Although no option is better than the other, there are differences between child care centers and family child care (home-based childcare). Family child care providers offer a smaller, home-like environment with fewer children within a mixed age group, while child care centers tend to be larger with a more institutionalized feel. There is the potential for better educated and trained caregivers, along with a more structured schedule in a child care center, and the opposite could be true for home-based care. Regardless, parents should examine the pros and cons of each, while always looking for a high-quality program that is licensed, has low teacher-to-child ratios, offers a developmentally appropriate curriculum, and employs trained and experienced caregivers.
