Today many families are faced with the all-important decision of choosing a child care center for their young children. It has been reported by women in the workplace that selecting just the right setting and type of childcare has become a very complicated and confusing process that pulls on their every emotion.
Before you begin to look at various programs, it is important to understand the major difference between the two types of childcare available—day care centers and in-home care—and how specific sites can vary widely within each group.
Day care centers provide care for the child in a large group setting. The program follows a more formal preschool design in that they offer structured activities that help cultivate development socially, physically, emotionally, and academically. The care in such a group is offered full-time rather than just a couple of hours per day.
These centers must be registered and licensed by the state so parents and children are ensured that strict standards of health, safety, programming, and supervision are followed. Some advantages could include a full-day kindergarten program and transportation to and from neighborhood schools. These options vary from center to center, so interested parents should learn all there is to know about their selected centers of interest.
The other side of the childcare coin is in-home care, which provides a child with care in a home setting that may be in his home or that of the childcare provider. If the provider is supervising more than a couple children in the home, she should be licensed by the county or the state and should not be supervising more than a few children at one time.
The advantages of this service is that the setting is that of a home not a public institution; that there is more individualization with each child, and special needs or major medical problems can be addressed easier; and the hours of care can vary depending on the needs of the family and the provider.
Again, each site or home varies and families should consider recommendations from parents with similar needs before choosing the type of care best suited for their situation.
