earlycare

Early care, also referred to as early care and education, encompasses services and programs designed to support the care and development of young children from birth to around age five, typically until entry into kindergarten. It blends caregiving with intentional learning experiences to promote health, safety, social-emotional skills, language development, and early literacy and numeracy.

Settings include licensed center-based programs, family child care homes, in-home caregivers, and informal arrangements such as care provided by relatives. Programs may be full-day or part-day and are often structured to accommodate working families. Quality is influenced by staff qualifications, caregiver-to-child ratios, curriculum, health and safety standards, and ongoing evaluation.

Policy and provision vary by country and region. Many places regulate licensing, background checks, training requirements, and safety standards; some offer subsidies, vouchers, or universal programs to improve access and equity. International organizations emphasize investment in early care and education as a foundation for learning and social development.

Research links high-quality early care and education with improvements in cognitive, language, and social development, better school readiness, and, in some cases, longer-term educational and economic benefits. The quality of caregiver–child interactions—responsive, language-rich, and supportive—matters as much as structure, with ongoing professional development playing a critical role.

Challenges include affordability, uneven access, workforce shortages and compensation gaps, cultural relevance, and provision for children with disabilities or from diverse backgrounds. Addressing these issues often involves policy reform, workforce training, inclusive practices, and alignment with broader educational systems.