What is the Difference Between Daycare and School?

If you are a new parent or caregiver to a little learner, you might be wondering, “What is the difference between daycare and school?” It’s a common question, as many adults simply didn’t grow up with preschool or other school options as young children. In fact, during the early 1960s, only 1 out of 10 children ages 3 and 4 years old participated in a classroom setting. Today, nearly 7 out of 10 4-year-olds in Colorado are enrolled in a preschool. 

Denver Preschool Program (DPP) explains the differences between daycare and preschool and offers a few tips on how to choose an option that works best for you and your child. 

What’s daycare?

Daycare and child care are both terms used to describe care for young children who cannot care for themselves. Daycare typically takes place during the day–when parents or caregivers are at work. In the state of Colorado, daycare and child care providers are licensed through the Colorado Shines Quality Rating & Improvement System (QRIS). This ensures the safety of the care and helps daycare providers improve the quality of their care and interactions with children and their families. Learn more about the importance of quality and the QRIS system in our blog post, “Benefits of Quality Preschool: Why Preschool Is Valuable to Everyone.”

Family, friends, and neighbors (FFN) may also provide care for children. These caregivers can only care for 4 or fewer children at a time. 

The primary purpose of a daycare is to provide supervision and care for children. Some daycare centers may provide meals, activities, educational opportunities, and more; it is typically up to the daycare provider to determine which types of additional services they offer. Daycares can be in people’s homes or based in the community at a child care center. Often, daycares also provide preschool (but not always!).  

What’s a preschool or school for young children?

Preschools and schools for young children typically offer an educational curriculum that is developmentally appropriate for children based on their age (usually 3-5 years old). Preschools typically offer educational activities for a few hours a day. Some preschools may only operate during the hours that their school sessions are scheduled, while others may offer childcare or daycare in addition to the hours preschool is taught. 

Preschools in Colorado, including those that partner with Denver Preschool Program, are also licensed through QRIS. Colorado Universal Preschool (also known as Colorado UPK and UPK Colorado) is implementing processes to evaluate and improve the quality of preschool education throughout the state. One of its most recent efforts to achieve this is the new Universal Preschool Quality Standard Resource Bank, which includes resources and standards for quality improvement related to family and community engagement, healthy development, and instructional practices. 

Daycare vs. Preschool Checklist

How do you decide if your family needs daycare or preschool? It’s a personal choice, so everyone will have different needs and opinions. DPP put together these simple questions to help guide your decisions: 

• How many hours a day/days of the week do you need child care? 
• Is your child of the age (typically 3-5) where they may benefit from early education/preschool? 
• Are you interested in both daycare and preschool, or just one? 

Other resources that may be helpful as you decide between a daycare and preschool are:

• DPP’s 6 Steps to Choose the Best Preschool for Your Child
• DPP’s How to Choose a Preschool Guide in English or Spanish
• “Benefits of Quality Preschool: Why Preschool Is Valuable to Everyone” blog post 
• What is the Average Cost of Preschool Near Me? blog post 

Apply for Colorado UPK and DPP preschool tuition support!

If you are moving forward with a preschool, Denver families that reside in the county and city of Denver are eligible for tuition support from DPP and Colorado UPK. Check out these blog posts about how to move forward with lowering your preschool costs: 

• How to Change Preschools and Still Benefit from UPK Colorado
• Can I still apply for Universal Preschool Colorado and Denver Preschool Program tuition support?