What Are My Child Care Options?

Before you start your child care search, you may find it helpful to learn about all the child care options that may be available. You want what is best for your child, so it is important to find a provider that fits your child’s and family’s needs. This means considering things like the size of the program, the type of physical environment it provides (such as a home environment versus a classroom setting), the hours when it is available, and so on.
This section provides an overview of the types of child care options, including how each option may be regulated to ensure your child’s health and safety. These include the following:
Child care centers
Family child care homes
Head Start and Early Head Start
Prekindergarten programs
School-age child care programs
Child care options for military families
Informal in-home child care
More Resources
If you have questions or want to talk with someone about the types of child care available in your community, the following additional resources