Where is the best facility to take your child to? Is daycare a best option for your child or is it best they attend a preschool?
Well, if you are wondering if a daycare or a preschool will be suitable for your child, there are several factors to consider before making the decision. A daycare and a preschool offer different care programs, so you must understand the difference between daycare vs preschool.
As a parent, the most important thing to consider before putting your child in a daytime facility is your child’s safety and the credibility of the organization to help your child learn and grow in a conducive environment.
We have highlighted some of the differences between a daycare and a preschool in this article to help you make the right decision.
Daycare (Child care)
Daycare or child care refers to the attentive supervision of a child or children. Generally, these are children whose ages range from two weeks to 18 years.
Daycare refers to the care provided by qualified caregivers. Early child care plays an important role in the development of a child. Although it’s often overlooked, providing care to a child at an early helps prepare them for the next stage of their learning process.
Children can be cared for by individuals and groups. Institutions provide caregivers to take care of children in a well-equipped facility to help with their learning.
However, the role of caregiving can be the responsibility of an extended family member.
Daycare offers a wide range of childcare options for parents who are always busy with work. Whether you prefer a full-time centre-based program or part-time or in-home daycare, the option is for you to choose.
It may be difficult for parents to find a care program that they are satisfied with. The options are there and finding the best facility for your child depends on your personal preference.
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Daycare vs Preschool: What are some of the Benefits of Child Care?
A child has so much to benefit from a daycare or childcare program.
- Child care helps build self-confidence and social skills in a child by interacting with other kids.
- It also helps build a sense of structure, which improves daily and provides a good routine to follow and depend on as the child grows.
- Child care also helps a child learn the importance of relationships with kids and adults.
Preschool
A preschool refers to something of or relating to early childhood, especially to those years before attendance at primary school. The term “preschool” sometimes can be spelled as “pre-school” or “pre school”.
A preschool is an educational facility that offers early childhood education to children before they progress to the next stage of their education. Children attend preschool before heading to primary school.
Generally, a preschool may be publicly or privately operated. It can also be subsidized by public funds.
Enrolling your child in a preschool helps prepare them to enter a regular classroom setting. Working parents rely on the programs offered at preschools to help with their child’s development.
Preschool prepares a child for what’s next in their early stages of learning. Social skills are nurtured and improved by allowing kids to interact with others.
A preschool may be publicly or privately operated and can also be subsidized by public funds.
Daycare vs Preschool: What are some of the Benefits of Preschool?
Taking your child to preschool is one of the most effective ways to prepare them academically for the next stage of their learning process. Preschool builds a child’s confidence to converse and socialize with others.
The programs offered at preschools teach children how to identify and pronounce a few letter words. This is the stage that prepares them to adapt quickly to the next academic level.
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Daycare vs Preschool: Key Differences between Daycare and Preschool
Daycare centres and preschool facilities help to nurture, guide, and offer early childhood education.
Daycare refers to the care provided by qualified caregivers. Early child care plays an important role in the development of a child. Although it’s often overlooked, providing care to a child at an early helps prepare them for the next stage of their learning process.
A preschool is an educational facility that offers early childhood education to children before they progress to the next stage of their education. Children attend preschool before heading to primary school.
Daycare centres offer childcare programs for children while their parents are busy with work. A daycare facility caters to a broad age range, from infants to school-aged children.
They operate in a safe and nurturing environment, providing care to children whose parents are busy with work.
A preschool is an early childhood educational setting for kids between the ages of 3 to 5. Programs offered at preschools follow a structured curriculum that helps build social skills and develop language and social abilities.
Classes at preschools are usually held during school hours.
Daycare vs Preschool: Age Difference
One major difference between daycare and preschool is the age difference.
Daycare centres are usually for infants and toddlers. Some offer after-school programs to older kids. Daycare centres are designed to accommodate infants and toddlers.
It’s a fun place for infants to play around and also learn a few things. While a parent is busy with their work at the office, their child will be enjoying the comfort of staying at a daycare centre.
In contrast, a preschool is an early childhood educational setting for kids between the ages of 3 to 5. A preschool mainly focuses on getting the children ready for kindergarten, teaching and building their social skills by allowing them to interact with other kids.
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Daycare vs Preschool: Caregiver Staff
As a parent, one of the major factors to consider before leaving your child at a daycare centre or preschool is child to teacher ratio. Your child should not be in an overcrowded facility, so it’s best you search for a preschool with a smaller class size.
When your child is in a smaller class, they will get all the attention they need from the caregivers or teachers.
For daycare centres, the child-to-teacher ratio should be 1 to 3 or 1 to 5. The number of people in a class will increase as your child gets older.
You may opt for an in-home daycare centre to give your child the best experience of a private childcare environment. They are the best option if you are a parent looking for part-time and temporary care.
Daycare vs Preschool: Schedule
A standard daycare centre should offer both part-time and full-time options for working parents. This will save you the stress of always being worried if you are going to drop off your child early or late.
Unlike daycare centres, most preschools don’t have a flexible schedule. Their schedules are usually seasonal, with time off for breaks and holidays. As a working parent, this can affect your busy schedule.
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Daycare vs Preschool: Comparison Chart
| Daycare | Preschool | |
| Age range | Infants and toddlers | Between 3 to 5 years |
| Schedule | Full-day year-round | School-like schedule, often part-time |
| Curriculum | Paly-based less structured | Structured, preparing kids for kindergarten |
| Hours | Extended to accommodate working parents | Similar to school hours and less flexible |
| Focus | Childcare with some educational activities | Early childhood education |
| Teacher role | Supervision, care, and teaching | Teaching, with a focus on educational outcomes |
| Environment | Caring and nurturing less formal | Educational and structured, classroom-based |
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