Chapter 2 Types of Early Childhood Programs Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 29 early childhood centers. Most programs focus on care and education. 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, and self-esteem. Most centers provide for larger groups of children than family child care homes. They operate on a schedule that is convenient for working parents. Many centers open early in the morning and remain open until six or seven o’clock in the evening. Some centers provide care for children 24 hours per day. For parents whose children need care during the evening or early morning hours, this service is most convenient. Program The program provided depends on the philosophy of the center and the educational background and skills of the staff. State licensing rules and NAEYC accreditation guidelines also infl uence the program. Ideally, the program should meet the child’s needs in all areas of development. The focus should be on the whole child and include a balance of engaging learning activities that foster brain development. Montessori Schools In the early 1900s, Maria Montessori developed her own method of education. She was the fi rst woman in Italy to receive a degree in medicine. Early in her career, she was an assistant doctor at a clinic that served children with mental disabilities. Montessori developed her theory of education while working with and observing these children. This theory stated children learn best by being Child Care Centers 13.4% Nursery or Preschool Centers 6.0% Head Start/ School 5.6% Parents 21.3% Grandparents 23.7% Other Relative 7.4% Child’s Home (non-relative) 3.7% Family Child Care (Providers Home) 7.6% Siblings 2.6% Figure 2.2 This chart illustrates the percentage of parents who chose each type of early childhood program. Learn More About... Learn More About... NAFCC The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) is a professional organization for family child care providers. It promotes high- quality early child care and education. NAFCC is committed to improving the awareness and quality of child care. It provides the only national accreditation system for family child care. Training and health assessments are required for accreditation. Other requirements include criminal background checks and an observation to verify that standards are met.