The parents of preschoolers are most likely to enroll their children in day care centers. Like day care centers, family homes must meet state licensing requirements. Children in family home care are usually mixed in age. The small group size and home-based setting of family home care appeal particularly to parents of infants and toddlers. A group home is a residential facility in which at least seven and no more than ten children receive care.
Group homes have two caregivers, a provider, and an assistant.
This type of arrangement offers the same benefits as family home care. They normally operate for three to four hours a day, and from two to five days a week. This type of quality cannot be regulated because it is difficult to measure. It is often the most affordable and convenient child care arrangement available to parents. Because of its flexibility, relative care is particularly popular among parents who work part-time or night shifts.