I did a lot of ECE courses online many years ago and at the time it was equivalent to the college course which didn't have a lot of practicum sessions. I had a few assignments where I had to observe and document but I was able to find places to do it that didn't involve time off such as a church nursery on a sunday morning or drop in playgroup where I took my own kids but did as much observing of what was happening as I could.

The degree would not be recognized in teh ECE field such as if you wanted to work in a daycare centre because the lack of a practicum means you haven't met all of the guidelines for the certification. But at the same time if that is not your long term goal then having the courses and the knowledge and being able to show the course certificates to parents would certainly help. In my ads I just put have some ECE training which is true.

At the same time if you are looking to work strictly in home daycare there are some courses meant specifically for home daycare and when interviewing the fact you took training specific to your job might actually look better and the learning will be more geared to your job. The problem with ECE and home care is that we deal with multiple ages and stages and so much of ECE and daycare centre is age specific leaving us to try and sort out what we can adapt to home care and what just has to go by the wayside such as leaving an open art area with scissors and glue in the same play area as where babies are just learning to stand and put everything they see in their mouths may not be a good mix.