Fifty questions to ask on every tour. Print one for each daycare you visit. Compare side by side when you're done.
Built from interviews with hundreds of parents, directors, and early childhood educators. Print one per program and bring it on every tour. The structure makes comparison fast when you sit down to decide.
Every printable page is laid out with room to write answers and rate each program on a 1-5 scale. After 3 to 5 tours, the strongest fit is usually obvious.
License status, inspection history, background check policy, supervision protocols, abuse-prevention training, emergency plans.
Educational approach, daily schedule, screen policy, outdoor time, behavior management, family engagement.
Lead teacher credentials, ratio at each age, group size, turnover, hiring process, professional development hours.
Drop-off and pickup windows, meal service, nap practices, diapering and toilet routines, transitions, outdoor play.
Tuition, deposit, holiday and closure billing, vacation credits, late fees, notice to leave, sibling discount.
Sick-child policy, return rules, doctor's note requirements, evacuation plan, lockdown drills, parent notification.
Most parents tour 3 to 5 programs in a few weeks while juggling work and a small child. Without a written structure, the second tour blurs into the fourth, you forget what the director said about ratios, and the decision gets made on a vibe. The checklist gives you the structure to compare what actually matters.
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Interviews with several hundred parents, 60 directors, and 30 lead teachers across the US. Cross-checked against NAEYC accreditation criteria, state licensing rules, and Child Care Aware tour guidance. See our editorial standards.
Print one per program. Fill it in during the tour or right after. After you visit all your finalists, line the sheets up next to each other on the kitchen table. The choice will usually clarify itself within 20 minutes of comparison.
Once you have your top 2 or 3, use our cost calculator to estimate the monthly cost net of federal tax credit and Dependent Care FSA. Cost is rarely the deciding factor on its own, but it should be honest.