Child care information for families
Last updated on September 18, 2024
Families can now save up to $550 more per child, per month on their licensed child care costs. New child care spaces are opening, and more early learning professionals are being trained, making child care more accessible than ever. Learn more about all the ChildCareBC programs available to families and child care providers in B.C.
On this page
- Translation services
- Find child care in B.C.
- Understand the different types of child care
- Savings on child care
- Child care map
- Child care service reports and assessments
- ChildCareBC Bulletin
- Contact information
Find child care in B.C.
Child Care Referral
If your child care provider does not have available space, contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral Centre.
$10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres
Families who attend $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres pay no more than $200 a month per child for child care. Providers must apply to be part of this program, families do not need to apply.
- Find a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre
Inclusive child care
Services are available to children with extra support needs to allow them to participate in fully inclusive child care settings.
Indigenous child care
The Ministry of Education and Child Care is committed to engaging Indigenous people and partners to develop distinctions-based, culturally safe approaches to child care and wraparound services.
Understand the different types of child care
B.C. has 4 different types of child care: licensed, registered licence-not-required, licence-not-required and in-child's-own home
Savings on child care
Families could access additional savings to help with child care costs by applying for these programs.
Affordable Child Care Benefit
The benefit is a monthly payment to help with the cost of care. Families with a pre-tax income of up to $111,000 are eligible.
Apply for the Affordable Child Care Benefit
Young Parent Program
Parents under the age of 25 may qualify for help to pay for child care while they finish high school.
Apply for the Young Parent Program
Families can receive automatic savings through a child care provider via these programs.
*Please note, families to not need to apply for these programs
Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative
The Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative lowers the cost of child care for families who automatically receive the savings through a child care provider enrolled in the program.
Estimate your monthly savings
$10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres
Families who attend $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres pay no more than $200 a month per child for child care. Providers must apply to be part of this program, families do not need to apply.
Child care map
Find licensed child care facilities in your community.
Search by:
- City
- Distance from your home address
- Program type (under 36 months to age 12)
- Hours of operation (weekday, weekend, overnight, early morning, late night)
- Services offered (meals, additional languages, special needs, Indigenous programming)
If you did not find the child care facility you were looking for it may be because the facility:
- does not receive the Child Care Operating Funding through the Ministry of Education and Child Care. Check health authority inspection websites for more licensed child care facilities;
- is a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre;
- may not be required to be licensed (only 1 or 2 children receiving care - i.e. Registered Licence-Not-Required with the CCRR);
- may be operating as an exempted program: see Child Care Licensing Regulation Section 3 (i.e school age summer/day camp, Strong Start ), or
- may be operating in contravention of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act because they are operating without a licence, when one is required. These services are not regulated or monitored and may pose a risk to the health and safety of children. Check health authority inspection websites for more information on facilities operating without a licence:
Child care service reports and assessments
Licensed facility inspection reports
Child care facilities are licensed through their local health authority.
Make a complaint about a licensed facility
Concerned about the health, safety or well-being of a child in a licensed child care facility?
Operating without a licence
Check health authority inspection websites for more information on facilities operating without a licence:
ChildCareBC Bulletin
Keep up to date on news from ChildCareBC and the Ministry of Education and Child Care by subscribing to our ChildCareBC Bulletin.
I have questions
Phone the Child Care Service Centre if you need guidance applying for a savings program, have questions about care in your community or need help finding a child care space.
Call: 1-888-338-6622 Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Translators are available in more than 140 languages, including:
- 國粵語
- ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
- فارسی
- Français
- Español
You can also get help in-person at: