Mary Ellen Carlson, Director
Heritage House Childcare & Learning Center 

March 2008 - Parents and guardians are always looking for the best methods of care for their children.  Before a baby becomes mobile, many adults are seeking the advice of educators, childcare providers, and older/wiser family members to help make the best decisions for what their child’s needs will be during the preschool years and how they best can meet those needs.

Typical Fundamental Differences:

• Day care offers care and programming for ages six weeks through five years of age while preschool is  programming for only three to five year-olds.
• Day care usually offers a less structured day whereas a preschool typically offers a more structured atmosphere.
• Day care is providing care for lengthy hours of the day.  Preschool is usually offered in two to three-hour slots once during the day.  Some preschools do offer two sessions during the day for two completely different sets of students.

Typical Advantages of Preschool:

• More structured educational environment.
• Programming to ready your child for Kindergarten.
• Short duration of time (two-three hours) for instruction. The usual limit for instructional purposed for a child/day in the three-five year age bracket.
• Staffed by certified teachers and directors.
• Cost is considerably less because time is two-three hours.

Typical Advantages of Day Care:

• Care provided for 12-24 hours/day.
• Programming for children from ages six weeks to five years.
• May include a preschool curriculum for two-three hours a day.
• Meals and snacks provided.
• Accept all children within the range for which they are licensed.

As stated by the U.S. Senator Zell Miller, “Preschool is the most important grade.”  Studies have been conducted that prove some of the long-term advantages of early childhood education.  As reported in the April 2003 issue of Educational Leadership (“The First Years of School”), “children who attended preschool are less likely to be held back in school later.”

Many day care centers have planned activities for children such as crafts, games, and the like.  Most preschools will have activities that engage children in a more structured educational curriculum with the use of these other activities to enforce the educational lessons.

Children entering a preschool will have to reach the criteria set by that particular institution.  Usually, this includes being potty trained, able to eat independently, and the ability to express needs using words.  Most preschools want the child to be mature enough to adjust to a group setting and to being away from home for at least a half day (three hours) without emotional instability.  As described by the word “preschool”, this type of institution is designed to teach a child.

Many people use the terms preschool and day care interchangeably.  They really do refer to two completely different institutional ideas.  Day care is really the tending to children for the duration of time needed by the parents or guardians, most often while at work.  Preschool is an educational time spent teaching children in a structured environment.

Some childcare centers, such as Heritage House Childcare & Learning Center, are a day care center with a built-in preschool program.  The preschool curriculum is utilized by the three and four-year-old classrooms for up to three hours each morning.  Most preschools with a wraparound day care such as this usually schedule the preschool programming in the morning when children are rested.  Children at this age need their rest as the day progresses and it is provided through a scheduled rest time in the afternoon following lunch.

Many day care centers provide a winding down activity (watching a video or listening to a CD) that all children participate in while resting on a mat for thirty minutes.  This gives the children who require a nap some quiet time throughout the classroom so they can fall asleep.  Most day care centers will also offer quiet activities in the room for children to participate in who do not fall asleep.

It is very important to offer down time to all children.  Children at this age should not be expected to engage in activities all day long.  This prepares a child for the full day Kindergarten where a similar routine will take place.  Another important reason for a day care to offer a good rest time is that many children are there for long periods of the day (ten – twelve hours), longer than many adults are at work.  A day care must offer these times of rest, whereas it is not necessary in a preschool as the children are there for a shorter period of time.

Before making any decision, I would encourage you to visit during various times of the day to see all working aspects of the center.   Parents and guardians should always be most concerned with the atmosphere and philosophy of the day care or preschool that they choose for their child.  In either situation, you should see happy children and teachers.  You should observe children that are content and engaged.  Clear routines and policies help young children to feel secure as they thrive on routine and predictability.  Speaking to parents of children attending a day care center or preschool you are looking at is a good way to get opinions.  A quality center will not have many complaints and will have satisfied parents.  Deciding to take your child to a day care or preschool should be based on your needs and, most importantly, which one makes you and your child feel most comfortable.