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Child Care Glossary

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Abuse	Harm or maltreatment inflicted on a person through physical, verbal, emotional, or sexual means.
Accessibility	Revision of buildings, curbs, and other physical structures to allow easy movement and admittance by a person with a disability.
Accessible	Easy to approach, enter, or operate, participate in or use safely and independently by a person with a disability.
Accreditation	A process through which child care programs voluntarily meet specific standards to receive endorsement from a professional agency. Some organizations that offer accreditation for child care are: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAC) National After School Association (NAA) National Association of Family Child Care (NAFCC).
Acting-out Behaviors	Responses that typically occur in children as a result of their needs not being met. These behaviors may also occur as a result of a child not being able to communicate their wants or needs. May be classified as a temper tantrum.
Advocacy	Parents (or families), organizations or volunteers working on behalf of the rights and interests of others (such as children or people with disabilities). Parents are the best advocates for their children.
Affordability	The degree to which the price of child care is a realistic family expense. High-quality child care may be available by it may not be affordable for a family with a low or moderate income.
Age Groupings	Infant - a child from birth to 12 months in age Toddler - a child from 13 to 36 months in age Preschooler - a child between the ages of three and five School Aged - Care for a child in first grade, or the time he/she enters school, through fifteen years of age. Programs for school-age children occur after the school day ends. Mixed ages - placing children who are at least one year apart in age into the same child care group
Aide	Typically an entry-level position in the child care field. Assists a teacher in classroom activities.
Anti-social Behavior	Actions opposite of socially appropriate or acceptable behavior.
Assessment	Determining a child’s developmental strengths and weaknesses. Assessment are reviewed based upon observation of the child and/or the administering one or more standardized tests. Areas of assessment include: Motor Skills Language Skills Cognitive/Intellectual Skills Social or Emotional Skills Self-Help Skills
Attachment	A psychological bond between adult and child.
Attachment Disorder	An inability to develop significant emotional connections with other people.
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)	A condition present in some young children with such symptoms as not being able to control one’s behavior and/ or pay attention.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)	A child with ADHD displays the characteristics of ADD, but includes gross motor over-activity. Examples include: excessive running, talking, restlessness, or manipulation of objects.
Auditory Discrimination	Difficulty in understanding the differences between speech sounds and being able to use those sounds correctly.
Behavior Modification	A process used in effort to change a behavior. Typically used in children to re-direct an unacceptable behavior to a more suitable one.
Behavioral Disorders	Disorders influenced by biology, environment or a combination causing symptoms such as aggression, withdrawal from social interaction, self- injuring behavior, immaturity, mood swings, and/or hyperactivity. For more information, click here .
Best Practice	A term meaning delivery of service has been deemed, through research or experience, as the most desirable means of achieving outcomes.
Bilingual	The ability to speak fluently in two languages.
Block Grant	A grant of federal money to state and local governments to support social welfare programs.
Business Interface, Inc.	A program that works with businesses and corporations to hire families from “non-traditional” work pool. Formerly Welfare to Work. For more information, click here .
Capacity	The total number of children that may be in care at one time in a child care program.
Caregiver	Someone who provides care and protection for children in or outside the home. Caregivers may include parents, relatives, child care workers, and early childhood teachers. Other examples may include social workers, teachers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and mentors.
Certification	A valued credential awarded in several fields that proves competency upon satisfactory demonstration of particular knowledge and skills.
Charter School	A public school formed and operated by teachers, parents, and other community members in order to promote innovative approaches to education.
Child Abuse	Harm or maltreatment toward a child’s physical, moral, or mental well-being.
Child and Dependent Care Credit	This credit is available to people who, in order to work or to look for work, have to pay for child care services for dependents under age 13. The credit is also available if you paid for care of a spouse or a dependent of any age who is physically or mentally incapable of self-care. For more information, click here .
Child Care	Providing care and/or supervision for children and their daily needs, in a home or center setting.
Child Care Assistance	Federal, state and county funds that subsidize child care costs for eligible families. Also referred to as Child Care Subsidy.
Child Care Center	A facility that provides regularly scheduled care for a group of children one month of age through twelve years of age for periods of less than twenty- four hours.
Child Care Development Fund (CCDF)	A program, authorized by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, PL 104-193, to assist low-income families, families receiving temporary public assistance, and those transitioning from public assistance in obtaining child care so they can work or attend training/education.
Child Care Home	A child care service offered in the provider’s home. Although regulations differ, most states require that child care providers be regulated if they care for more than four children.
Child Care Provider	Those individuals who provide child care services.
Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R)	Organizations that help parents take the guesswork out of choosing care - giving them referrals to local child care providers, information on state licensing requirements, availability of child care subsidies, and other pertinent information. CCR&Rs provide guidance by phone, in person, and in other ways, such as the internet, that are tailored to each individual family.
Child Care Subsidy	See Child Care Assistance
Child Development	The process by which a child acquires skills socially, emotionally, intellectually, through speech and language, and physically. Development stages are the expected order children will obtain skills. Typically a child crawls before walking and/or use their fingers before using utensils.
Child Development Associate (CDA)	An individual who has successfully completed a CDA assessment and has been awarded the CDA Credential. For more information, click here .
Child Passenger Restraint Device	A seat belt, car seat, or booster seat used to secure and protect a child while in a vehicle.
Child Protective Services	A public agency responsible for receiving and investigating reports of suspected abuse or neglect.
Child Support	Money a non-custodial parent pays to financially support their children. This support may include a monthly court ordered amount, medical and dental expenses, and child care expenses.
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)	A Federal program that allows states to provide health insurance to uninsured children. For more information, click here .
Cognitive Delays	Delays in one’s development of thinking and reasoning skills.
Cognitive Development	Skills learned related to thinking and reasoning. This development takes place from childhood through adulthood.
Comprehension	The ability to understand the meaning of subject matter.
Comprehensive Services	A variety of services offered to families to promote a child’s development. These services may consist of physical, social, emotional, and cognitive components.
Concept Development	Understanding specific ideas or thoughts relating to various topics; shapes, size, etc.
Consistency	To maintain regular patterns and practices. In child care, providing consistency between parent and caregiver may result in less stress on the child.
Consumer Education	Providing parents/families, caregivers, and the general public with information related to quality child care and the early childhood education field.
Continuity of Care	Providing children/ youth with a stable and nurturing environment over long periods of time.
Corporate Child Care	Corporations may either fund or subsidize child care for their employee’s children. Parents employed by these corporations are able to enroll their children in local day care centers in which the corporation has purchased spaces or in an on-site center. These centers must meet state licensing requirements.
Cost-of-Living Adjustment	A change in wages or benefits to allow for the cost-of-living inflation.
Creativity	The ability to think or create using your imagination, typically characterized by originality and expressiveness.
Cultural Awareness	Understanding and respecting the history, values, customs, and language of people from different backgrounds.
Cultural Competence	In child care, caregivers have the skills to help provide services sensitive to a person’s cultural background.
Curriculum	Guided areas of instruction of children including: cognitive, social/emotional; self-management/health, and speech/language.
Custodial Parent	The person who has primary care and custody of a minor child.
Development	The process in which a child gains skills in areas such as: social/emotional; intellectual; speech/language; and physical growth. This process includes both fine and gross motor skills.
Developmental Appropriate Practice	The implementation of curriculum and activities suitable for a child’s stage of development and supports the child’s learning process.
Developmental Delay	A delay in the acquiring of abilities and skills typically reached by children of similar ages.
Developmental Disabilities	Any condition or disorder that interferes with a child’s development and are typically evident before a person reaches age twenty-two. Such conditions are likely to continue indefinitely.
Developmental Domains	A term used by professionals to describe different areas of a child’s development. Examples are gross motor development and fine motor development.
Developmental Milestones	Term describing memorable accomplishments in child’s growth. Examples include: rolling over, crawling, walking, talking, etc.
Developmental Stages	An expected, sequential order of obtaining skills that children typically go through. Examples: crawling before walking, using fingers to feed themselves before using utensils.
Distance Learning	Using technology – radio, television, computer, or video – to allow student or professionals in one location to participate in activities/classes/meetings in another location.
Dramatic Play	Engaging in pretend play or acting out a scenario. Roll play.
Drop Off Child Care Centers	These facilities provide care for children for short periods of time while parents run errands or go to appointments.
Drop- in Care	A child care program that parents may use as back up or unscheduled child care.
Dual Language Immersion	Child care settings in which a child experiences a primary language that is different from the home/native language.
Dyslexia	An impairment in the brain’s processing of information that results in difficulty reading, spelling, writing, and related language skills. For more information, click here .
Early Care and Education	Services provided to children between birth and eight years old.
Early Childhood	The age range from birth to age eight.
Early Childhood Assistant Teacher	Works with teacher in conducting a developmentally and educationally appropriate program from children in a group or classroom.
Early Childhood Education	Education programs designed for children before they enter elementary school.
Early Childhood Professional	Individual who works with young children in any capacity.
Early Childhood Teacher	Individual who plans and conducts a developmentally and educationally appropriate program for children. Supervises assistant teachers and aides.
Early Head Start- EHS	A federally funded program which provides comprehensive developmental services to low income families. For more information, click here .
Early Intervention	A range of services designed to enhance the development of infants and toddlers with disabilities or at risk of development delay. These services are intended to maximize the potential of the child.
Early Literacy	The beginning stages of learning to read and write.
Early Reader	A child who is able to read and sound out words. He/she is also able to understand the meaning of what he/she is reading.
Earned Income Tax Credit	A refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families. For more information, click here .
Emergent Literacy	The development of reading and writing concepts and their meanings that takes place throughout childhood.
Employer Income Tax Credits	Credits available to businesses to allow them to reduce their business taxes. In the area of child care, a business who offers families assistance in paying for child care or operates a center may be eligible for these taxes.
Employer/Corporate Child Care	A child care setting that may offer benefits to employees. Some of these programs may be on-site near the parents’ place of employer.
ESL	An abbreviation for English as a Second Language.
Even Start	A family literacy program providing parents with instruction in a variety of literacy skills. The program assists families in promoting their child’s educational development.
Expressive Language Skills	The ability to communicate one's thoughts and feelings in words.
Extended Day Program	A child care program for school-aged children. This program provides supervision, academic enrichment, and recreation for children after school hours end.
Family Assessment	A process of gathering information to observe a family’s strengths and areas of improvements, as well as any concerns they may have in regard to their child’s development.
Family Assistance	Any state and/or federal programs providing families with support in the areas of income, health care, child care, food purchasing, and/or housing.
Family Centered Services	Help designed to meet specific needs of individual families.
Family Child/Day Care	Care in a provider’s home. Family child care is provided for a group of children of various ages.
Family Literacy	A practice of involving all family members in the learning of literacy and education skills. For more information, click here .
Family Support Services	Community based programs intended to assist families in developing their parenting skills through providing information on locating and accessing community resources and support.
Financial Assistance	Assistance provided by employers and community organizations to help families pay for a portion of child care costs.
Fine (small) Motor Control	Using the hands and fingers in a coordinated way to draw, write, cut, eat, or play.
Foster Children	Children placed in the state’s legal custody because their parents were deemed unfit to care for them. Reasons include: abuse, neglect, or inability to care for the children.
Foster Parents	State or county licensed adults who provide temporary homes for children in state custody whose birth parents are unable to care for them. For more information, click here .
Free Play	A leisurely time for children to choose their own play activities. This type of play may be indoors or outdoors.
Functional Print	Writing used for a specified purpose, such as signs, directions, lists, and personal messages.
GED Program (General Education Development)	A program that prepares individuals for the GED exam. A GED program is the equivalent of a high school diploma and focuses on skills such as math, science, social studies, writing, language, and the arts.
Gross (Large) Motor Control	Using large body muscles for movement in a balanced way such as running, walking, and playing ball.
Guardian	An individual who has legal authority and responsibility to care for another person as a result of another’s age, incapacity, or disability.
Hand-Eye Coordination	The hand and eye working together for completion of a task.
Head Start	Comprehensive child development programs which serve children from birth to age 5, pregnant women, and their families. They are child-focused programs and have the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families. For more information, click here .
Hearing	A scheduled court time when a judge or child support magistrate heras the facts of a case in order to make decisions about the case.
Home or Native Language	Typically the primary language used in a home, as well as the first language learned by a child.
Home School	Providing an education to children at home or in the community rather than in a public, private, or parochial school.
Home Visitor	An individual who conducts home-based child development/education programs for families.
Home- based Services	In-home activities provided to individuals or families to assist with household or personal care and improve or maintain adequate family well-being.
Ill child care	Child care services provided to a child who has a mild sickness. Similar terms include "mildly ill child care" and "sick child care."
In-home child care	Child care provided in the child's home by relatives or non-relatives. Non-relative caregivers are sometimes called nannies, babysitters and au pairs.
Inclusion	Being aware of everyone’s right to be treated the same.
Income eligible	Meeting state income requirements to receive a subsidy for child care.
Individualized Education Plan – (IEP)	A program generally developed for a child who receives special education services. The plan focuses on areas of assistance the child may need to succeed at specific tasks or areas of learning.
Individualized Family Service Plan	A guide written for the direction of early intervention practices used to assist a child with special needs. For more information, click here .
Individualized services	Services designed to meet the unique needs of children and families.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)	The national law that works to improve results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities. For more information, click here .
Infant	A child birth to 12 months of age
Infant stimulation programs	(also called parent/infant stimulation) - Programs for enhancing the sensory and cognitive development of infants and young toddlers through exercise and play.
Informal child care	A term used for child care provided by relatives, friends and neighbors in the child's own home or in another home, often in unregulated settings. Related term - kith and kin child care
Language	A system for communicating ideas and feelings using sounds, gestures, signs, or marks.
Learning center	In an early childhood program, this is an area that contains materials, such as blocks, pretend household items or art supplies, where children can explore their own interests at their own pace.
Learning disability	Difficulty in learning that is not related to intelligence or educational opportunity. Many children with learning disabilities have difficulties in particular skill areas, such as reading or math, or with language skills.
Learning disorder	A condition that is present when a child has difficulty learning certain academic skills.
Learning styles	The way an individual adapts to his/her learning environment.
License	A document issued by the State Department of Human Resources to a person, a group of people, or corporation who has met the state minimum standards for child care, which allows them to legally operate a child care program.
License-Exempt child care	Legally operating child care that is exempt from the regulatory system of the state or community.
Licensed child care	Child care programs operated in homes or in facilities that fall within the regulatory system of a state or community and comply with those regulations. Many states have different levels of regulatory requirements and use different terms to refer to these levels (e.g., licensing, certification, registration). For more information, click here .
Licensing inspection	An on-site inspection of a facility to assure compliance with licensing or other regulatory requirements.
Licensing or regulatory requirements	Standards necessary for a provider to legally operate child care services in a state or locality, including registration requirements established under state, local, or Tribal law.
Literacy	An individual's ability to read, write, communicate and comprehend.
Local Education Agency (LEA)	School district that is responsible for providing education services to students.
Mainstreaming	The integration of children with disabilities into non-special education classes for part or all of the school day.
Managed care services	A way to supervise the delivery of health care services. Managed care may specify which caregivers the insured family can see and may also limit the number of visits and kinds of services that are covered by insurance.
Manipulative toy	Small toys that foster fine-motor development and hand-eye coordination, such as nesting cups, puzzles, interlocking blocks, and materials from nature.
Market rate	Measures the child care rates charged by the provider and paid by the consumers in a specific geographic location. Assists in determining the maximum amount the State or county will pay for child care subsidies.
Mass media	Any form of communication produced to be consumed by a large number of individuals.
Maternity leave	Paid or unpaid time off work to care for a new baby, either after adoption or giving birth. In the U.S., under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, companies with 50 or more employees are required to offer eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period after the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Media	Various forms of communication. Common forms of media are televisions, radios, telephones, and newspapers. Less common articles are building materials, paint, sculpture, dance and other conventions for communicating ideas.
Media literacy	The ability to read, analyze, evaluate and produce communication in a variety of media forms (television, print, radio, computers, etc.)
Medicaid	A federally funded program that provides medical care for low-income families or individuals and/or persons with developmental disabilities. For more information, click here .
Medicare	A federal health insurance program run by the Health Care Financing Administration that includes both hospital and medical insurance. For more information, click here .
Mental health	How a person thinks, feels, and acts when faced with life's situations. This includes handling stress, relating to other people, and making decisions.
Mentors	A person who shares experience, knowledge and wisdom about a particular subject area.
Migrant child care	Special child care programs designed to serve children of migrant workers while their parents work.
Military child care	Child care supported by the Department of Defense (DoD) to children of military personnel.
Minor	A person less than 18 years of age.
Mixed-age grouping	This is typical in family child care setting. To combine children of various ages in the same child care setting.
Montessori school (preschool and grade school)	Montessori school programs (there are over 5,000 in North America) emphasize the importance and connection of all living things, and the need for each person to find meaningful work and his or her own place in the world. For more information, click here .
Motor skills	A person’s ability to use large and small muscle groups. Gross motor skills refer to the use of large muscles in activities such as running or jumping. Fine motor skills refer to small muscle coordination required for things like writing or buttoning a shirt.
Nanny	A nanny is employed by a family in either a live-in or live-out basis. The function of a nanny is to essentially be responsible for all care of the children in the home in a largely unsupervised setting. For more information, click here .
Needs assessment	A process of determining the needs of a defined population. In this case, children, families, or child care providers.
Non-custodial parent	The parent who does not have primary care of a minor child.
Non-traditional child care	Care provided during non-traditional work hours (i.e. weekends, work either before 6am or after 7pm Monday-Friday).
Nursery school	Group programs designed for children ages 3-5. Normally they operate for 3-4 hours per day, and from 2-5 days a week.
On-site child care	Child care programs that occur in facilities where parents are on the premises. For example, a child care center at the parents’ place of employment.
Out-of-school time	Refers to the non-school time periods for school-age children and adolescents, during which there is often a need for school-age child care and other types of programming. Care and education services provided to children between the ages of five and 12.
Outcome	A result of something.
Outreach	The activity of disseminating information about early care and education such as CCR&R service information, child care locations, hours of operation, quality indicators, and other topics related to the child care field.
Parent	A child’s natural or adoptive parent, or guardian, who is legally responsible for the child.
Parent cooperative preschool	A non-profit program developed and supported by a group of parents. These programs typically have hired educational professionals who teach the children and are assisted by parents in the organization.
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunities Reconciliation Act (PRWORA)	PRWORA is the federal welfare reform act. Titles in the act provide block grants for temporary assistance to needy families and child care; changes to Supplemental Security Income, child support, child protection, child nutrition, and food stamp program requirements; and restriction of welfare and public assistance benefits for aliens. PRWORA replaced AFDC programs with a stable block grant for six years. The replacement block grant program is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), which provides states greater flexibility in designing eligibility, benefit calculation and other criteria.
Physical disabilities	Disorders that result in significantly reduced bodily function, mobility, or endurance.
Pre-Kindergarten (pre-k)	Programs designed for children who are ages 3-5 with early education experiences to prepare them for school. Programs are also referred to as preschool and/or nursery school programs.
Preschool programs	Programs that provide care for children ages 3-5. Normally they operated for three to four hours per day, and from two to five days a week.
Primary language	The first language a child learns.
Print awareness	An awareness of the rules of written language, such as knowing that letters and numbers convey meaning and that words are separated by spaces.
Professional development	In the child care field, the term refers to opportunities for child care providers to get ongoing training to increase their preparation and skill to care for children. These include mentoring programs, credentialing programs, in-service training, and degree programs.
Proprietary care	A private or corporate owned child care program designed to be a for-profit organization.
Provider	Individual offering child care services child care services, i.e., child care centers, family child care homes, school-age child care programs.
Public assistance	Assistance to families or individuals through federal, state, or local governments. For more information, click here .
Public Law 99-457	Federal law passed in 1986 that extended special education services to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities. P.L. 99-457 was reauthorized in 1991 and is now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Quality Assurance	An organized set of activities intended to systematically ensure minimal safety of people receiving services and to encourage performance improvements.
Quality Childcare	These programs or providers offer engaging, appropriate activities in settings that facilitate healthy growth and development, and prepare children for or promote their success in school.
Quality Indicators	A set of measures that have been proven to affect the quality of early care and education and out of school time programs. Examples include: adult to child ratio, group size, caregiver qualifications, turnover and accreditation.
Quality Initiatives	Initiatives that are designed to increase the quality or availability of child care programs or to provide parents with information and support to enhance their ability to select child care arrangements most suited to their family and child's needs.
Read aloud	The purpose of this activity is to expose children to a variety of books and to inspire a love for reading.
Receptive language skills	The ability to process and understand others’ spoken or written words.
Referral	In the child care field, the process of helping a family or child care provider access a service. For example, locating quality child care for a parent, offering provider information and training, or offering financial assistance information.
Regulated child care	Child care facilities and homes that comply with either a state's regulatory system or another system of regulation. A related term is "licensed child care," which often refers to a particular level or standard of regulation.
Relative care	Child care provided by extended family members either within the child's home or at the relative's home. These forms of child care are often referred to as informal care.
Resource and referral agency	A local organization who gives parents information about local child care centers or family child care homes when researching child care options. They also may provide training for child care providers, administer child care subsidy, and/or work with the community to increase public awareness of the need for child care services.
Respite care	A service that provides a temporary break for parents caring for their children. Types of respite may include a home health nurse for an ill child or an individual who cares for a child while a parent takes to time run errands or attend appointments.
School readiness	The state of early development that enables a child to engage in and benefit from learning experiences. The five arenas of child development that indicate school readiness are: health and physical development; social and emotional development; approaches toward learning; language development and communication; and, cognition and general knowledge.
School-age child care	Child care for children who are at least five years old. These programs complement the school day or the school year.
School-based child care	Child care programs that occur in school facilities.
Screening	A brief assessment designed to identify children who are at risk for health problems, developmental problems, and/or disabling conditions. These children may need to receive helpful intervention services as early as possible.
Sensory-motor	A developmental exploration by a child using their senses: touching, tasting, seeing, smelling, and hearing.
Separation anxiety	An excessive and persistent uneasiness, in young children, about being separated from one’s parents.
Sick child care	Child care services provided to a child who has a mild illness. Similar terms include "ill child care" and "mildly ill child care."
Sliding fee scale	A formula for determining the amount of child care fees or co-payments to be paid by parents or guardians, usually based on income.
Slot / Space	A place for a child in a child care program.
Social and emotional development	The progression of self awareness and regulation. This growth also allows a child to learn to interact with others.
Social Services Block Grant (SSBG)	A federal block grant for states to support a variety of preventative social service programs for adults and children. For more information, click here .
Socialization	The process by which an individual becomes familiar with his/her culture, society, family, values and norms. Learning and adapting to what is accepted as appropriate behavior in a particular social setting.
Special education	Educational programs and services for special needs and/or gifted individuals who have intellectually, physically, emotionally, or socially different characteristics from those who can be taught through normal methods or materials.
Special health care needs	Any unique assistance, equipment, or services required to aid an individual with health concerns.
Special needs child	An individual under the age of 18 who has any condition that may require additional care or attention in areas of daily living skills, education, or behavioral concerns. Common conditions include attachment disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), developmental disabilities, fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), learning disabilities, and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
Staff/child ratio (adult child ratio)	The number of qualified caregivers caring for a specified number of children in a child care program. Required ratios vary depending on the ages and abilities of the children in care.
Staffing	The process of hiring and training employees needed to perform an agency function.
Stay-at-home (SAH)	Parent-provided care in the family home.
Subsidized child care	A child care service that is partially funded by public or charitable funds to decrease the cost to parents.
Subsidy/ financial assistance	A private or public assistance that reduces the cost of a service (such as child care).
T & TA	An abbreviation for training and technical assistance.
Tax credit	A specific reduction in tax liability. For more information, click here .
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)	Formerly known as AFDC, Aid to Families with Dependent Children. A program that offers assistance and work opportunities to needy families by granting states the federal funds and wide flexibility to develop and implement their own welfare programs. For more information, click here .
Therapeutic child care	Programs commonly integrated as complements of services provided by professional and paraprofessional staff. Included may be well structured treatment programs for young children provided in a safe, nurturing, stimulating environment.
Tiered reimbursement system	A subsidy payment system offering higher payments for child care that meets higher quality standards or for child care that is in short supply.
Title 1	A program for youth, eighth grade and below, that provides additional support for those needing instruction or assistance.
Toddler	A child 13 to 36 months of age.
Toy lending libraries	Provides children and parents with games, toys, and other materials that can be used for learning purposes. Lending Libraries may be housed in public libraries, public schools, or early childhood centers; birth through primary years.
Transition	A change from one environment or service delivery model to another (e.g., leaving early intervention services and entering preschool); moving from one activity in a classroom to another.
Transitional Child Care	Child care subsidies offered to families who have transitioned from a cash assistance system to employment.
Tribal child care	Publicly supported child care programs offered by Native American Tribes in the United States. Federally recognized Tribes are CCDF grantees.
Unlicensed child care	Child care programs that have not been licensed by the state. The term may refer to both child care that can be legally operating without a license, as well as programs that are not licensed, but should be.
Unregulated child care	Child care programs that are not monitored by state regulating agency.
Visual motor coordination	Another term for hand-eye coordination.
Vouchers	Documents used in subsidized assistance to families using center-based, family child care or legal/unregulated care. States often have different definitions regarding the exact nature of vouchers, and sometimes refer to them as certificates. Also identified as a subsidized space by the Department of Human Services for TANF clients.
Waiver	A suspension or change of an eligibility requirement in a client's case. This term used in a disability context usually refers to the US federal government’s Medicaid program. In a practical sense ICF/MR (institutional) programs are viewed as services to which people with developmental disabilities are entitled. The government’s Health Care Finance Authority (HCFA) can grant exceptions or waivers to states that have consumers who would rather have community non-institutional services. An individual must sign a form acknowledging they are foregoing the option of institutional services.