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One of the first decisions parents have to make when looking for child care is deciding what kind of care is best for their family.
Parents have three basic choices to choose from, (one option isn’t better
than others, just different):
- Care in their home by a relative or non-relative.
- Care in a provider’s home
- Care in a child care center
Care In Parent’s Home
Choosing a childcare provider to come into your home can be as simple as a relative or friend coming to your house to care for your children while you work, or more complex if you are searching for someone you may not know. In either case, there are considerations you will want to consider for your child. Advantages of in-home care include low adult-child ratios, so your children receive individual care, flexibility for parent schedules, flexible transportation and emergency needs, children cared for in the comfort and security of their own home. Some drawbacks to in-home care include additional time and effort required by parents who are the employer of the caregiver, In-home care defined as a nanny is expensive, children may not experience the same social experiences in in-home care that they would in a setting with other children, and backup child care is still necessary to arrange. CCR&R has a booklet “Choosing An In Home Provider For Your Family” available for $6.00 that provides suggestions and information to help with the selection process.
Care In A Provider’s Home
Care in a provider’s home is also called family child care. Family child care providers need a license through the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services if they care for children unrelated to them and care for four or more children under age 12, including their own. In Illinois, family child care is divided into two categories:
1. Child Care Homes, and
2. Child Care Group Homes
-Licensed Child Care Homes can care for 8 children 12 years old or younger, with no more than 5 under the age of 5. With a part-time assistant, they can care for an additional 4 school-age children, for a maximum group size of 12.
- Licensed Child Care Group Homes can care for an additional 4 school-aged children, maximum group size of 16, if they have two additional part-time assistants.
Family child care homes offer consistent care from at least one adult where siblings may be cared for together. Family child care providers typically have flexible hours. They also have fewer children in the setting, which means a more manageable environment for your child. Some possible drawbacks to family child care include a possibility that back-up care may not be available if the provider is ill or on vacation, the provider may not have training in child development, and the provider may not be subject to state licensing regulations (if there are three or fewer children, or all children are from the same household).
Care in a Center
Most child care centers in Illinois must also be licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. In Illinois, child care centers can be licensed to provide care for infants from 6 weeks old to children through 13 years of age.
Those that do not need a license to operate legally include:
- Programs in a public, private or secondary school serving children
3 yrs and older
- Programs on federal government property
- Programs operated by a church or social service agency where an individual child is cared for less than 10 hours in a seven day week
- Programs that provide temporary care while the parent is on the premises
- Programs that offer short term, special activities and are operated by civic, charitable or governmental organizations
In child care centers, the space and equipment is designed strictly for the intended use of the facility. Children tend to be grouped with others their own age and activities can be designed to meet the needs of each classroom of children.
The child/adult ratio for licensed centers is:
Age Grouping |
Max Group Size |
Child/Adult Ratio |
6 wks - 15 mos |
12 |
4:1 |
15 mos - 2 years |
15 |
5:1 |
2 years - 3 years |
16 |
8:1 |
3 years - 4 years |
20 |
10:1 |
5 yrs (Kindergarten) |
20 |
20:1 |
School Age |
30 |
20:1 |
Most caregivers in a center are required to have education in child development and / or early childhood education, and all staff are required to have annual in-service training in child development. Most centers are licensed by DCFS so they have met a set of standards and are monitored on a regular basis. Back up arrangements are available if staff are ill or absent. Caregivers also work eight hours per day or less, not from open to close as family child care providers do. Possible disadvantages to care in a center might include the fact that the center’s hours of operation may not be flexible or convenient to your work schedule, staff may have shifts that may or may not be disruptive or uncomfortable for your child, and/or large groups of children may overwhelm your child, especially if it is their first time in care.
