Families Have More Than One Licensed Early Childhood Education Option
A Community Awareness Campaign
What This Campaign Is
Early Childhood Care Options is a community awareness campaign created to support public understanding of licensed early childhood care settings.This campaign focuses on licensed early childhood education settings that commonly serve children approximately ages 2-5.The campaign is informational in nature. It does not promote one care setting over another, replace enrollment processes, or provide referrals. Its purpose is to increase the visibility and clarity so families and communities can better understand the range of licensed early childhood care options available.
Understanding Early Childhood Education Options
These education settings provide both learning and care through different environments and structures
Public Preschool
Often a good fit for families seeking:
Classroom-based learning environments aligned with early education standards
Instructional routines and schedules that mirror elementary school settings
Programs operated by school districts or community organizations with defined enrollment processes and attendance structures
Child Care Center
Often a good fit for families seeking:
Early learning experiences delivered in larger group settings with age-based classrooms
Teaching and care provided by teams of educators and staff throughout the day
Full-day or extended-hour programs designed to support a range of family schedules
Licensed Family Child Care Home
Often a good fit for families seeking:
Early learning experiences delivered in smaller group settings that support more individualized attention
Learning and daily routines within a home-based environment
Flexible schedules that support working families
Siblings cared for together in one setting
All Options Are Valid
There is no single "best" early childhood care setting for every family.The best choice depends on each family's needs.
Why This Campaign Exist
All licensed early childhood care settings provide early learning experiences that support children's development. However, families are not always aware of the full range of licensed care options available to them.Public preschool programs, center-based child care, and licensed family child care homes each provide early learning experiences through different environments and structures. This campaign exists to ensure that licensed family child care homes are visible and understood as a valid part of the early childhood care system, alongside preschool and center-based programs.There is no single best option for every family. The right choice depends on each family's needs, schedules, and priorities.
About This Campaign
Early Childhood Care Options is a community awareness campaign supported by Roots & Village to increase understanding of licensed early childhood education settings.This campaign is informational only. Childcare providers represent themselves independently. Families are encouraged to verify licensing and conduct their own research when choosing care. This site does not provide referrals or enrollment services.Contact: [email protected]
