Day care is a place where young children are looked after during the day while their parents are at work. Most day care centers care for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers who aren't old enough for kindergarten yet. The workers there feed the children, help them nap, play games with them, and teach them basic skills like sharing toys and recognizing colors.

Some day care centers operate in dedicated buildings with playgrounds and classrooms, while others run out of someone's home. Parents typically drop their children off in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon or evening.

The term can also refer to similar care for elderly adults or people with disabilities who need supervision during the day. In this case, it's often called adult day care. Whether for children or adults, the core idea remains the same: a safe place where people who need extra help or supervision can spend their day while family members work or handle other responsibilities.