Types of Child Care Facilities

According to the 1984 U.S. Census Bureau report, Who's Minding the Kids?, parents generally select one of three types of child care facilities: family care, home care or day-care center. There are, however, other child care programs available, including the following:

• Family child care - A program designed to provide care for toddlers in the homes of other mothers.
• Home child care - A nanny or sitter cares for and supervises a child in the child's home.
• Day-care and child development centers - Programs designed to respond to the stages of physical, emotional, social and intellectual growth and behavior of infants and children.
• Child care development home - A private residence for up to five children, with no more than two infants in the group.
• Infant care center - A child development center that cares for infants and toddlers (children two years old or younger).
• Before- and after-school care - A program providing care for school-age children before and after the regular school day in a child development center or home.
• Satellite child development program - A private residence linked with a child development center or an agency that receives technical assistance and support, training, recruiting and placement.
• Nursery school - Usually a part-time preschool child development center operating during the school year.