Understanding “child care” is an important and practical topic for you, an ESL learner, because it helps you talk about a part of life that many people deal with—whether you're a parent, a caregiver, or just helping someone out. Knowing how to describe child care situations, ask questions, or make arrangements will make daily conversations easier and more natural. Mastering today’s vocabulary will give you the tools to communicate clearly in real-life situations involving kids. Let’s jump right in!

5 TERMS

1. Child care (Noun): The act of looking after and supervising children, especially while parents are busy or at work.

   • Example Sentences:

     1. I need to find reliable child care before I start my new job.

     2. Good child care can make a big difference for working parents.

     3. She works in child care and loves taking care of toddlers.

2. Daycare (Noun): A place where children are looked after during the day, usually while parents are at work.

   • Example Sentences:

     1. My daughter goes to daycare from 8 to 5 every weekday.

     2. The daycare is close to my office, which is very convenient.

     3. Some daycares also provide snacks and nap time.

3. Babysit (Verb): To temporarily take care of someone else’s child, usually for a short period.

   • Example Sentences:

     1. I’m going to babysit my neighbor’s son this evening.

     2. Do you know anyone who can babysit on short notice?

     3. She used to babysit during college to earn extra money.

4. Pick-up (Noun): The act of collecting someone, usually a child, from a place like school or daycare.

   • Example Sentences:

     1. Don’t forget the pick-up is at 3 PM.

     2. He was late for pick-up, and the teacher had to call him.

     3. We take turns doing drop-off and pick-up every week.

5. Nap time (Noun): A scheduled time during the day when young children sleep or rest.

   • Example Sentences:

     1. Nap time is usually after lunch at the daycare.

     2. If she skips nap time, she gets really cranky.

     3. The kids had a quiet nap time while we cleaned up. carpet to become fully dry.

This week has been all about adjusting to our new child care routine. We found a great daycare that’s close to home, and my son already loves it. Yesterday, I had to babysit my niece too, so things got a little busy! I almost forgot the pick-up time, but luckily I made it just in time. After lunch, both kids settled down for nap time, and I finally got a moment to relax.