floridafam, I'm pretty sure these are all checks. They would have a huge mess trying to direct deposit because people might have changed accounts. Mail gets forwarded for a while, but direct deposits don't.
As to the tax situation. Yes, it is just like before. The child credit is being increased and they are giving you the increase now. It really should not "mess you up" unless your withholding is messed up anyway. Yes, if your withholding is short and you didn't get the early check, it might help offset your problem, but by getting the check early, they are really maintaining the status quo, so to speak. Fortunately, this time, the legislation is also eliminating the marriage penalty, so if you are married and have kids, you could get a credit now AND have lower taxes next spring. There is a screen on the Turbotax Website that lets you estimate your taxes before and after the legislation. If you bought Turbotax, there is an update to your software that will actually help you check your w-4s and then print new ones and re-file them with your employer to get your withholding accurate. My family's decrease was unbelievably HUGE, and of course, we are getting part of it now in the form of the child tax credit check and lowered withholding rates as of July 1.
I think everyone would be wise to re-check their withholding under this new scenario to make sure they will not have a tax issue in the spring. The IRS makes available forms and documents to help you look at what has been withheld thus far, what additional income is expected, and guide you on what your withholding should be for the rest of the year.