Determining the best fit for you and your child

The three programs listed below are the most common types of programs available. All three are licensed/registered and monitored for compliance by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. Each type of program has it’s own set of unique qualities. The type you choose will depend on your child’s and family’s needs.

Family Child Care

• Hours may be more flexible
• Smaller group of children
• The environment is a home like setting
• Children will interact regularly with children of other ages
• Sibling groups will stay together
• There is more consistency with the provider (the turn over rate is low)
• There may be a need for back-up care if the provider becomes sick, or closes due to holidays or vacations

Cost Range
The cost of family child care ranges between $55.00 and $100.00. This will depend on the location, the age of the child, and the provider's experience and education level.

Child Care Center

• Children are grouped in  rooms according to their age. There is often very little interaction with children of other ages.
• The staff turnover rate is often high. Classroom teachers may change often.
• Many centers remain open during the holidays.
• Centers usually have substitutes to choose from if a teacher is ill.

Cost Range
The cost of group care ranges between $65.00 and $110.00. This will depend on the location, the age of the child, and the provider’s experience and education level.

Group Child Care

• A large group home provider must employ additional staff, to meet the requirements of adult/child ratios
• Hours may be more flexible
• There may be some interaction with different age groups, but children are generally separated by age.
• Back-up care may be necessary for the same reasons as family care

Cost Range
The cost of group care ranges between $65.00 and $110.00. This will depend on the location, the age of the child, and the provider's experience and education level.

Other types of programs available include those exempt from licensing. These programs may be exempt for reasons such as limited hours, group size (care for two or less children), etc.

Although legally exempt, these programs should have guidelines set within their own organizations guaranteeing a certain level of quality. The checklist provided in this publication may also be used when visiting these programs.