Types of Child Care

Some specialized types of child care are:

• Infant and toddlers
• Preschool children
• School-aged children
• Children with special needs
• Special curriculum, such as Montessori, or faith based instruction

South Carolina licenses or registers two types of early childhood programs:

• Child Care Centers -  Child care centers serve fairly large groups of children who are separated by age group and led in highly structured activities. All child care centers must be licensed by the state. There can be a great disparity in price for a child care center; urban areas are more expensive, and care for infants generally costs more than for toddlers.  
• Family Child Care Homes - Family child care involves a mixed-age group of infants and toddlers in a home setting. This is generally a more personal atmosphere than a child care center, with a greater ratio of adults to children. In a family-structured environment, activities can include field trips, arts and crafts, music, and hands-on learning. Meals and snacks are usually included.

Federally Funded Child Care Programs
Head Start/Early Head Start promotes the growth and development of children from low-income families. Parent involvement, a health program, and family support are included. Children ages 3 to 5 years old attend Head Start. Early Head Start serves families with children from birth to 3 years old.

There are some types of care that do not require a license in the State of South Carolina:

• Preschools - Preschool programs usually offer two or three-hour sessions per day, a few days per week. These programs are not used primarily for child care but instead offer children an opportunity on a part-time basis to interact with other children and prepare for school. Programs that offer only 4 hours or less per day of educational curriculum are exempt from state licensing. Enrollment is usually limited to children 3 to 5 years old.
• Family, Friends and Neighbor Care - Children being cared for by family, friend, or neighbor (FFN) caregivers in home settings is informal care, as opposed to the care provided in more formal and professional center-based and family child care markets. FFN care is also known as "kith and kin" care.
• School-Age Care - School-age child care programs offer care for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. They usually operate in schools, community centers, YMCA/YWCA, or park and recreation programs.  Care is typically available before and after school, on school holidays, and during the summer.
• Drop-In Programs  - Drop-in programs provide immediate, short-term care for a few hours at a time and are usually located in shopping malls, community centers, etc.
• Playgroups and Exchanges - Playgroups and exchanges are no-cost, informal arrangements organized by parents. Playgroups provide time for children to play while parents spend time together. In exchanges, parents take turns caring for each others' children. Because these are unregulated arrangements, there are no limits on group size or the number of young children in the playgroup.
• Nanny Care - Nanny Care, sometimes called in-home care, is provided by a friend, a relative, or a "nanny" who works in a family's home caring for the children. The work may be full-time or part-time, and the nanny may or may not live with the family. The caregiver is responsible for the complete care of the children of the employer. The family is the legal employer and must comply with all federal tax laws.