List and describe the various types of
early childhood programs.
 Explain the advantages and
disadvantages of each type of program.
 Name the three types of center
sponsorship.
 Explain steps a parent may take in
choosing quality child care.

•The
most
common type of
child care in the
United States.
•Child care is
provided in a
private home.
•Most states
require these
homes be
licensed.
•In a home where
the caregiver has
received early
childhood
training, a
developmental
curriculum may
be planned.
•Facilities
that offer
full-day children’s
programs.
•The focus of most
of these centers is
to provide care and
education.
•In Colorado these
facilities must be
licensed.
•The care is
designed to meet
the child’s basic
nutrition, health ,
and safety needs.
•The curriculum
emphasizes the
whole child
including his or her
social , emotional,
cognitive, and
physical needs.
•Most are open
•Maria
Montessori
developed her own
method of education.
She is the first woman in
Italy to receive a degree
in medicine.
•Montessori established a
theory of education
which states that children
learn best by being
active.
•Montessori’s approach to
learn was “learn how to
learn”. This approach
allowed the child to
explore materials that
were meant to instruct.
Certain materials were
given to the child in a
prescribed sequence.
The sequence was
related to the child’s
physical and mental
development.
• Independence is
stressed in Montessori
schools. Children must
learn to care for
themselves. Teachers
provide little help.
•Federal
funded
government program for
preschoolers designed to
overcome the negative
effects of poverty.
•Program provides child
care and education for
four and five year olds
from low-income families.
•Head Start programs
offer more than just
education.
•Nutrition: the goal of the
program is to help
children make healthy
food choices and
develop good eating
habits.
•Health: All children who
attend are given a total
health plan. Dental,
medical, and mental
health services are
provided.
•Parental Involvement:
Head Start recognizes the
parent as the child's first
teacher. Parents are
encouraged to help
recruit new children and
•The
first
Kindergarten was
opened in
Germany.
•Kindergarten
curriculum stressed
play. Selfdevelopment takes
place through play
was the focus of the
first Kindergarten.
•The first American
kindergarten was
opened in
Watertown,
Wisconsin in 1856.
•Today
kindergartens are
part of most public
and many private
school systems.
They are usually
restricted to
•There
are
three basic
scheduling
patterns in
kindergarten
: half-day,
full-day and
full
day/alternat
ing day
sessions.
•Goals
for a kindergarten
program permit variety.
Basic objectives of most
kindergarten programs
include:
1.
Respect for the
property,
contributions, and
rights of other
children.
2.
Development of
positive feelings
about school.
3.
Development of a
positive self-concept.
4.
Growth in language,
social, and physical
and creative skills.
5.
Achievement of
problem-solving and
cognitive skills.
6.
Development of
independence.
7.
Development of
interpersonal skills.
8.
Appreciation of
objects of beauty.
•Kindergarten
curriculum
may vary from
school to
school.
•Kindergarten
teachers, have
more freedom
in planning
curriculum.
•Studies show
that about 50%
of the day is
spent on
creative
activities.
•Child
Care
programs
provide care for
children before
and/or after
school.
•Children from 510 years old
most often
attend.
•Children often
do homework,
play games,
and take part in
other activities
in School-Age
programs.
•These
schools are
located on a
postsecondary or
college campus.
• They provide
excellent
programs for
children but their
primary purpose is
to train future
teachers and to
serve as a study
group for
research.
•These schools
have a highly
qualified staff, a
well-planned
curriculum and
excellent
equipment.
•High
schools that
provide vocational
training for child care
occupations.
•These programs train
future child care
professionals.
•Many have their own
child care laboratory
facilities where
students can work with
preschool children.
•The preschool
program may operate
two or three days a
week.
•High school students
plan and present the
curriculum under the
supervision of a
teacher.
•Some high school
students observe the
children while others
work directly with the
children.
•There
are three kinds of
sponsorship: public,
private, and employersponsored centers.
•Public Sponsorship are
funded by federal, state,
or local governments.
•Private Sponsorship are
programs that are
privately owned . They
may be operated by a
house of worship, hospital,
or charitable
organization.
•Many are nonprofit.
•Most private programs
are operated by
independent owners.
Many of these centers are
operated by families.
Their motivation in
operating a center is to
provide a service that
makes a profit.
•Employer Sponsorshipcompanies provide child
care assistance so that
employees have better
work attitudes, new
employees are attracted
Selecting a
child care
program is
important for
parents.
•Several
factors
influence
selection of a
child care
program: cost,
location, and
type of
program
provided.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Questions to ask when
selecting Quality Child
Care
Do the children appear to be happy,
active, and secure?
Are all staff members educationally
qualified?
Does the curriculum support the children’s
individual rates of development?
Is the indoor and outdoor environment
large enough to support a variety of
activities?
Is the environment inviting, warm, and
stimulating?
Are teacher-child interactions positive?
Are teachers using developmentally
appropriate teaching strategies?
Does the climate in the center “”fee”
positive/
Do teachers meet with parents regularly to
discuss the child’ needs, interest, and
abilities/
Is sufficient equipment available for the
number of children attending?
Decide if the statement
is true or false.

Provide complete sentences when answering
the following questions or statements.










During the first five years of life, children develop rapidly.
Differences between early childhood programs are normal.
Family child care programs vary according to the skills of
the caregiver.
Most child care centers provide care 24 hours daily.
Montessori’s goal was to “learn how to learn.”
In Montessori schools, children learn from sensory training.
Nutrition is an important part of a Head Start program.
The largest group of privately sponsored child care
programs are those operated by churches.
List five questions parents should ask when
selecting a child care program.
What are some questions a parent should
ask themselves when looking for a child
care program?
List three differences between a child
care home and child care center.



Types of Early Childhood Programs, Types of
Early Childhood Programs Chapter 2 Test:
copyright Goodheart-Willcox, Inc.
Working with Young Children, Judy Herr:
Copyright 2002, The Goodheart-Willcox
Company, Inc.
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