I have been a licensed childcare professional (#300615657) for over 20 years and run a home-daycare. I also have early childhood education units, am the Area Chair for the Orange County Childcare Association, and CPR & First-Aid Certified.
In addition to providing great home-cooked meals (breakfast and lunch, along with snacks), I provide the children a sense of community and a home-like feeling in a clean and safe environment--it's not the inattentive, chaotic feeling you often find at a preschool. Nonetheless, I DO provide them with the skills they would generally learn in preschool and also prepare them well for kindergarten. Since it's easier to give them one-on-one time, they are often ahead of the game by the time kindergarten comes around.
I guarantee your child will not be just put in front of the television all day. They play games, do art activities, free play, read books, practice letters and colors, have outside time...and of course nap time.
Many of the former children have grown up here from merely 3 months old until they were off to school; and even though they may have moved on to elementary school, and some even college, they have built relationships with other kids and often come back just to visit and/or to remember "Lynda's cooking".