Finding Child Care in Minnesota

There are many different types of child care and early education programs.

Family Child Care means children are cared for in the home of the provider. Families choose this type of care because of the home setting, flexible hours, mix of ages and small group size. Providers may care for up to 10 children, depending on their ages.

Group Family Child Care offers the home setting of family child care for up to 14 children. With more than 12 children, two adults must be present.

Employer-Sponsored Family Child Care allows employers to offer child care under the licensing requirements of family child care. This type of program offers child care to 14 or fewer children at a location other than the provider's home.

Child Care Centers provide care for larger numbers of children for part or full day programs. Centers are organized to meet the needs of children and working famillies. They are usually open year round. Child Care Centers offer programs to a variety of age groups and vary in terms of educational philosophy, curriculum, costs and services.

Nursery School or Preschool Programs offer only part-time care, usually for children one to five years of age. The children have an opportunity to socialize with other children their own age and engage in a variety of organized activities.

Head Start is a child development program designed to promote the growth and development of children from low-income families. Children ages three to five years attend. Early Head Start provides learning and development services for families with children up to three. Both Head Start and Early Head Start may be provided in a center or home-based setting.

Drop-in Care Programs provide short-term, back-up or immediate care for children.

Before & After School (School Age Care or SAC) Programs are usually located in schools, child care centers, family child care homes, churches or other settings that offer child care. These programs may or may not be licensed depending on their location. SAC programs usually provide child care to kindergarten through sixth grade children before and after school, during school vacations and summer breaks.

Sick Child Care Services vary from a provider coming into the family's home to care for a sick child, to a program within a hospital staffed by health care professionals. A few child care centers have "get well" rooms. Here children can rest and recover from a minor illness. Some child care homes will also care for sick children.

Special Needs arrangements can be found in all types of child care. Contact your local CCR&R agency for information about Early Childhood Special Education programs and services for your child.

Find out more about child care in our online Child Care 101.