The purpose of this guidebook is to help persons interested in establishing a family day care program in their homes set up a quality learning environment that enhances children's cognitive development through play. Following a literature review showing the importance of play in Piaget's theory of child development, the author describes a neighborhood play-based program initiated by herself and details eight steps needed to establish such a program, i.e.: registering the program, acquiring children for the program, establishing goals, designing interest areas for playful learning, planning special projects, choosing play materials, designing a program evaluation procedure, and planning parent participation. Results of a survey designed to measure interest in the program in the wider community were inconclusive due to a low level of response. As part of an informal study of sociodramatic play, eight children receiving home care were observed for 3 weeks during free play sessions. Observations focused on play theme, props used, and duration of play. Data were used to identify popular play themes for enhancement through caregiver intervention. Prop boxes were developed for spaceship, grocery store, and beauty/barber shop play activities; the contents of each box, made available for 1 week, were described to the children. Provision of prop boxes was found to extend the duration of sociodramatic play. (RH)