Play school is a learning programme of about three hours a morning, built around a curriculum. Day care is safe supervision for as long as you need it, with meals, rest and free play. They solve different problems, and many families use both on the same campus.
What is the difference between play school and day care?
| Item | Play school | Day care |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Early learning: language, numbers, social skills | Care while parents work |
| Length of day | About three hours in the morning | As long as you need, until 6 PM at Skill-ed |
| Typical age | 2 to 6 years | 2 to 12 years at Skill-ed |
| Meals and rest | A snack break | Lunch, snacks and a nap |
| Led by | A class teacher following a curriculum | Care staff with a daily routine |
Which is right for my two year old?
Ask two questions. Do you need cover for your working hours, a learning programme, or both? And does your child cope with a long day away from home yet? If you need cover, start with day care and layer learning in. If you only need the learning, play school alone is lighter on a young child.
Can a child attend both?
Yes, and it is the most common pattern we see: Nursery or LKG in the morning, then day care until pickup at five or six. The child stays on one campus with familiar faces, has a proper lunch and a nap, and parents collect one relaxed child instead of rushing between two places.
What should I check in a day care?
- Who exactly is with the children after the teachers leave, and how many children per adult.
- Where children nap and whether it is quiet and separate from play.
- What is on the lunch menu this week, not in general.
- How pickup is verified.
Our day care page walks through a full day hour by hour, and the programmes page shows every class side by side. You are welcome to visit during the afternoon to see it for yourself.