What Is the Difference Between a Childcare Center & a Daycare Center?

The differences between a child care and daycare center are slim and the terms are usually interchangeable based on personal associations. However, the differences that allow people to associate the terms are usually found in the curriculum, structure, staffing and state regulations.

Definition

Child care centers, more associated with preschools, are educational environments with curriculum for all ages, including infants; whereas, daycares offer drop-in care, before and after school care, and are not curriculum based.

Licensing Requirements

State regulations govern licenses given to child care centers. These regulations vary by state and are dependent on child-to-teacher ratios and physical site characteristics.

Staffing

Employees of child care centers often hold higher education credits with experience working and teaching young children; whereas, a daycare is often younger staff without education and experience requirements.

Classroom Experience

A child care center's turnover rate is often lower; therefore, a child's teacher will more than likely remain the same throughout his classroom experience. A daycare is often not divided into classrooms, thereby removing the classroom ownership experience.

In-Home Care Centers

Often home-based care programs maintain a daycare philosophy. As such, in-home centers are often not associated with educational child care centers, but they do exist in both forms.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Child Day Care Services
• 5 Steps to Choosing Quality Childcare

Resources

• Individual States' Child Care Licensure Regulations:
• Child Care Bureau
• Child Day Care USA