What to Ask When You Tour a Daycare

Start with the questions that matter most to your family

A daycare tour feels like a lot to take in at once — the rooms, the staff, the smell of lunch cooking. But you're not there to get a feeling. You're there to find out whether this place will keep your child safe, teach them something, and fit what you can actually afford to pay. The best way to do that is to arrive with a list of specific questions, written down, that you ask every provider you visit. This keeps you from forgetting things in the moment and makes it easier to compare places afterward.

The questions below are organized by what matters most: safety and supervision first, then daily routines and learning, then the money part. Some questions you'll ask the director or owner. Others you'll ask the teachers in the classroom. Write down the answers — you won't remember them all, and you shouldn't have to.

Key Takeaways

• Ask about staff-to-child ratios, background checks, and what happens if a teacher calls in sick — these directly affect whether your child is watched closely enough.
• Find out what the daily schedule looks like, what your child will eat, and how the center handles illness and medication — you need to know what your child's day actually is.
• Ask for the full cost breakdown, what's included, what costs extra, and what happens if you need to withdraw — daycare pricing is rarely what it looks like at first.
• Request references from other parents and ask to see licensing records and inspection reports — these are public documents and a center should show them without hesitation.
• Visit more than once, including at different times of day, so you see how the center runs when it's busy and when it's winding down.

Questions about who watches your child and how closely

This is the foundation. A center can have beautiful classrooms and a great curriculum, but if there aren't enough adults watching the children, nothing else matters.

Ask: "What is your staff-to-child ratio, and does it change by age group?" The answer will be a number like 1:4 (one adult per four children) or 1:8. Write it down exactly as they say it. Ratios are set by state law, and they vary by the child's age — infant rooms have stricter ratios than preschool rooms. If a center tells you their ratio is better than the state requires, that's a real difference. If they can't tell you the ratio off the top of their head, that's a warning sign.

Ask: "What happens when a teacher is sick or doesn't show up?" Do they have substitute teachers on call? Do they pull a teacher from another room? Do parents get called to pick up their child? A center that has no plan for absences is a center where your child might spend the day in an overcrowded room with stressed staff.

Ask: "What background checks do you run on staff, and how often?" Most states require criminal background checks and checks against child abuse registries. Some centers do fingerprinting through the FBI. Ask whether they check every person who works there — including kitchen staff, maintenance, and people who volunteer. Ask whether they re-check staff periodically or only once at hire.

Ask: "Can I see your most recent licensing inspection report?" This is a public document. If a center hesitates or says you have to request it through the state, that's odd — they should have it on hand. The report will list violations, how serious they were, and whether the center fixed them. A few minor violations is normal. A pattern of safety violations is not.

Questions about what your child will do all day

You want to know whether your child will be bored, overstimulated, or actually learning something. You also want to know the practical details that affect your child's comfort and your own schedule.

Ask: "Walk me through a typical day. What time do children arrive, eat, play outside, nap, and leave?" Ask this for the age group your child will be in. A typical day for infants looks completely different from a typical day for three-year-olds. You want to know whether there's outdoor time every day (there should be, unless weather is dangerous), how long nap time is, and whether your child will have time to play freely or if the day is scheduled back-to-back.

Ask: "What do you do if my child doesn't want to nap?" Some centers force all children to lie down for two hours. Others let older toddlers do quiet activities instead. If your child has never napped and you know they won't start now, you need to know whether that's a problem for the center.

Ask: "What meals and snacks do you serve, and can you show me a sample menu?" Ask whether they can accommodate food allergies, religious dietary rules, or your preference to bring your own food. Ask whether they heat up food you bring or whether it has to be ready to eat. Ask what happens if your child refuses lunch — do they offer something else, or does your child go hungry until snack time?

Ask: "How do you handle discipline and behavior?" Do they use time-out? Do they talk to children about feelings? Do they call you if your child bites or hits another child? You want to know whether their approach matches yours and whether they'll keep you in the loop about problems.

Ask: "How do you communicate with parents about what happened during the day?" Some centers use an app where teachers post photos and notes. Some send a printed sheet. Some just tell you verbally at pickup. If your child is too young to tell you what they did, you want to know how you'll find out.

Questions about illness, medication, and emergencies

You need to know what happens when your child gets sick, what the center does in an emergency, and whether you can trust them with medication.

Ask: "What is your sick child policy? When do I need to keep my child home?" Most centers require children to stay home if they have a fever, are vomiting, or have diarrhea. Some are stricter. Some require a doctor's note before a child can return. Ask the specific rules so you know when you'll need to find backup childcare.

Ask: "How do you handle medication? Can you give my child antibiotics or an inhaler?" Ask whether they charge extra for medication administration. Ask what happens if you forget to bring medication or forget to sign the permission form — do they refuse to give it, or do they call you first?

Ask: "What's your emergency plan? Where do children go if there's a fire or weather emergency?" Ask whether they practice drills and how often. Ask what they do if they can't reach you in an emergency and you haven't listed a backup contact.

Ask: "What do you do if my child gets injured?" Do they call you for minor scrapes? Do they have a nurse on staff? Do they take children to the hospital or wait for you to pick them up? You want to know their threshold for when they involve you and when they act on their own.

Questions about cost and what happens if you need to leave

Daycare pricing is complicated, and the number they quote you on the phone is often not the number you'll actually pay. Get it in writing and understand what you're committing to.

Ask: "What is the weekly or monthly cost, and what does that include?" Does it include diapers, wipes, and formula, or do you bring those? Does it include meals and snacks, or do you pack lunch? Does it include field trips, music classes, or other activities, or do those cost extra? Does it include holiday closures — meaning you pay even when the center is closed?

Ask: "Are there registration fees, supply fees, or other one-time costs?" Ask when those are due and whether they're refundable if you decide not to enroll.

Ask: "What is your payment schedule? Do I pay weekly, monthly, or in advance?" Ask what happens if you're late with payment. Do they charge a late fee? Do they suspend your child's spot?

Ask: "What is your withdrawal policy? If I need to pull my child out, how much notice do I have to give, and do I lose tuition if I don't give that notice?" Some centers require two weeks' notice. Some require a month. Some require you to pay for the full month even if you withdraw mid-month. This matters if your situation changes.

Ask: "Do you offer any flexibility, like part-time enrollment or dropping to fewer days if I need to?" Some centers do. Some don't. If you think you might need flexibility later, ask now.

Questions about the center's track record and other families

You can learn a lot from other parents who use the center. You can also learn from public records about whether the center has had complaints or violations.

Ask: "Can you give me the contact information for three or four families whose children currently attend?" A good center will have parents willing to talk to you. Call or text them and ask what they like, what surprised them, and whether they'd recommend the place. Ask whether their children have been happy and whether they've had any problems.

Ask: "Has your center ever had a substantiated complaint about abuse or neglect?" This information is public and reported to your state's child care licensing agency. You can also call the licensing agency directly and ask whether they have records on this center. Don't rely on the center to tell you — look it up yourself.

Ask: "How long have your teachers been here, and what's your staff turnover rate?" High turnover means your child might bond with a teacher and then that teacher leaves. It also suggests staff aren't happy. Teachers who stay for years usually means the center treats them well.

How to organize your visit and follow up

Bring a notebook or use your phone to write down answers. Take photos of the classrooms, the outdoor space, and the menu board if they let you. Don't try to remember everything in your head.

Visit at different times if you can — once during the busy morning arrival, once during the middle of the day, and once near pickup time. You'll see how the center handles transitions and whether staff seem rushed or calm.

After you visit, write down your impressions while they're fresh. Did the rooms smell clean? Did the children seem happy or bored? Did the staff seem to know the children's names and personalities? Did you feel comfortable asking questions, or did staff seem annoyed?

Compare your notes from multiple centers side by side. You'll probably notice that one or two stand out — either because they're clearly better or because something felt off. Trust that instinct. You're going to be paying them money and leaving your child with them for hours every week. You should feel confident about that choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I surprise visit a daycare without calling first?

Most states allow parents to visit unannounced once their child is enrolled. Before enrollment, call ahead — that's standard. After your child starts, you have the right to drop in anytime during operating hours. Use that right occasionally, especially in the first few weeks, so you see the center when staff isn't expecting you.

What should I do if I ask a question and the director won't answer?

That's a red flag. A good center is transparent about how it operates. If someone gets defensive or says "we don't really track that" or "you'll have to ask the owner," write it down and keep looking. You want a place that's confident enough to answer your questions.

Is it normal for a daycare to charge extra for things like field trips or holiday parties?

It varies. Some centers include everything in tuition. Some charge extra for optional activities. Ask upfront so you know what to expect. If a center charges for things you think should be included, factor that into your cost comparison.

How many daycares should I tour before deciding?

Tour at least two or three, more if you have options in your area. You need something to compare against. After three or four, you'll start seeing patterns in how centers operate and what questions matter most to you.

What if my child's current daycare won't let me tour without enrolling?

That's unusual and not a good sign. Most centers want you to see the space before you commit. If a center refuses to let you tour or requires you to enroll before visiting, look elsewhere. You have the right to see where your child will spend their day.