Start A Childcare Business

Interested in Child Care? There are four basic types of child day care facilities. They are small family child care, large family child care, child care centers and pre-shcools.

Family child care homes typically care for up to six children, including the caregiver’s own young children. The care is offered in the home of the person who provides the care, who is often called a provider. Family child care is usually managed independently by each provider, although some providers may work through a sponsoring agency in a family child care system.

Large family child care homes usually have one caregiver and one assistant providing care for 7 to 12 children in the home of the caregiver. In most places large family child care homes are considered a separate type of care; in other places they are regulated as small child care centers.

Full-day child care centers offer care and educational activities to groups of children in non-residential settings. They are often open all day and all year long to cover the hours needed by working parents. They offer children a place to play and learn away from home, with staff who are trained in child development. Most serve children from 3 to 5 years old. Some are designed just for infants, or just for school-age children. Others combine these different age groups. Some full-day child care centers now offer part-time options for parents who don’t need full-time care for their children.