Help Finding Child Care

Child Care Categories

• Licensed
  Includes full-day child care centres, some home-based care, nursery schools, and preschools. They’re inspected and regulated by provincial/territorial authorities. 
• Unlicensed
  Most often, unlicensed child care is home-based. They’re not inspected nor regulated by provincial/territorial authorities. 
• Centre-based
  Services in commercial buildings that must meet licensing requirements and early learning standards. 
• Kindergarten
  In most provinces/territories, kindergarten is integrated into the public school system and regulated by provincial/territorial governments, with starting ages varying by province/territory. Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Ontario and Quebec operate 2-year part day or full day kindergarten beginning at age 4; other provinces/territories begin at age 5.  
• Before and after school programs
  These programs can be licensed or unlicensed, complementing the school day with activities, quiet times, and outdoor play.  
• Home-based (also known as family day home)
  Care provided by a relative or non-relative in the caregiver’s or child’s home. Can be licensed or unlicensed. They have fewer children and more flexible hours than centre-based or community-based child care. They often offer several types of care (full-time, part-time, emergency, before and after school). 
• Community-based

  Provided by community resources. Can be licensed or unlicensed. An unlicensed community child care program has to follow standards, by-laws and requirements set out by other governing authorities. 

  • Camps/recreation programs: Available part-time or full-time, typically during holidays (e.g., Christmas) and summer break. 
  • Drop-in playgroups: Activities for children where caregivers attend with their children. 
  • Prenatal and Postpartum Program (PNP3): Offers member takes part in targeted fitness and wellness services during the specific life stages of pregnancy and maternal/parental leave, targeted fitness and wellness services during the specific life stages of pregnancy and maternal/parental leave. 
• Flexible care

  Short-term, adaptable child care for specific needs (e.g., emergencies, respite during deployment or relocation, medical appointments, or regular weekly schedules). Can be licensed or unlicensed. 

  • Occasional: Drop-in programs offering part-time and temporary child care to provide primary caregivers with a break from care. Includes casual care, transition care (i.e., during deployment and relocation), and respite care. Can be licensed or unlicensed. Available through some MFRC programs. 
  • Respite care for special needs: Provides extra support or a temporary break for caregivers of a child/ren with special needs. Can be licensed or unlicensed. Available through some Military Family Resource Centres, Special Needs Program, and the National Child and Youth Disability Reimbursement Program. 
  • Emergency: Temporary, short-term care for emergencies, unexpected events, and short-notice situations that disrupt the normal child care arrangements, or when primary and secondary family care providers are unavailable.
  • Extended hours: Offered outside standard business hours (e.g., evenings, nights, weekends). Can be licensed or unlicensed. Includes PSP Weekend Clubs and other extended hours MFRC programming.