Family Child Care Homes
In family child care homes, providers care for small groups of children in a residential building. Often this type of care has one or two caregivers and may offer non-traditional hours.
- About This Type of Care
Not all family child care homes may be required to follow a set of minimum health and safety requirements. It is always important to ask a family child care provider or check with your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency to check to see if your provider is required to be licensed. Family child care homes may be referred to by different names depending on where you live and your state’s regulations. Here are some common names for family child care homes:
- Licensed child care home
- Licensed group family child care home
- Legally or license-exempt home
- Certified child care home
- Registered child care home
- Family, friend, and neighbor care
Family child care homes also may be classified as a large or small family home, depending on the number of children in care. Families choose family child care providers for different reasons:
- The home-like environment is appealing to many families.
- Family child care providers care for fewer children at one time.
- Siblings can be together because most family child care homes have different ages of children enrolled.
- There are fewer adults that may care for your child on a daily basis.
- Family child care homes may be more flexible with their hours of operation compared to other types of care.
You may want to check to see if your family child care provider participates in your state’s Quality Rating and Improvement System.
Tips for Choosing This Type of Care
- Ask to see a copy of the program’s license and inspection history. These reports provide you valuable information about the provider’s health and safety compliance. Click on Child Care by State Resource to find out more information on licensing and inspection reports in your state.
- Confirm that every adult living, working, or volunteering in the child care home has had a comprehensive background check.
- Ask the provider about the number of adults and children present (staff to child ratios).
- If you are looking for infant care, make sure to ask your provider about their Safe Sleep policies. For more information on questions to ask your family child care provider, see our Family Child Care Home Checklist.
Child Care Centers
Child care centers often group children by age and are generally operated out of non-residential, commercial buildings. Centers are larger and enroll more children with a dedicated director and numerous staff members.
- About This Type of Care
Some child care centers operate as non-profit and may be owned by an individual, church, public school, or a government agency. Other child care centers may operate as a for-profit and may be owned by an individual or a chain. Not all child care centers may be required to be licensed. Some examples of center-based programs that may not be required to be licensed include:
- Programs operated by a school
- School-age before and after-care programs
- Summer camps
- Faith-based programs, including Parent’s Day Out programs
- Part-time programs, including some nursery schools, preschools, and pre-kindergarten programs
It is always important to ask your child care center or check with your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency to check to see if your provider is required to be licensed. You may also want to check to see if your child care center participates in your state’s Quality Rating and Improvement System. Families choose child care centers for different reasons:
- Child care centers have a classroom-like environment where children are cared for in groups of other children, typically the same age.
- Child care centers have more adults present in the building.
- Child care centers offer a variety of activities and opportunities for children.
- Child care centers often have the most regulations and inspections for health and safety standards.
Tips for Choosing This Type of Care
- Ask to see a copy of the program’s license and inspection history. These reports provide you with valuable information about the provider’s health and safety compliance. Click on Child Care by State Resource to find out more information on licensing and inspection reports in your state.
- Confirm that every adult living, working, or volunteering in the child care center has had a comprehensive background check.
- Ask the provider about the number of adults and children present (staff-to-child ratios).
- If you are looking for infant care, make sure to ask your provider about their Safe Sleep policies. For more information on questions to ask your child care center provider, see our Child Care Center Checklist.
Preschool Programs
Preschool programs are typically offered for children ages 3-5 years old. Preschool programs may be offered through a school, faith-based organizations, non-profit organizations, and child care centers.
- About This Type of Care
Not all family child care homes may be required to follow a set of minimum health and safety requirements. It is always important to ask a family child care provider or check with your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency to check to see if your provider is required to be licensed. Family child care homes may be referred to by different names depending on where you live and your state’s regulations. Here are some common names for family child care homes:
- Licensed child care home
- Licensed group family child care home
- Legally or license-exempt home
- Certified child care home
- Registered child care home
- Family, friend, and neighbor care
Family child care homes also may be classified as a large or small family home, depending on the number of children in care. Families choose family child care providers for different reasons:
- The home-like environment is appealing to many families.
- Family child care providers care for fewer children at one time.
- Siblings can be together because most family child care homes have different ages of children enrolled.
- There are fewer adults that may care for your child on a daily basis.
- Family child care homes may be more flexible with their hours of operation compared to other types of care.
You may want to check to see if your family child care provider participates in your state’s Quality Rating and Improvement System.
Tips for Choosing This Type of Care
- Ask to see a copy of the program’s license and inspection history. These reports provide you valuable information about the provider’s health and safety compliance. Click on Child Care by State Resource to find out more information on licensing and inspection reports in your state.
- Confirm that every adult living, working, or volunteering in the child care home has had a comprehensive background check.
- Ask the provider about the number of adults and children present (staff to child ratios).
- If you are looking for infant care, make sure to ask your provider about their Safe Sleep policies. For more information on questions to ask your family child care provider, see our Family Child Care Home Checklist.
School-Age Programs
School-age programs typically provide child care during the before- and after-school hours. They may also offer care during school holidays and summer break.
- About This Type of Care
Different options for school-age care may exist in your community. Local schools may provide care during the before- and after-school hours and may contract with an outside provider such as the YMCA or Boys and Girls Club to offer this type of care. Some family child care providers and child care centers also offer school-age care. Other programs, such as parks and recreation departments, community-based programs, and churches may offer this type of care as well. It is always important to ask your school-age provider or check with your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency to check to see if your provider is required to be licensed. You may also want to check to see if your school-age provider participates in your state’s Quality Rating and Improvement System.
Tips for Choosing This Type of Care
- Ask to see a copy of the program’s license and inspection history. These reports provide you valuable information about the provider’s health and safety compliance. Click on Child Care by State Resource to find out more information on licensing and inspection reports in your state.
- Confirm that every adult working or volunteering in the program has had a comprehensive background check.
- Ask the provider about the number of adults and children present (staff to child ratios).
- Ask the provider if they offer care during times of school closures due to weather.
- For more information on questions to ask your school-age provider, see our School-Age Program Checklist.
Family, Friend and Neighbor Care
Family, friend and neighbor care is provided in the child or caregiver’s home by a person who is a relative, friend or neighbor, or a babysitter or nanny.
- About This Type of Care
These programs typically are legally exempt from regulations. They may not be required to meet health, safety, and training standards unless they care for children who receive government child care subsidies or vouchers. The specific definition of family, friend and neighbor care and the regulatory requirements depends on the number of children in care, whether or not the children are relatives and the state in which you live.
Families may choose this type of care for several reasons:
- Family, friend and neighbor care providers are someone you feel comfortable with and trust.
- There may be more flexibility in hours and transportation with a family, friend, nanny or neighbor.
- Care provided by a family, friend, or neighbor can be the least expensive.
It is always essential to ask your family, friend and neighbor care provider or check with your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency to see if they are required to be licensed.
Tips for Choosing This Type of Care
- If your provider is not required to be licensed, ask them if they have taken first aid and CPR training.
- If infant care is needed, ask your provider if they have taken safe sleep training. If they have not, ask them to enroll. Check with your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency for information on safe sleep training. Your infant should be put to sleep on his/her back in a designated space with no soft bedding, bumper pads, or stuffed animals. Ask how your infant will be supervised at all times, especially during naps or overnight.
- Ask your provider about what foods are served to ensure that your child receives nutritious meals and snacks throughout the day.
- If care is provided in their residence, consider performing a background check on your provider and other adults residing or visiting frequently.
- Ask the provider about the number of adults and children present (staff-to-child ratios).
- Discuss and agree upon payment arrangements, holiday schedules, screen time and discipline.
- Ensure the provider’s indoor and outdoor environments are safe and free of any hazards.
Additional Resource
Download our All in the Family brochure for tips on making Family, Friend and Neighbor care work for you.
