'childcare' originates from the combination of 'child' and 'care', where 'child' refers to a young human being and 'care' means the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something.

'childcare' evolved from the Old English word 'cild' meaning 'child' and 'caru' meaning 'care', eventually forming the modern English word 'childcare'.

Initially, it meant 'the care of children', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.