day care (redirected from Day-care center)

day care

Etymology: OE, daeg + cearu

a specialized program or facility that provides care for preschool children, usually within a group framework, either as a substitute for or an extension of home care, particularly for single parents or for two parents both employed outside the home. Day-care groups vary in size and function and range from casual neighborhood parent-supervised play groups to formal nursery schools or organized centers run by trained personnel. Most day-care programs incorporate a daily schedule of quiet play, outdoor activities, group games and projects, creative or educational play, and snack and rest periods.