Child Care Centers vs Family Child Care Homes in California
The main differences between center-based and home-based child care in California, and how to compare them.
Parents choosing child care in California usually weigh two main licensed options: a child care center and a family child care home. They are licensed under different rules, they feel different for a child and they suit different families. This directory covers licensed centers. Family child care homes are licensed separately by the same Community Care Licensing Division, and you can look them up in the state's Care Facility Search.
Child care centers
A center is a program run in a commercial or institutional building, such as a school, church, a purpose-built facility or an employer's site. Centers usually have a director, several teachers and groups of children by age. Many follow a daily curriculum, and some are tied to a school, a nonprofit or a public program. Centers tend to have set hours and many children, which can mean more structure and more staff to cover when someone is out.
The state licenses centers by type. Infant centers serve infants; school-age centers serve school-age children before and after school; others serve preschool-age children. Check that the license type fits the age of your child.
Family child care homes
A family child care home is run by a provider in his or her own residence, with a small group of children of mixed ages. Family homes often feel more like a home, can be more flexible with hours and may be closer to your home. A single provider may run it, so ask who covers when the provider is sick or on vacation.
How to compare
- Group size and ratios: ask how many children there are for each adult, and how that changes during naps, meals and outdoor time.
- Consistency: ask how long teachers and the director have worked there and how often staff change.
- Daily routine: ask to see a written schedule, including nap time, meals, outdoor play and screen use.
- Cost and hours: ask about fees, late pickup charges, holiday closures and what happens if you need extra hours.
- Fit: notice whether your child seems at ease and whether the caregivers engage with children warmly.
What licensing does for both
Licensed providers are subject to state rules on matters such as background checks, health and safety, supervision and the physical setting, and licensing analysts visit and respond to complaints. A license does not measure how good the program is for your child. It sets a minimum. The Care Facility Search shows inspection reports and citations posted for licensed facilities.
Using the state's resources
California's child care Resource and Referral agencies help families find care and may know about programs and financial help. Find your local agency through the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network. The federal childcare.gov site also provides general guidance.
Visit before you decide
Whichever type you choose, visit during the hours your child would attend, ideally more than once and without much warning. Watch how caregivers talk to children, how conflicts and diapering are handled, how clean and safe the space is, and how pickup and drop-off work. Talk to other parents. Your child's comfort and your own confidence in the people matter more than any list.
We list state records and do not rate or recommend any provider.
Cost and flexibility
Prices vary widely by region and type of care, so compare quotes for the same hours. Centers often charge by the week or month with set hours, and may charge late fees or hold your spot during holidays. Home providers may be more flexible about early or late hours but may close when the provider is ill or on vacation. Ask each provider for a written fee schedule and policy on absences, holidays and notice before you commit, and ask for a copy of the contract before you pay a deposit.
If your child has special needs
Ask each provider about experience with your child's needs and what accommodations they can make. Your local Resource and Referral agency or your child's doctor may know programs with relevant experience. Be open about your child's needs when you visit; the right provider will want to know and will explain what they can and cannot do.
General information only, current as of the date above. The information on California Daycare License Check is not a safety rating or recommendation. Inspection records show what the state found on the dates shown; problems may since have been corrected, and a clean record does not guarantee future safety. Visit any program in person and check the state's own records before you choose. Rules and programs change; check the official sources linked in this guide.