Best Childcare & Daycare in Ubud for Families

Ubud's strongest childcare options are Ubud Little Sunshine (Montessori, ages 1.5 to 6), Bali Sunny Kids in Lod Tunduh (18 months to 6 years), and BALU Kids in nearby Kemenuh (ages 2 to 6, open until 5:30pm). All three run on weekday schedules, mix Montessori or play-based methods, and fall in the budget to mid-range cost band.

Ubud Little Sunshine

The only dedicated Montessori center inside Ubud proper, split into a Toddler Community (1.5 to 3 years) and Casa dei Bambini (3 to 6 years). Hours run 8:30am to 3pm, Monday to Friday. Cost sits mid-range. It's tucked off Jalan Banjar Taman, a short run from the Penestanan and Sayan side of town, so families based there skip the daily crawl down Monkey Forest Road.

Bali Sunny Kids

A play-based preschool for ages 18 months to 6 years in Lod Tunduh, about five to ten minutes south of Ubud Palace on the main road toward Denpasar. Hours are 9am to 3pm, with extended care to 4pm for parents who need it. Cost runs budget to mid-range. The setting is green and spacious, with small groups and a lot of outdoor time, and drop-off here avoids the worst of central Ubud's morning traffic.

BALU Kids

A Montessori children's center in Kemenuh, roughly 20 minutes south of central Ubud toward Sukawati. It takes ages 2 to 6 and runs 10am to 5:30pm, later than any other option on this list, which matters if your work day doesn't end at 3pm. Cost is mid-range to premium. Pair a pickup here with an errand run through Sukawati's art market and the drive feels less like a detour.

Happy Kidz Bali

A small, play-based preschool right on Jalan Raya Ubud, close enough to the palace and the market that families without a car or scooter can walk. It serves ages 2 to 6 at a budget to mid-range cost, with small classes and a gentle pace that suits first-time preschoolers.

Wood School Bali

A nature-based school in Pejeng, about 15 minutes northeast of central Ubud near Tampaksiring, serving early childhood through the teen years. Hours run 8am to 2pm, 8am to 1pm on Fridays. Cost is premium. It makes more sense for families already living out toward Tegalalang or Tampaksiring than for anyone based in central Ubud.

Why Ubud, Not Canggu

Canggu is the nearest big childcare hub, and it has far more centers because so many young families land there first, drawn by the beach clubs and the coworking scene. Ubud works on a different rhythm: fewer centers, slower traffic, and a strong lean toward Montessori and nature-based philosophy. Families who chose Ubud for the rice terraces and the quiet tend to want their kid's daycare to match that pace, not fight it.

Insider Tips for Ubud

Jalan Raya Ubud and Monkey Forest Road clog hard between 9 and 11am and again from 3 to 5pm as school pickups overlap with day-tripper traffic. Build in 15 extra minutes either way.
Centers right in the Ubud center have little to no car parking. A scooter makes drop-off far easier; centers set back on side roads, like Lod Tunduh or Kemenuh, have more room to pull in.
Rainy season (November to March) turns some of the smaller access roads toward Kemenuh and Pejeng muddy. Ask any center how they handle a rain-day pickup before you need the answer.
Ubud's international family population swells every July and August. Centers here are small, so a seat you want in August should be requested by May or June.
Preschools here often close for Balinese holidays like Nyepi, Galungan, and Kuningan on top of the usual school calendar. Check both calendars, not just one.

FAQ

How much does childcare cost in Ubud? Ubud's daycare and preschool costs fall into three rough bands: budget, mid-range, and premium, depending on hours, curriculum, and whether the center includes meals. Montessori and nature-based programs with extended hours, like BALU Kids or Wood School Bali, sit at the mid-range to premium end, while smaller play-based preschools like Happy Kidz Bali or Bali Sunny Kids tend to run budget to mid-range. Always confirm current rates directly with the center, since costs shift with the rupiah.

Best Childcare & Daycare in Ubud for Families