The hours that childcare facilities are open and available may differ between daycare and preschool. Many preschool programs are only open part time. This may mean that they are open in the mornings, in the afternoons or only on specific days of the week. However, it is possible to find preschools that are open all day. Daycares are generally open all day, Monday through Friday. Some daycares hold extended hours from 6 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m. to accommodate parents' work schedules. However, these rules do not apply to all daycares and preschools.
The cost of attending preschool or daycare is often the same, according to Baby Center. Preschools that offer half-day attendance will be less expensive than all-day daycare, but the hourly cost will probably be similar. Schools that offer cooked meals and snacks may prove more expensive than those that require students to bring packed lunches and snacks.
A traditional preschool only accepts students of a certain age; often from about 3 years old up to 5 or 6. Many daycare programs care for a much wider age range, often anywhere from 6 weeks to 5 or 6 years of age. In addition, daycares offer after-school care for school-aged children.
Preschool is designed to teach your child the language, math and social skills needed to begin kindergarten and excel in school and beyond. This is done through a specific curriculum that is often theoretically based, according to the Baby Center. Most traditional daycares focus only on childcare, and do not teach students or use a specially designed curriculum. However, some daycare facilities do provide learning opportunities for students.
Daycares and preschools must be licensed and accredited before accepting students. Both daycares and preschools must meet the same requirements, according to the Baby Center.