Local guide · Mentor, Ohio
How to choose child care in Mentor, Ohio
To choose child care in Mentor, start by confirming each center's Ohio license and Step Up To Quality rating on the state's child care search site, then compare ratios, teacher experience and hours, and tour at least two centers in person. This guide walks through each step, the questions to ask, and where Lil' Sneakers University fits.
Written by the LSU director · Last reviewed October 14, 2026
Six steps to choosing child care in Mentor
Decide what you need
Write down your child's age, your work hours and whether you need before- or after-school care for an older child. A center that can take siblings of different ages saves you two drop-offs.
Check the license and rating
Look up every center on Ohio's child care search site. Read recent inspection reports and note each center's Step Up To Quality rating.
Compare ratios and teacher training
Ask each center for its ratio in your child's room and how long its teachers have worked there. Low turnover means your child keeps the same faces.
Tour at least two centers
Visit in the morning when children are active. Watch how teachers talk to children, how clean the rooms are and how sign-in works.
Ask about the details that matter to you
Meals, naps, potty training, school transportation, closures, tuition and how teachers share your child's day.
Trust what you saw
Pick the place where your child seemed comfortable and the staff answered every question directly.
What are Ohio's required ratios?
Ohio sets the minimum number of teachers per child for each age. A center can staff better than this, never worse.
| Age group | Minimum ratio | Max group size |
|---|---|---|
| Young infants, birth to 12 months | 1:5, or 2:12 in one room | 12 |
| Older infants, 12 to 18 months | 1:6 | 12 |
| Young toddlers, 18 months to 2½ years | 1:7 | 14 |
| Older toddlers, 2½ to 3 years | 1:8 | 16 |
| Young preschoolers, 3 to 4 years | 1:12 | 24 |
| Older preschoolers, 4 years to kindergarten | 1:14 | 28 |
| School-age, kindergarten to 11 years | 1:18 | 36 |
| School-age, 11 to 15 years | 1:20 | 40 |
What do Ohio's quality ratings mean?
Step Up To Quality rates programs Bronze, Silver or Gold. Silver and Gold are highly rated, and Gold programs meet the strongest standards for teacher education, training, ratios and child assessment. Read what Gold means.
Where does Lil' Sneakers University fit?
LSU is one of the Mentor centers that covers the full age range from 6 weeks to 13 years, so families can keep siblings in one place from infancy through middle school. We are licensed (Provider #300656), rated Gold and open Monday to Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m..
- Infant care for 6 weeks to 18 months
- Toddler care for 18 months to 3 years
- Preschool and pre-K for 3 to 5 years
- Before-school and after-school care for kindergarten to 13
- Our license and safety practices · Video tour
Which Mentor schools are nearby?
Mentor Public Schools' elementary and middle schools include:
- Bellflower Elementary
- Fairfax Elementary
- Hopkins Elementary
- Lake Elementary
- Orchard Hollow Elementary
- Ridge Elementary
- Sterling Morton Elementary
- Memorial Middle School
- Shore Middle School
LSU’s before- and after-school program serves [list confirmed schools].
How do I get to LSU?
LSU is at 8282 Yellowbrick Road, Mentor, OH 44060. [Driving directions from Route 2, Route 615 or Mentor Avenue, with drive times.] Open in Google Maps.
LSU at a glance
Lil' Sneakers University (LSU) is a licensed child care center at 8282 Yellowbrick Road in Mentor, Ohio, caring for children from 6 weeks to 13 years old with day care, before-school care and after-school care. LSU holds a Step Up To Quality Gold rating, the highest of Ohio's three ratings, and is continuously licensed by the Ohio Department of Children and Youth under Provider Number 300656.
- Services
- Day care, before-school care, after-school care
- Ages
- 6 weeks to 13 years
- Address
- 8282 Yellowbrick Road, Mentor, OH 44060
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Phone
- (440) 255-6011
- License
- Ohio Department of Children and Youth, continuous license, Provider Number 300656
- Quality rating
- Step Up To Quality Gold
- Staff
- Licensed instructors and care providers; fully insured
Child care in Mentor: quick answers
How do I check if a Mentor child care center is licensed?
Search the center's name on Ohio's child care search site. Every licensed Ohio center is listed with its license, Step Up To Quality rating and inspection reports.
What is a good Step Up To Quality rating?
Ohio rates programs Bronze, Silver or Gold, and Silver and Gold programs are considered highly rated. Gold is the top rating.
How early should I look for infant care in Mentor?
Start touring centers several months before your start date, and earlier for infants, because infant rooms have the smallest groups and fill first. Join waitlists at the centers you like even before you decide.
Does Ohio help pay for child care?
Ohio's publicly funded child care program helps eligible working families pay for care at participating providers. Lake County families apply through Lake County Job and Family Services.
