If you’re currently touring schools for your child, you’re probably carrying a lot of hopes (and a few worries) along with the diaper bag. You know your child better than anyone, and a tour is your chance to picture them in their new classroom.
The best questions to ask a daycare provider are the ones that show you what an ordinary day will look like for your child. A good answer will be specific and come easily to your tour guide. The best answers will match what you actually see in the classroom during the tour.
Here’s what to ask, what to listen for, and how to trust your gut along the way.
What Should You Ask a Daycare Provider First?
Start with the basics that keep every child safe. Ask whether the program is licensed, how many children each teacher cares for, how staff are screened and trained, and how the school keeps in touch with families during the day. If those four answers are clear and confident, then you can move on to evaluating fit.
Daycare Safety and Licensing Questions to Ask
These are the questions that help you breathe a little easier once you’ve waved goodbye at drop-off. A school that puts your child’s safety first will be glad you asked, so you should expect quick, clear answers to every one of them.
- “Is your school licensed, and can I see your latest inspection?” Look for a straightforward yes, with no hesitation about sharing inspection records. You can also check for yourself. In Pennsylvania, the state’s Online Child Care Provider Search shows a provider’s certificate status, verified complaints, and inspection results. Elsewhere, check with your state’s child care licensing office.
- “How are teachers screened and trained?” Child Care Aware® of America suggests confirming that every caregiver has had a full background check and is trained to prevent, recognize, and report signs of child abuse. A good answer names the checks and the training without you having to dig.
- “What happens in an emergency?” Listen for a written plan and regular drills. Ask how often they practice, where children go, and how the school would reach you if something happened.
Questions to Ask About Daycare Teachers and Classrooms
Your child’s teachers will share their whole day, from the first hug at drop-off to the last story before pickup. These questions help you get to know them a little more before day one.
- “How many children does each teacher care for?” A good answer is an actual number, and it should match the room in front of you. Your state sets a minimum for each age group, so ask how this room compares and who steps in when a teacher is on break or out sick.
- “How long have the teachers in this classroom been here?” Teachers who stay a while get to know each child well, so a few years in the same school is a good sign. Listen to how the director talks about them, too. The best sign is a director who introduces teachers by name and knows something about each one.
- “What does a typical day look like?” A good answer walks you through the day in order, with time for play, stories, meals, rest, and moving around. If the answer stays vague, ask a follow-up, like how teachers build on what children are curious about.
Questions to Ask a Daycare About Infant Care
Your baby’s day is full of feedings, naps, diaper changes, and plenty of cuddles. These questions help you picture who will be there for each of those moments.
- “Where and how do babies sleep?” The American Academy of Pediatrics explains that babies who sleep on their backs are much safer than babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides. The answer you’re looking for is “on their backs, in their own crib, with nothing else in it.”
- “Can you follow our feeding and nap schedule?” Listen for a teacher who asks about your baby’s routine right away.
- “How do you handle diapering and handwashing?” Look for a clean changing area that gets wiped down after every change.
- “How will I hear about my baby’s day?” A good answer covers feedings, diapers, naps, and the small moments in between.
Questions to Ask a Daycare About Toddler Care
Your toddler is climbing, exploring, and trying out new words all day long. These questions help you see how teachers guide all that energy with patience and care.
- “What do teachers do when two children want the same toy?” A good answer sounds calm and practical. Teachers get down to the children’s level, name the feeling, and help them take turns.
- “How do you work with families on potty training?” The school should follow your lead at home and tell you how it’s going.
- “How much time do toddlers spend moving and playing outside?” Look for a real plan for active play every day, weather permitting. At Ducklings, we believe in letting kids be kids, and for toddlers that means plenty of time to run, climb, and explore outside and in our indoor gymnasiums.
What to Look for on a Daycare Tour
Pay attention to the room as much as to the answers. Are teachers on the floor with the children or standing at the edges? Do the children look comfortable and busy? Is the room clean, with their own artwork on the walls? Notice how staff greet you, too. A school that’s happy to see families on a tour is usually happy to see them every day.
Join the Ducklings Family
At Ducklings, we love families that show up with a long list of questions. We’re a family-owned early learning center, we’ve been caring for children for more than 30 years, and we welcome Ducks from infancy until kindergarten.
If you’re looking for a school that feels like more than just a daycare, come see us for yourself. Find a Ducklings school near you and schedule a tour. Bring this list, meet our teachers, and watch our Ducks in action. We’d love to welcome your family to the flock.
