Questions to ask and signs to look for on a child care visit
A touring checklist for any child care: what to see, what to ask about people, health, money and communication, and which warning signs deserve a second look.
A license check tells you a program is permitted to operate. A visit tells you what it is like. Go while children are present, bring a short list, and write notes straight afterwards so you can compare programs fairly. This guide gives you a plan for before, during and after a visit. It is general information, not legal advice.
Before you go
- Look the program up on your state's lookup and read what is published. See how to check a license.
- Ask for the license number and capacity when you book the visit.
- Plan to see the room your child would be in, not just the lobby.
- Book a time when children are awake and active, and ideally visit once more at a different time of day.
What to look for
- The atmosphere. Children who look comfortable and engaged, and staff who respond to them warmly and get down to their level.
- Supervision. Adults who can see all the children at once, including in bathrooms, outdoors and during transitions.
- Safety basics. Secure entrances, a sign-in system for visitors, covered outlets, gates where needed, clean floors and food areas, and safe sleep arrangements for infants, with babies on their backs in a crib with no loose bedding.
- Routine. A posted schedule with play, meals, outdoor time and rest.
- Staff stability. Ask how long teachers have been there. Frequent turnover is hard on children.
Questions about people
- How many children are in my child's group and how many adults? How are the state's required ratios met at the start and end of the day?
- What training do staff have, including first aid and CPR, and who is on site at all times?
- Who has had background checks, and how are visitors supervised?
- How do you guide children's behaviour, and what is your policy on discipline? You want clear, positive methods and no physical or humiliating discipline.
Questions about health and safety
- What is your policy on illness, and when can a child return?
- How do you handle medication, allergies and meals?
- What is the emergency plan, and how will you reach me?
- How and when do you tell parents about an injury or incident?
Questions about money and logistics
- What are the fees, what do they include and when do they change?
- Do you accept state child care subsidies? Confirm with the state, too.
- What are your hours and closures, and what are the late pickup fees?
- What is the notice period if I leave? Ask for the contract and read it before you sign.
Communication
- How will I hear about my child's day, and how quickly do you reply to concerns?
- Can I visit unannounced once my child is enrolled? A confident program says yes.
- How do you introduce new children, and how do you handle upset at drop-off?
Warning signs
- Reluctance to show you the license or to let you see where children spend the day.
- Vague answers about ratios, staff checks or discipline.
- Children who are unattended, or staff who look overwhelmed.
- A license number that cannot be found in the state's record.
- Pressure to pay a deposit or sign before you have read the paperwork.
None of these proves anything on its own, but each is a reason to ask more questions or look elsewhere.
After the visit
Write down your impressions within the hour, and compare at least two programs side by side. A simple method is to record one line on each of: group size, adults in the room, how the director answered, how the day felt, total monthly cost, and one thing you liked and one that worried you. If something concerns you about a licensed program, tell the state agency that licenses it. If a child is in danger, call 911.
If your visit is short
If you only have ten minutes, focus on four things. First, count the children and the adults in the room, and ask which age rule applies. Second, watch two interactions between staff and children, and notice the tone. Third, ask to see the license and the most recent inspection or monitoring record. Fourth, ask what happens when a teacher is out. These four points cover supervision, atmosphere, oversight and stability, and they tell you a great deal quickly.
Bringing a child with you
If the program allows it, bring your child for a short stay on a second visit. Watch how staff greet them, how they handle the first minutes, and whether your child can find something to do. A child's reaction does not settle the question, since many children are shy in a new place, but it gives you something to discuss with the director and with your child at home. Ask whether the program offers settling-in days or gradual starts, and what that costs.
Questions to ask yourself afterwards
- Did I see the room where my child would spend the day, and did it feel safe and calm?
- Did the staff talk to the children as people, not just manage them?
- Did the answers I got match what the state record shows?
- Would I be comfortable raising a problem with this director?
Matching the visit to your child's age
What matters most changes with age. For infants, look closely at safe sleep, how often babies are held and fed on demand, and whether the same caregiver looks after your baby. For toddlers, look at how staff handle biting, tantrums and toilet learning, and whether the space is safe for climbing. For preschoolers, look at the balance of play and learning, and how teachers talk to children. For school-age children, ask about homework help, transport to and from school, and what happens on school holidays. A program that is strong with one age group is not automatically strong with another, so focus your questions on the room your child would be in.
General information only, current as of the date above. The information on Daycare License Check is not a safety rating or recommendation. Inspection records show what the state found on the dates shown; problems may since have been corrected, and a clean record does not guarantee future safety. Visit any program in person and check the state's own records before you choose. Rules and programs change; check the official sources linked in this guide.