Daycare Capacity
Finding reliable daytime childcare is essential for families, especially those balancing work schedules, transportation, and school routines. This dashboard shows licensed daytime childcare capacity across Illinois, helping families explore available options and helping communities understand where care is abundant—and where gaps exist.
The day capacity of a child care center is the number of children who can be there at the same time without it getting too crowded. It helps make sure every child has enough space to play, rest, and eat comfortably. If too many kids are there, it can be hard for them to move around and for teachers to give each child the care they need.
Setting a good day capacity keeps the space safe, fun, and easy for teachers to take care of all the kids!
Source: Sunshine Database (Data last updated April 2025)
Why Daycare Capacity Matters
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Access to childcare directly affects family stability
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Reliable care supports early learning and school readiness
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Capacity shortages disproportionately affect rural and low‑income communities
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Childcare access influences attendance, behavior, and long‑term outcomes
- Darker shading indicates areas with higher total childcare capacity.
- Click a provider to see address, hours, and licensed capacity.
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