Daycare vs Preschool: What’s the Difference (and What’s Right for Your Child?)

When families start searching for childcare, two terms come up a lot: daycare and preschool. They can sound interchangeable, but they often serve different needs, especially depending on your child’s age, your schedule, and what you want your child’s day to look like.

If you’re deciding between options and searching for a daycare in Ann Arbor, this guide will help you understand the difference and choose the best fit for your family.

What is daycare?

Daycare (sometimes called childcare) is typically designed to support working families by providing consistent care during the workday. Most daycare programs serve a wider age range, including infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children.

Daycare is usually a great fit if you need:

• Full-day coverage that matches work schedules

• A consistent routine (meals, naps, play, learning, outdoor time)

• Care that supports both social-emotional development and early learning

You can often see how a center structures age groups and daily routines on the Programs page.

What is preschool?

Preschool is often focused more specifically on early learning for children who are typically around ages 3–5. Preschool programs may have shorter hours and may follow a school-year calendar, rather than year-round care.

Preschool can be a great fit if you’re looking for:

• A more classroom-style routine for an older child

• Shorter half-day schedules

• A program that feels closer to kindergarten preparation

That said, many high-quality daycare centers offer preschool-style learning within their full-day programs, which gives families the best of both worlds.

The biggest difference is usually the schedule

For many parents, the main deciding factor is practical: daycare tends to align with full workdays, while preschool schedules can be shorter or more limited.

If your family needs consistent care coverage, a well-structured daycare program can provide learning, play, social development, and daily routines in a way that supports your child and your schedule.

If flexible scheduling matters for your household, you may also like: How Squiggle Room Supports Working Parents with Flexible Childcare Options.

The learning approach matters more than the label

A common myth is that “preschool teaches and daycare babysits.” In reality, the quality of the program and the learning philosophy matter far more than the label.

When you’re comparing options, ask:

• How do children learn throughout the day?

• Is the environment play-based, structured, and engaging?

• How do teachers guide learning for toddlers and preschoolers?

• How do they support language, social skills, and emotional regulation?

If you want a clear picture of what learning looks like day to day, the Curriculum and Approach pages should explain it in a way that feels practical and real, not just marketing language.

Which is best for toddlers?

For toddlers, the “best” choice is usually a program that offers:

• Warm, consistent caregivers

• Predictable routines

• Lots of play, movement, and sensory experiences

• Gentle support for transitions and big feelings

Toddlers learn through experience, repetition, and connection. A strong daycare program can be an excellent fit because it builds skills naturally through the rhythm of the day.

If you’re preparing for a first childcare experience, this may also help: How to Choose a Daycare in Ann Arbor: A Parent Checklist.

Which is best for preschool-age kids?

For preschool-age children, both daycare and preschool can be great, depending on the program. What you want to see is:

• Age-appropriate learning and hands-on activities

• A balance of structure and play

• Social skill development (sharing, taking turns, cooperation)

• Kindergarten readiness that’s appropriate and not overly pressured

A full-day daycare program that includes preschool-style learning can be ideal for families who need full coverage but want strong early education built in.

How to decide what’s right for your family

Here are a few quick questions that make the decision clearer:

• Do we need full-day coverage, or would a shorter schedule work?

• Is our child younger (toddler) or closer to kindergarten age?

• Does the program’s routine feel calm, structured, and supportive?

• Do the teachers seem engaged, warm, and consistent?

• Does the learning approach match what we want for our child?

If you’re touring programs, this companion post is useful: Daycare Tour Questions: What to Ask (and What to Look For).

Explore Squiggle Room’s programs

At Squiggle Room Child Care Center, we support children through nurturing care, play-based learning, and consistent routines designed to help them thrive. Whether your child is a toddler or preschool age, our goal is to create a safe, engaging environment where learning feels natural and joyful.

If you’re looking for a daycare in Ann Arbor and want to explore your options, we’d love to meet you. Visit our website to learn more about our programs or contact us to schedule a tour.

Related reading:

• How to Choose a Daycare in Ann Arbor: A Parent Checklist

• Daycare Tour Questions: What to Ask (and What to Look For)

• How Squiggle Room Supports Working Parents with Flexible Childcare Options