1. CHILD CARE PROGRAM COMPARISON
Child Care Types and Programs

2. TYPES OF CHILD CARE: CUSTODIAL: Care for basic needs
DEVELOPMENTAL: Intellectual development
COMPREHENSIVE: Combines both custodial and developmental care

3. Types of Child Care Programs
Family Day Care
Day Care center
Montessori School
Head Start
Nursery School
Latch Key Program
Parent Cooperative
Lab School
On-Site Day Care
Play Groups

4. FAMILY DAY CARE
DESCRIPTION: Child care within a family residence for profit. Should provide care for 4 or more children but no more than 6, except for school age.
TEACHER ROLE: Give personal attention in a home environment.
ADVANTAGES: Homelike, low ratios (1-7 including own children)
DISADVANTAGES: Not structured, they can go about their daily jobs, and not have total thought to your child. Difficult to enforce licensing and credentials of caregiver.
LOCAL PROGRAMS: Neighbors

5. DAY CARE CENTERS
DESCRIPTION: Full or Half time child care. 13 or more children ages 4 weeks to 13 years. License required. Informal play
TEACHER ROLE: Well trained, skills meet licensing standards, regulated training.
ADVANTAGES: Cares for basic needs of child, they have concern for the child only.
DISADVANTAGES: Crowded and commercialized. Ratios high.
LOCAL PROGRAMS: Kindercare, Small World

6. MONTESSORI SCHOOLS
DESCRIPTION: Learn by doing and on their own by playing with Montessori toys. Freedom within limits….Use concrete objects, task learning and 5 senses
TEACHER ROLE: Evaluate child’s needs, prepare environment and present materials.
ADVANTAGES: Skill based, teaches self motivation and basic life skills
DISADVANTAGES: Low teacher interaction, High noise, for profit
LOCAL PROGRAMS: LaPetite, Montessori

7. HEAD START
DESCRIPTION: Federally funded program for low-income child. Gives Academic head start to enter Kindergarten at a higher level. Gives total health plan and nutrition.
TEACHER ROLE: Work with parents as a team.
ADVANTAGES: Meals, shots, health care, professional staff, gov. funded, transportation, counseling provided.
DISADVANTAGES: Children may have emotional problems
LOCAL PROGRAMS: Local Elementary Schools

8. PRE-SCHOOL/NURSERY SCHOOL
DESCRIPTION: Kindergarten prep for intellectual development.
TEACHER ROLE: Plan and prepare developmental Curriculum
ADVANTAGES: Developmentally planned program for overall growth
DISADVANTAGES: High cost ($90-140/month)
LOCAL PROGRAMS: Bravo

9. LATCH KEY PROGRAMS
DESCRIPTION: Care for school-age child before & after school.
TEACHER ROLE: supervise homework and extra curricular activities.
ADVANTAGES: Fun activities, safe
DISADVANTAGES: Sponsors to fund program
LOCAL PROGRAMS: Boy and girls Club

10. PARENT COOPERATIVES DESCRIPTION: Parents involved and work as aides.
TEACHER ROLE: Hired Teacher…parent rotation for each lesson. Teach only… no management responsibilities.
ADVANTAGES: Less costs. Parents know what child is learning & make decisions, collect fees
DISADVANTAGES: Lack of control on teachers, lack of continuity and consistency or rules.
LOCAL PROGRAMS: Charter School

11. LAB SCHOOLS
DESCRIPTION: Located on a post secondary/high school campus. #1 goal is to teach student teachers, not the child.
TEACHER ROLE: Teach other teachers, Receiving training on job, Try out new curriculum and research.
ADVANTAGES: Ratios low, curriculum checked by a professional
DISADVANTAGES: It is a lab to train students, not teach the child
LOCAL PROGRAMS: Weber State, USU, Local High schools

12. ON-SITE DAY CARE
DESCRIPTION: Work located Day Care. Parents can work near child and drop in during the day.
TEACHER ROLE: Provide custodial care, and possibly some developmental.
ADVANTAGES: Promotes families, sick child care provided, parent has less sick days
DISADVANTAGES: Child has a longer drive
LOCAL PROGRAMS: Syracuse High, U of U Medical Center and various businesses

13. PLAY GROUPS
DESCRIPTION: Parents take turns caring for each others children.
TEACHER ROLE: Plan activity for the day
ADVANTAGES: Trade instead of pay money
DISADVANTAGES: May not be fair unless a system has a way to control
LOCAL PROGRAMS: Individual homes, Joy School

14. Quality Child Care Well planned schedule
Balance between quiet and active time
Balanced indoor & outdoor time
Encourages independence
Promotes self esteem
Fairness used & taught
Parent communication is strong
Clean and Safe
Nutrition is a priority