6 Must-Ask Questions for Parents Touring a Daycare: Your Ultimate Peace-of-Mind Guide
Highfields Central Early Education Centre Playarea
Choosing the right daycare is an important decision for any parent. So, visiting a daycare centre firsthand is a great way to assess its environment, employees, and proceedings. If you pay attention and prepare a list of the questions to ask when touring a daycare, then you will be able to discern a lot of important information that helps you know that your child is being cared for by qualified professionals and this helps put your mind at ease. Here’s an all-encompassing daycare tour checklist to guide you through this process.
1. What is the Caregiver-to-Child Ratio?
The caregiver-to-child ratio is a key indicator of how much attention and care your child will get.If the ratios typically lower it means more personalised care and better supervision.
Why It’s Important: As a high ratio could indicate that your child may not receive the individual attention they require, particularly with high-touch elements like feeding, changing or learning.
Pro Tip: Include this question in your parent questionnaire for daycare: Do ratios change for different age groups or times of the day like late afternoons?
2. What Are the Safety Measures in Place?
Safety must always be a priority when it comes to daycare. Knowing their protocols will keep your child safe in all scenarios.
Key Questions to Include:
Are the premises secured with locked doors and monitored entry points?
What is the process for emergency evacuations?
Do they have training in first aid and CPR?
Did You Know? : Some daycare centres include routine safety drills or practice sessions as part of their operating plan. So, make sure to include this in your what to look for in a daycare checklist and don't miss out on critical information.
3. What Is a Typical Daily Schedule Like?
A routine that is structured yet flexible encourages learning, creativity, and emotional growth. Understanding what your child’s day will look like gives you insight into the daycare’s priorities.
Key Areas to Explore:
Reading, writing or interactive play are all great preschool preparation activities.
Time for creative opportunities whether it is through art, music, or role-playing.
Recess for naptime, snack time and outside activities.
What to Look For: A balanced schedule that includes a mix of structured learning and unstructured play.
4. What is the Staff’s Experience and Rate of Turnover?
A familiar face contributes immensely to a child's development. High turnover rates can interfere with a child’s ability to form enduring attachments with their caregivers.
Questions to Consider:
What have your staff members been certified or qualified to do?
How long have the caregivers been with the centre?
What formative training or professional development do they engage in?
Pro Tip: When a daycare invests in its staff’s growth, they often have a nurturing environment for children. Make this question a part of your daycare tour checklist.
5. How Are Meals and Allergies Handled?
Nurishment is critical during a child’s formative years. Whether the daycare provides meals or requires parents to pack food, ensure they are equipped with emergency medical needs like allergies.
Specific Questions:
Are meals prepared on-site? If so, what is the menu like?
How do you handle food allergies or intolerances?
Are you instilling healthy eating habits?
Did You Know? : Certain centres offer nutritional education as part of their curriculum, enriching children’s preschool preparation activities.
6. How Do You Approach Behavior Management?
There is a wide range of behavior management approaches. It’s important that the daycare’s methods match with your parenting philosophy.
Examples of What to Ask:
What do you do for common challenges, like tantrums or disagreements over sharing?
Do you use time-outs, redirection or other methods?
How do you communicate with parents about behavioral problems?
Look For: A daycare that uses positive reinforcement and gentle guidance over punishment.
Additional Tips for Touring a Daycare
Pay Attention to Cleanliness and Organisation: A clean environment is a sign of a well-maintained daycare. Look for sanitised toys, clean play spaces, tidy rest rooms and washrooms.
Outdoor Play Areas should be safe: Outdoor spaces should be secure for activities suitable for different ages.
Use a Parent Questionnaire for Daycare: Prepare a list of questions to ask when touring a daycare in advance and take notes when touring a daycare. It also helps keep you to stay organised and ensures that all your concerns are covered.
Pay Attention to the Ambience: Observe how staff engage with children, and see if the setting feels warm and welcoming.
Verify Licensing and Accreditation: Confirm the daycare meets local regulations and industry standards. Add this to the list of what to look for in a daycare checklist.
Asking the Right Questions: Why It Matters
A tour of your local daycare isn’t just about checking the facilities; rather, it’s about gauging how the centre works and whether its values align with your family’s. Having a daycare tour checklist helps you feel more sure about your decision.
Finding the ideal daycare may feel daunting, and, yet, these are the must-ask questions to help cut through the extra noise. Trust your gut, and choose what is best for your child.
Need a daycare that is safe, nurturing, and provides holistic development? Learn more about how we support children to thrive with individualised support and enriching activities by visiting Highfields Central .