60 questions to ask on a daycare tour

A daycare tour is a 45-minute window to evaluate a place where your child may spend more waking hours than they spend with you. Most parents tour with five or six questions and leave with a vibe. That is not enough. This page gives you 60 specific questions, grouped by category, with the why behind each, so you can leave a tour with real information instead of an impression.

Before you arrive

• Look up the program in your state's child care licensing database. Note any open violations.
• Check the published staff-to-child ratio for your child's age group.
• Print this checklist or load it on your phone.
• Choose a tour time during active hours, not nap.
• Bring both parents if possible. A second perspective is valuable.

Safety and licensing (questions 1 to 8)

1. May I see your state license posted in the lobby?
2. May I see your most recent state inspection report?
3. What were the findings, if any? How did you address them?
4. Are you NAEYC accredited or pursuing accreditation?
5. What is your background-check policy for staff and substitutes?
6. How are exterior doors secured? Who has the door code?
7. What is your emergency evacuation plan? How often do you drill?
8. What is your protocol for an injured or sick child?

Staffing and turnover (questions 9 to 16)

9. What is your overall staff turnover rate in the last 12 months?
10. How long has the lead teacher in my child's room been here?
11. What credentials do lead teachers and assistant teachers hold?
12. What ongoing training do teachers complete each year?
13. Who covers when a teacher is sick or on vacation?
14. What is your substitute pool? Have I met any of them today?
15. How are teachers paid (hourly, salary, benefits)?
16. What is the director's tenure here? How long has the director been in early childhood?

Ratios and group sizes (questions 17 to 22)

17. What is the actual ratio in my child's classroom right now?
18. How often does the actual ratio exceed the licensed ratio? Why?
19. What is your maximum group size for each age?
20. How are children grouped by age? When does my child move up?
21. Does the ratio drop during nap, opening, or closing hours?
22. What is your "primary caregiver" model? Does each child have a consistent point person?

Curriculum and development (questions 23 to 30)

23. What curriculum framework do you use (Reggio, Montessori, HighScope, Creative Curriculum, your own)?
24. What does a typical day look like in my child's classroom?
25. How do you assess developmental progress? How often?
26. How much outdoor time do children get? Where do they play?
27. How much screen time, if any?
28. What language do staff speak with children? Is the program bilingual?
29. How do you support children with diverse learning needs?
30. How do you handle transitions to the next classroom?

Food and nutrition (questions 31 to 36)

31. What meals and snacks do you serve? May I see a sample weekly menu?
32. Are meals prepared on-site or catered? Where can I see the kitchen?
33. How do you handle food allergies?
34. Do you accommodate dietary restrictions (vegetarian, halal, kosher, dairy-free)?
35. What is the bottle and breast milk protocol for infants?
36. Are children fed family-style, or individually plated?

Sleep and nap (questions 37 to 41)

37. What are the nap routines for each age group?
38. For infants: do you follow safe-sleep guidance (back, alone, firm crib)?
39. What is your sleep monitoring practice? How often are children physically checked?
40. Where do children nap? May I see the room?
41. How do you handle children who do not nap?

Communication and technology (questions 42 to 46)

42. How do parents get daily updates (paper log, Brightwheel, HiMama, ClassDojo)?
43. How often do you hold parent conferences?
44. What is your photo and video policy? May I opt my child out?
45. How do you handle a parent concern or complaint?
46. Can I call or visit during the day?

Discipline and behavior (questions 47 to 50)

47. May I see your written discipline policy?
48. How do you handle biting, hitting, or persistent behavioral concerns?
49. What is your protocol if my child harms another child?
50. Under what circumstances would you ask a family to leave?

Health and illness (questions 51 to 54)

51. What is your illness exclusion policy? When can my child return?
52. How are common illnesses handled (fever, diarrhea, pink eye)?
53. How are medications administered? Is staff trained?
54. What is your handwashing and sanitation routine?

Cost and contract (questions 55 to 60)

55. What is the all-in monthly tuition, including registration, supply fee, and any surcharges?
56. What is the late-pickup fee, and after how many minutes does it start?
57. What is your sick-day, vacation, and holiday tuition policy?
58. When are rate increases announced? By how much in the last three years?
59. What is the deposit, and is it refundable?
60. What is the notice period to withdraw my child?

Red flags to walk away from

Any single one of these is enough to end the tour:

• The director will not show you the license or the most recent inspection report.
• You count children and caregivers and the actual ratio exceeds the licensed ratio.
• Caregivers are on phones, not engaged with children.
• Sleeping infants are placed in swings, car seats, or with loose blankets.
• Food preparation surfaces are dirty, or staff move between diapering and food without handwashing.
• Doors are propped open, or anyone can walk in unchallenged.
• The director cannot tell you the staff turnover rate or evades the question.
• You sense fear, not warmth, in how children behave with staff.

Green flags to look for

• Lead teachers who have been there 2+ years and can speak to specific children by name.
• A posted ratio that matches what you count.
• Children moving around the classroom freely, choosing activities.
• A calm, narrated tone from caregivers ("Tommy, you are putting the red block on the blue block").
• Walls that show child-made art, not commercial decoration.
• A director who knows every child's name and recent milestone.
• Parents picking up who appear comfortable, ask easy questions, and chat with staff.
• Visible handwashing stations, clearly used.

After the tour

1. Within 24 hours, write down your three top observations — positive and negative.
2. Verify the license number on your state's child care licensing database.
3. Read the most recent inspection report in full.
4. Call two current parent references the program provides.
5. Compare against the other programs you toured using the comparison checklist.
6. Make your decision within a week. Quality slots move quickly.

Frequently asked questions

Next reads: how to choose a daycare, our full how-to guide, printable tour questions, and comparison checklist.