You can enroll your child in a state-approved child care in a residence.  Click here for details on this type of preschool:

In-Home Child Cares

The other type of preschool is officially called a “Daycare Center” by the state of California.  You and I would know it as either a “Child Care Center” or a “Preschool.”  These are all actually interchangeable terms to the state.  Here are the details on this type of preschool.

Facility Type Preschools

Within the “Facility-Type” Preschools there are several options.  Here is a brief outline of each of them.

Public School Preschools

Many Public School Districts have toddler, preschool and pre-kindergarten programs.  These are often part-time and part day programs.  Here are a few links to the local Public School Preschool Programs

• Irvine Unified School District:  Early Childhood Learning Center
• Saddleback Valley Unified School District: The Toddler Connection and Department of Child Care Services
• Capistrano Valley Unified School District: Early Childhood Education

Religious institution preschools

These preschools may or may not provide strong religious training for their children.  Before choosing this type of Preschool make sure you understand the amount of religious training provided by the school.  This may be something you strongly desire or it may be something you want to avoid.

Church-sponsored preschools

Many churches sponsor preschools.  Some of them are part-time and some are full-time. They have varying degrees of religious instruction ranging from simple teaching about faith in God to strongly Christian training.  Again, you should know how much and how specific the training is and compare that to your priorities.

National preschools

There are some national chains that often provide preschools in a community. Examples of this are Kindercare and La Petite Academies. Some of them are franchised and these are individually owned and operated.  Others are owned and managed by the company themselves.  These preschools usually avoid any religious or spiritual teaching but do emphasize universally recognized character qualities.

The type of preschool is one of the many considerations when making your choice.  This, along with many other factors will lead you to the best decision for your child.