In Canada today, more than a million children spend a large portion of their preschool years in child care outside the immediate family. The design of a child care center's physical facility has a major impact on the quality of interactions that take place within it. Intended to assist design and child care professionals who are building a new child care center or renovating an existing one, this resource guide and accompanying videotape present an overview of some important design principles that influence the effectiveness of any child care center. The principles detailed in the guide are: (1) Pre-design Issues--location, size, neighborhood connections; (2) Site Planning--positive orientation, safe circulation; (3) Building Design--residential scale, village plan approach, common core; (4) Interior Space Design--modified open plan, group size, home bases, activity pockets, internal spatial zoning, clear circulation, friendly image; (5) Outdoor Space Design--play yards, indoor-outdoor connections. The accompanying video reiterates the text of the guide and illustrates the design principles discussed. (HTH)