Daycare is one option for parents looking for care and supervision for their preschool-age children. It provides childcare for kids, from birth to age six, and sometimes beyond.
There are daycare and childcare centres all across Canada. Most are licensed by a government body, such as the Ontario Ministry of Education. This is in accordance with the Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA). Read more
It’s one of the biggest decisions you’ll make for your child. Let our experts and school insiders guide you through your best options, red flags to watch out for, and tips to a successful application.
Private School Expo - Fall 2024 Yes, I want to attend
Access school reviews, insights, and comparisons through our comprehensive reports below.
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Ottawa, Ontario Buena Vista Road/Springfield Road "Elmwood School is Ottawa's pre-eminent school for girls from PreK to Gr. 12. Our high academic standards, small class sizes and safe, supportive environment ensure that each girl is inspired to reach her full potential." —From the school
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Toronto, Ontario York Mills Road/Bayview Avenue "Junior Academy offers programs for students from Toddler to Grade Eight, in midtown Toronto. The average class size is 10 to 14 students and it caters to many types of students with different learning profiles." —From the school
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Calgary, Alberta "Calgary French & International School's immersive language learning environment and enriched curriculum inspires a deep curiosity, respect and exploration of the world for children aged 19 months to 18 years." —From the school
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Toronto, Ontario "GIST is the only full-time German school in Toronto offering high-quality education that empowers students to excel as global citizens. Our Charakter framework strengthens and promotes the best in every student." —From the school
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Toronto, Ontario Leslie Street/York Mills Road "The Giles School has small class sizes, leadership programs and intensive STEAM learning that support both immersion and introductory language programming in English, French and Mandarin." —From the school
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Duncan, British Columbia Brownsey Avenue/Government Street "Queen Margaret's School is a gender inclusive independent day/boarding university preparatory school in Duncan, BC that focuses on preparing young trailblazers...no two journeys are the same." —From the school
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Belleville, Ontario "Discover an exceptional education. Albert College is an independent boarding and day school for students in Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12." —From the school
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West Vancouver, British Columbia Upper Levels Highway/Cypress Bowl exit "By inspiring excellence – the continuous pursuit of personal best - in education and life, Mulgrave strives to equip lifelong learners to thrive in a diverse and interdependent world." —From the school
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North Vancouver, British Columbia "Saplings is the North Shore’s ONLY nature-based school which teaches your students the BC curriculum through hands-on outdoor experiences. Supporting deeper learning through concept-based and competency-driven approaches" —From the school
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Baie-D'Urfé, Montreal, Quebec rue Victoria/rue Normandy "The Alexander von Humboldt German International School Montreal is a multilingual (German, English and French), private, co-educational school serving students from preschool to grade 12." —From the school
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Etobicoke, Ontario Bloor/Shaver "Kingsley's small classes and personal approach help students reach their unique potential. Each child is seen, heard, and respected. French, music, and phys-ed round out a program which includes plenty of time outdoors." —From the school
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Ottawa, Ontario Vaughan Street/Bertrand Street "Ottawa’s Fern Hill School offers Preschool, Kindergarten and Elementary Grades, including Core & Advanced French. Tuition starts at $3,250." —From the school
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Summerland, British Columbia "Want your child to experience an education that goes beyond textbooks? UNISUS is a K-12 IB boarding school that strives to make education an enjoyable, memorable experience that fully prepares students for any future." —From the school
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St Catharines, Ontario Ontario St./Welland Ave. "Heuristic & autodidactic, inspired by Sudbury & democratic models. Students are self-directed, and holistically empowered. Voluntary attendance, year-round calendar, agency, & consent inspire free learning. Also Forest" —From the school
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Each daycare has its own special approach to supervision, childcare, and education. This is often informed by specific views of child psychology, development, and learning.
In general, though, daycare tends to be quite play-based. Normally, it has plenty of “free-explore” time, unstructured activities, and play-based learning. That said, many daycare centres, especially at the higher levels, provide some structured learning, focusing on academic skills and knowledge, such as reading, writing, math, numbers, and letters.
This contrasts with many preschool programs, which tend to be more academic. Many preschools have more teachers with training in Early Childhood Education than daycares, and more teachers who are Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECE). They also focus more on early learning and academics than daycare through a fairly intensive curriculum. And some have less unstructured play time than daycares.
Childcare simply refers to any place where a child is cared for. This can mean a number of different things.
It may, for instance just involve one-on-one homecare provided by a parent, nanny, or someone else. Childcare may also be provided in an out-of-home setting. Here your child may simply be “looked after.”
Like daycare, though, childcare can and often does provide much more than babysitting. It often includes structured play time, with organized activities which allow kids to explore and learn. Many childcare centres also have some play-based learning. And some even provide some sit-down learning. Normally, though, childcare providers focus less on early learning and cognitive development than preschool.
Daycare and childcare centres aren’t right for all children. They do have some major benefits, though. They also has come potential disadvantages.
Below we look at some pros and cons of daycare and childcare. Keep in mind, this is not an exhaustive list.
Daycare and childcare |
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Pros
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Cons
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To learn more, read our comparison guide of preschools and daycares, and preschool pros and cons guide.
Should you send your child to a daycare or child-care centre? And if so, at what age?
These are challenging questions. And there’s far more to them than the table above.
What’s most important is to look at specific daycares. You should look into their approach to care, supervision, development, learning, and more. You should also try to get a feel for the environment and the care providers.
Finally, you should consider whether a daycare is a good fit for your child. Does it fit your child’s personality, learning style, and social and emotional needs? Is your child likely to thrive there? Is there likely to be a long period of adjustment?
There’s lots of research to be done here. And you won’t want to take shortcuts given what’s at stake here—your child’s well being.
On this page, we list daycare and childcare centres in Canada. Click on a profile to learn all about it, including its approach to early childhood development and education. You can also click through to a daycare’s website and register your child.
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