Home-based daycare is usually run out of the teacher's or owner's home. There may be a special area reserved for daycare, or the children may be allowed to play or use all areas of the house. Home-based daycare providers may have children of their own in their home and may or may not have degrees or licenses in the area of early childhood education or child development. Some states do require home-based daycare providers to be licensed, and it is best to check state guidelines before choosing any daycare provider.
Home-based care is usually very flexible, both in the hours that the facility is open and in price. Hours may start early in the morning and end late at night. Since it takes less money to operate --- requiring fewer employees and less overhead, for example --- a home-based daycare operation may charge less than a center-based one. Home-based daycare facilities are much smaller than daycare centers, meaning that a child will get more attention and that the overall child-to-adult ratio is small. Children in home-based care are in a mixed age-group setting, and siblings can stay together during the day versus being separated into different rooms. Finally, many home-based daycare programs are run by mothers, and it may be reassuring for many to know that their children are with another experienced parent.
A center-based daycare operation is usually run from a building and is staffed by preschool teachers and aides. The teachers and aides may have teaching licenses and/or a degree in a relevant area, such as child psychology, elementary education or nursing. The center has to meet government qualifications in health, safety, education and other areas in order to be accredited. All staff will have had a background check and criminal check.
Daycare centers will have more policies in place to meet safety guidelines in all areas of child care. That includes making sure staff members have no criminal background, ensuring that all playground equipment is safe and meets safety standards and ensuring that all food and beverages meet USDA guidelines for nutrition. Other great benefits include a low teacher-to-student ratio and the separation of children by age. Age separation makes it easy for children to play with age-appropriate toys, interact with same-age peers and learn developmentally appropriate tasks and skills.