to exceed the duration of prescription. • Staff shall not provide medications to a child if pre-service/orientation training for medication management has not been completed.”
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      109.11(4)a

      “Center must have safe outdoor program area adjacent to the center, with sufficient square footage to accommodate at least 30 percent of the enrollment capacity at any one time at 75 spear feet per child. Outdoor space must: • Be free from litter and unsafe materials and free from contamination by the drainage or ponding of sewage or storm water. • Include safe play equipment and an area of shade. • Include fencing to protect from bodies of water or vehicular traffic.”
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      109.11(4)b

      “Record of monthly inspections of outdoor recreation area and equipment shall be kept.”
  2. Mar 6, 2025Inspection2 rules cited
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      109.12(4)

      “• Sufficient toilet articles are provided for handwashing. • Sufficient and safe indoor play equipment, materials, and furniture that conforms with CPSC or ASTM. • Play equipment, materials, and furniture meet the developmental, activity, and special needs of the children. • Room’s arrangement does not obstruct the direct observation of children. • Individual covered mats, beds, or cots, and appropriate bedding is provided for all children who nap. • Procedures are developed and implemented to maintain equipment and materials in a sanitary manner. • Sufficient spacing is maintained between equipment to reduce transmission of disease and allow ease of movement by children and staff to respond to activities and care needs. • Sanitary procedures are followed for use and storage of personal hygiene articles.”
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      109.11(3)a

      “Center shall ensure that: 1. Facility and premises are sanitary, safe, and hazard free. 2. Adequate indoor and outdoor space is provided. The outdoor area shall include safe play equipment and area of shade. 3. Sufficient space provided for dining. 4. Sufficient lighting shall be provided. 5. Sufficient ventilation. 6. Sufficient heating. 7. sufficient cooling. 8. Sufficient bathroom and diapering facilities. 9. Equipment, including kitchen appliances, are maintained so as not to result in burns, shock, or injury to children. 10. Sanitation and safety procedures for the center are developed and implemented to reduce risk or injury or harm to children and reduce transmission of disease.”
  3. Mar 25, 2024Inspection2 rules cited
    • Health, medication and illness

      109.9(2)b

      “All files contain sufficient information and authorization to allow the center to secure emergency medical and dental services at any time child is in center’s care.”
    • Safety and hazards

      109.10(15)d

      “Daily checks to ensure all exits are unobstructed.”
  4. Mar 16, 2023Inspection5 rules cited
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      109.11(3)a

      “Center shall ensure that: 1. Facility and premises are sanitary, safe, and hazard free. 2. Adequate indoor and outdoor space is provided. The outdoor area shall include safe play equipment and area of shade. 3. Sufficient space provided for dining. 4. Sufficient lighting shall be provided. 5. Sufficient ventilation. 6. Sufficient heating. 7. sufficient cooling. 8. Sufficient bathroom and diapering facilities. 9. Equipment, including kitchen appliances, are maintained so as not to result in burns, shock, or injury to children. 10. Sanitation and safety procedures for the center are developed and implemented to reduce risk or injury or harm to children and reduce transmission of disease.”
    • Food and nutrition

      109.15(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.”
    • 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.”
    • Discipline and child guidance

      109.12(1)

      “• Program structure that uses developmentally appropriate practices and written program of activities planned to the developmental needs of children served. • Program complements but does not duplicate school curriculum. • Schedule of program is posted in a place visible to parents.”
    • Health, medication and illness

      109.9(2)b

      “All files contain sufficient information and authorization to allow the center to secure emergency medical and dental services at any time child is in center’s care.”

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 Wonder Years Academy

Is Wonder Years Academy licensed?

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

When was Wonder Years Academy last inspected?

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

Has Wonder Years Academy had rules cited by the state?

Yes. Inspectors cited 7 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 Wonder Years Academy's hours?

Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Holiday hours can differ.

How much does Wonder Years Academy cost?

It has not listed its tuition. Call (515) 255-6184 to ask.

What is Wonder Years Academy's phone number?

(515) 255-6184.

Where is Wonder Years Academy?

Des Moines, IA.

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