Playgroup vs infant care vs preschool — which does your child need?

The three options, in one minute

• Infant care (2–18 months): full-day licensed childcare for babies — feeding, naps, care routines. Built for households where every adult works full-time.
• Playgroup (18 months–3 years): short daily sessions — usually 2–3 hours — focused on social skills, language and school readiness. The child goes home for lunch and naps.
• Preschool / kindergarten (3–6 years): half-day or full-day structured education through Nursery and K1/K2, leading into Primary 1.

The real question: who's home at 11:30am?

Strip away the brochures and the decision usually comes down to caregiving logistics:

• Both parents work full-time, no caregiver at home → you need full-day infant care or childcare. A playgroup's 2-hour session doesn't solve your day.
• A grandparent, helper or part-time-working parent is home → playgroup is often the sweet spot: your toddler gets structure, friends and learning every morning, without the cost and long hours of full-day care — and grandma gets a two-hour breather.
• Child turning 3 soon → time to plan the move to Nursery. A child who's done playgroup usually walks in confident.

Can playgroup actually prepare my child for preschool?

That's its whole job. The hardest parts of starting Nursery aren't academic — they're separating from mum, following a routine, sitting for a story, and sharing toys with ten other kids. A daily playgroup rehearses exactly these, in small doses, with a qualified early-childhood teacher guiding the process. Phonics, early numbers and Montessori practical-life skills (at Star Tots, each gets its own day of the week) are the bonus on top.

A simple decision path

1. Do you need full-day care because nobody's home? → Infant care / childcare.
2. Is your child 18 months–3 years with a caregiver at home? → Playgroup.
3. Is your child turning 3? → Preschool — and if they haven't done playgroup, consider a term of it first as a soft landing.

Still weighing it up? Our full playgroup guide covers costs, curriculum and readiness signs, and this checklist gives you the 10 questions to ask any centre.