Organization and Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Details) $ / shares in Units, people in Thousands		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Apr. 21, 2020 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Apr. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) Center $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) Center people $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	May 31, 2020 USD ($)	May 07, 2020 USD ($)	Apr. 24, 2020 USD ($)	Apr. 23, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 12, 2018 USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount													$ 300,000,000
Stock repurchase program, remaining authorized repurchase amount			$ 194,900,000	$ 194,900,000
Number of shares of common stock issued and sold (in shares) | shares	2,138,580
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.001		$ 0.001	$ 0.001							$ 0.001
Sale of stock, price per share (in usd per share) | $ / shares	$ 116.90
Gross proceeds from offering	$ 249,800,000	$ 249,800,000		$ 249,800,000
Number of childcare and early education centers operated | Center				1,026
Operated facilities, number of children and families served at capacity | people				115
Number of childcare and early education centers open | Center				900
Open facilities, number of children and families served at capacity | people				100
Number of new centers added | Center			5
Number of centers permanently closed | Center			55
Net center reductions | Center				58
Goodwill			$ 1,409,040,000	$ 1,409,040,000							$ 1,412,873,000	$ 1,347,611,000
Trade names			180,881,000	180,881,000							$ 181,091,000
Impairment losses			1,700,000	18,609,000	$ 0
Governmental assistance, reduction to cost of services			20,300,000	61,500,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Due from government assistance programs			16,000,000.0	16,000,000.0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Payroll tax deferrals			3,000,000.0	3,000,000.0
Other long-term liabilities
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Payroll tax deferrals			$ 12,400,000	$ 12,400,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Senior Credit Facilities
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity						$ 400,000,000	$ 400,000,000	$ 385,000,000	$ 225,000,000	$ 225,000,000
United States
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Number of childcare and early education centers reopened after temporary closure | Center				540
United Kingdom
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Number of childcare and early education centers reopened after temporary closure | Center				300
Netherlands
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Number of childcare and early education centers reopened after temporary closure | Center				62
Canada
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Number of centers divested | Center			2