The terms "day care" and "child care" are often used interchangeably to describe the regular, supervised, and paid care and education of children from birth to age 13 years outside children’s home while parents are at work, at school, or in training. Such care is available to parents during work hours and throughout the year. The following is a discussion of various terms related to child care, examples that show the transition from the term "day care" to "child care," and a table with definitions of the terms used in the discussion.
During the 1970s and 1980s, a transition from use of the term "day care" to use of the term "child care" took place in the early childhood education field. By the early 1990s, "child care" was in common usage by early care and education professionals. The term "child care" emphasizes caring for a child and not on the time of day when care is provided. It also distinguishes the care of children from care for adults, which is also known as day care. "Child care" also recognizes that some parents, who work nontraditional hours, need care for their children outside of the 6:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. timeframe.
Child care can be provided at a variety of sites, including child care centers, public schools, family child care and group homes, the homes of families and friends and neighbors, and the in a child’s home. Most programs that care for more than a certain number of children are required to be licensed or regulated.
Child care programs are often designed for specific age groups. The most common categories are infant and toddler care for children younger than 3 years, preschool programs for children from 3 years until kindergarten, and school-age child care provided before and after school, during summers, and on school holidays for children from kindergarten to age 13 years (also known after-school care and out-of-school time care).
Child care is different than babysitting. Generally, babysitting is provided in a child’s home on a short-term, intermittent basis. The primary purpose of babysitting is to keep children safe. Babysitting does not have the learning component that is integral to child care, and is not regulated like out-of-home child care.
All child care should include a planned program that addresses children’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and language development. Child care should provide a schedules program, and supervision that responds to each child’s developmental needs, interests, and behavior.
All early education does not take place in child care programs. Preschools, nursery schools, prekindergarten programs, and many Head Start programs have traditionally served 3- and 4-year-old children in part-day or full-school-day education programs that follow the academic calendar. These programs do not necessarily provide care for children during the parents’ full work hours.
The following table provides definitions for the terms that are used in the discussion of day care and child care. Some of these terms are from a specific early care and education resource and are cited accordingly.
After-school child care
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Child care programs provided before and after school, during summers and on school holidays for children from kindergarten to age 13. Programs are also referred to as school-age child care. * |
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Care provided in a child’s home on a short-term, intermittent basis. The primary purpose of babysitting is to keep children safe. Babysitting does not have the learning component that is integral to child care, and is not regulated like out-of-home child care. [Return to text] |
A center licensed or otherwise authorized to provide child care services for fewer than 24 hours per day per child in a non-residential setting, unless care in excess of 24 hours is due to the nature of the parents’ work.* [Return to text] |
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Regular, supervised, and paid care and education of children from birth to age 13 years outside of the child’s home while their parents are at work, at school, or in training. It is available to parents during work hours and throughout the year. [Return to text] |
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Regular, supervised, and paid care and education of children from birth to age 13 years outside of the child’s home while their parents are at work, at school, or in training. It is available to parents during work hours and throughout the year. Regular, supervised, and paid care and education of adults outside of their homes. It is generally available during work hours and throughout the year. [Return to text] |
An individual who provides child care services for fewer than 24 hours per day per child, as the sole caregiver, in a private residence other than the child’s residence, unless care in excess of 24 hours is due to the nature of the parents’ work.* Additional information is available in the document, Definition of Licensed Family Child Care Homes, in the Licensing Regulations topic under the Popular Topics section of the National Child Care Information Center Web site at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/pubs/cclicensingreq/definition-fcc.pdf. [Return to text] |
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Child care that is provided by family, friends, and neighbors. It is also referred to as kith and kin care or as license-exempt care. In some cases, it may also be called informal care.* [Return to text] |
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Group home child care is two or more individuals who provide child care services for fewer than 24 hours per day per child, in a private residence other than the child’s residence, unless care in excess of 24 hours is due to the nature of the parents’ work.* [Return to text] |
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Head Start and Early Head Start
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A comprehensive child development program that serves children from birth to age 5 years and their families. It is a child-focused program and has the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families. The Head Start program is administered by the Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. All Head Start programs must adhere to Program Performance Standards.* With the reauthorization of the Head Start program in 1994, the U.S. Congress established a new program for low-income families with infants and toddlers and pregnant women called Early Head Start. The Early Head Start program provides resources to community programs to address such needs and to achieve the purposes set forth by Congress.* [Return to text] |
Child care for children from birth to age 3 years. [Return to text] |
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Child care that is provided in a child’s home. [Return to text] |
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Child care programs operated in homes or in facilities that fall within the regulatory system of a State, community, or Tribe and comply with those regulations. Some States may call their regulatory processes certification or registration.* [Return to text] |
Care provided to children at times outside of the traditional work day, e.g., during the hours between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., and between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.* [Return to text] |
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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 prekindergarten programs.* [Return to text] |
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Programs that occur for less than a full school day during the academic year. [Return to text] |
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Programs designed for children who are ages 3–5 years with early education experiences to prepare them for school. Programs are also referred to as preschool and/or nursery school programs.* [Return to text] |
Programs designed for children who are ages 3–5 years with early education experiences to prepare them for school. Programs are also referred to as prekindergarten and/or nursery school programs.* [Return to text] |
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Child care programs provided before and after school, during summers and on school holidays for children from kindergarten to age 13 years. Programs are also referred to as after-school child care.* [Return to text] |
*Source: Child Care Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2006). Child Care and Development Fund report of state and territory plans, FY 2006-2007. Washington, DC: Author.