Two days? Three? Every day? If you've asked yourself this, you're in good company. It's one of the most common questions our educators get, from new families and from families who've been with us for a while.
There's no one right answer. But a few simple things can help you work out what's best, like your child's age, what the research says and how the 3-Day Guarantee works. Let's take a look.
Start with your child
Every child is different. Some settle in straight away and love being around lots of other kids. Others need a bit more time to feel at home.
Things to think about:
- How your child goes with change and new people
- Their age and stage (more on that below)
- How they're sleeping and eating at the moment
- What your week looks like, including work, study and other care
Your child's educators can help too. They see how your child is going each day and are always happy to chat.
What does the research say?
Researchers sometimes talk about "dose". It just means how much time children spend in good quality early learning.
Australia's national preschool standard is built around a qualified early childhood teacher working with children for at least 15 hours a week, 40 weeks a year, in the year before school. The Raising Children Network explains how it works.
The Restacking the Odds research project, which looked at the evidence on early childhood education, also uses 15 hours or more a week as a key guide for children to get the benefits of early learning.
At most long day care centres, that's about two days a week. It's a helpful guide, not a rule. Coming regularly and having a good program matter just as much as the number of hours.
Why regular days make a big difference
Little ones love knowing what comes next. When they come on the same days each week, they get to know:
- Their educators
- How the day works, from playtime to rest time
- The other kids who come on those days
That last one is really important. Friendships often grow between children who share the same days. Read more about how early friendships help children build resilience.
Lots of educators also find that days close together, like a Tuesday and Wednesday, help children settle in faster. There's less time between visits, so the routine stays fresh.
A guide by age
There's no set rule, but here's what works for lots of families.
Babies (0 to 1)
Many families start with two or three days, often when a parent goes back to work. The Raising Children Network suggests starting slowly with shorter days and building up. Our settling-in guide shows how we help with those first few weeks.
Toddlers (1 to 3)
Toddlers are learning so much, from new words to making friends and doing things for themselves. Regular days help them feel close to their educators and friends. Two to three days works well for lots of families at this age.
Preschoolers (3 to 5)
The years before school are when many families add a day. A kindy or preschool program helps children build skills for big school, like following routines, playing in a group and handling big feelings.
More time across the week means more chances to join in on longer projects and group activities. Find out why two years of kindy can give your child the best start to school.
How the 3 Day Guarantee helps
Since January 2026, all families who can get the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) can get at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight for each eligible child. In most cases, that's enough for three days a week. StartingBlocks has a simple summary.
Some families can get 100 hours per fortnight, including:
- Families who do more than 48 hours of recognised activity per fortnight, like work, study or volunteering
- Families caring for a First Nations child
The activity test doesn't affect those first 72 hours anymore. So if your work hours stopped you adding a day before, it's worth checking again.
For more info, check out our guide to the 3-Day Guarantee, our simple CCS answers for Aussie Kindies families and our Child Care Subsidy page.
Signs it might be time to add a day
If your child already comes to Aussie Kindies, you might notice:
- They talk about friends who come on other days
- Their first day back each week is harder than the rest
- They're starting preschool or getting close to big school
- They ask to go to kindy on days they're at home
- Your work or study hours have changed
None of these mean you have to change anything. They're just good things to chat about with your child's educators.
When fewer days is the right fit
More isn't always better for every family. Some kids do really well on fewer days, especially if they spend time with grandparents, go to playgroup or have other regular activities. Some families just want more time at home together, and that's totally fine.
The best plan is the one that works for your child and your family.
Have a chat with your centre team
If you're thinking about your child's days, your centre team is a great place to start. They can talk about how your child is going, what days are free and what a change might look like.
You can find your nearest Aussie Kindies centre or get in touch with our team for a chat.