What each one covers
A full day at a centre runs the working hours, in our case 7am to 6pm, with meals, outdoor time, programming, and a rest period built in. It is the standard for families where all the adults work outside the home.
A half day is a shorter session, often a morning, with program and play but usually without the full lunch-and-nap structure of a full day. It can suit a child easing into care, or a family with a parent home for part of the day.
Cost and CWELCC
Half-day care costs less than full-day care, but often not by half, because a centre's fixed costs do not shrink in proportion to the hours. CWELCC reduces fees for children under six in both cases, applied to the centre's base rate for that session type.
When you compare, ask for the actual monthly cost of the specific session your child would attend, full or half day, with CWELCC applied. That is the only number that lets you compare fairly.
Availability and fit
True half-day spots are less common than full-day spots, because full-day demand from working families fills most rooms. If you want half-day care, ask early and be flexible on days.
Fit comes down to your work pattern and your child. A child who needs the rhythm of a full day, including a proper nap, may do better full time. A child easing in, or a family with daytime flexibility, may prefer half days.