You have a lot of factors to consider when deciding on the best type of child care for your family. For many parents, it ultimately comes down to a decision between a commercial daycare center and an in-home daycare, which is often called family child care.<\/p>
Of course, there are advantages and considerations for both daycare options, and every family has different child care needs and requirements. To help you decide which is best for your family, here’s an overview of both types of daycare according to industry experts, as well as a handy list comparing in-home daycare vs. daycare centers that can help you make the most informed decision about what’s right for your child.<\/p>
In general, in-home daycare is child care that’s provided in a professional caregiver’s home or another private residence. This means your child is cared for in a home-like setting, rather than the more institutional setting of a child care center. There are two main types of in-home daycares:<\/p>
This type of daycare typically has one caregiver who cares for six children or fewer, though the specific amount will be determined by state-defined ratios. These providers may limit themselves to a specific age range or care for children of all ages.<\/p>
This type of child care usually consists of two or more adult caregivers and a larger group of children of varied ages. The specific numbers will depend on state ratios.<\/p>
Some parents prefer in-home child care for its homey setting. Other benefits of in-home daycares include:<\/p>
Not every state requires in-home daycares to be licensed. You can review the daycare licensing requirements for your state<\/a> at your local state government website. Parents should choose a licensed and\/or accredited daycare provider whenever possible.<\/p> Find a daycare<\/a><\/strong><\/p> A daycare center is a licensed child care provider run out of a facility that is either privately owned or operated by a non-profit organization, like a church, school or the local government. Daycare centers employ qualified caregivers, and children are typically grouped into different classrooms by age. <\/p> Parents often choose a daycare center for its social and educational environment. Daycare centers generally allow more kids than you’ll see in an in-home daycare, but you’ll also find more caregivers to watch over those children. Some of the other benefits of daycare centers include:<\/p> Examples of center-based daycares include school programs, summer camps, faith-based programs, nursery schools, preschools and pre-K, as well as licensed, independently owned or chain centers. Each state’s Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency determines if a provider is required to be regulated and what regulations must be met. <\/p> To help you make an informed decision, we asked child care experts to share the pros and cons of both types of daycare. Here, Carolyn Stolov, executive director at Wellesley Community Children’s Center<\/a>; Kathie Anderson, an in-home daycare provider in Austin, Texas; and Donna Van Hall, former preschool director in Forest, Virginia, offer their expertise.<\/p>What is a daycare center?<\/h2>
What are the biggest differences between in-home daycare and a daycare center?<\/h2>