Location

Daycare typically provides care for children during working hours, offering basic supervision, while preschool focuses more on early childhood education, offering structured learning activities to prepare children for kindergarten.

Daycare centers often accept children ranging from infants as young as six weeks old to toddlers and sometimes older children up to five or six years old.

Factors to consider include location, hours of operation, cost, staff qualifications, curriculum, safety measures, parent involvement opportunities, and the overall environment that best suits your child’s needs and your family’s preferences.

Preschool programs usually include a mix of activities such as circle time, art projects, music and movement, outdoor play, storytime, and structured learning activities focusing on early literacy, numeracy, social skills, and motor development.

You can help prepare your child by gradually introducing routines similar to those they’ll experience in daycare or preschool, such as setting regular meal and nap times, encouraging independent play, reading books together, and promoting social interactions with other children through playdates or community activities.