Arkansas rulebook · checked October 2026
In Arkansas, you may watch up to None counted children before a license is required — and Arkansas counts your own children (pre-school) in that number.
Licensing agency: Arkansas Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education (early-childhood functions now under the Arkansas Department of Education, Office of Early Childhood)
The line: In Arkansas, you may watch up to None counted children before a license is required — and Arkansas counts your own children (pre-school) in that number.
Your own children: counted — Arkansas includes your own children (pre-school) in the numbers that decide your category.
| Category | Capacity | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Child Care Family Home | up to 5 | No more than 5 children at any time — INCLUDING your own pre-school children. Caregiver must be 18 or older. Arkansas runs paid home care through this registration at small sizes rather than leaving it unregulated. |
| Licensed Child Care Family Home | up to 5 | The licensed tier above the registered cap, under the same Minimum Licensing Requirements. (Arkansas's published materials in our check did not state a separate licensed-home maximum — confirm your capacity with the Division before you plan enrollment past 5.) |
Rules checked October 2026 · Sources: Ark. Code § 20-78-201 et seq. (Childcare Facility Licensing Act); § 20-78-209; Ark. Admin. Code 016.22.20-005 — Minimum Licensing Requirements, §§ 104 (fees), 200–301 (registered and licensed family homes). This page reads the published rules; it is not legal advice, and the Arkansas Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education (early-childhood functions now under the Arkansas Department of Education, Office of Early Childhood) is the final word.