Abstract:
"Childcare" is an all purpose term which is commonly used, in this country, to describe a number of early childhood services. These services are designed to cater for the "care" of children by responding to their mental, physical, spiritual, educational, emotional and social needs. These services include Kindergarten, Playcentre, Nga Kohanga Reo, Licensed Childcare Centres and Private Nannying Organisations. (1) All cater to the welfare of pre-school children but with the emphasis on different aspects of "care".