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    27 Questions to Ask When Touring a Daycare

    The complete list of questions to ask on a daycare tour, including the ones that get past rehearsed answers and reveal what's really going on.

    By Canary Editorial Team·Published ·Last reviewed

    Most daycare tours follow a script. The director walks you through the rooms, hits the talking points, and answers the same five questions every parent asks. To actually evaluate a center, you need questions that go beyond the script.

    Here are 27, organized by what they actually reveal.

    Safety and licensing (the non-negotiables)

    1. When was your last state inspection and what did they find? (Then verify against the official record.)
    2. What's your staff-to-child ratio in each room, right now?
    3. What's your policy on background checks, for staff, substitutes, and volunteers?
    4. How are medications stored and administered?
    5. What's your emergency plan: fire, severe weather, lockdown?
    6. Can I see the infant sleep area? (Back sleeping, bare cribs, no blankets, per AAP safe sleep guidelines.)
    7. What's the sign-in and pickup process? Who can I authorize?

    Staffing (the single biggest predictor of quality)

    1. How long has the lead teacher in [your child's age room] been here?
    2. What's your overall annual staff turnover rate?
    3. What training and certifications are required? How often is it refreshed?
    4. Who covers when a teacher calls in sick?
    5. What's your hiring process, and what disqualifies a candidate?

    Daily routine (where reality lives)

    1. Walk me through a typical day in my child's age group.
    2. How much screen time, if any? (AAP recommends very limited screen use under 2 and no more than 1 hour/day of high-quality programming for ages 2–5.)
    3. How much outdoor time, and what happens when weather is bad?
    4. What does naptime look like?
    5. What's the food situation: provided or brought, and who plans the menu?
    6. How do you handle behavioral issues like biting, hitting, or tantrums?

    Communication (you'll feel this every day)

    1. How will I know what my child did today, and who eats, sleeps, and uses the bathroom?
    2. What's your app or daily report?
    3. How quickly do you respond if I text or call during the day?
    4. How do you communicate incidents or injuries?
    5. When and how do you do parent-teacher conferences?

    Illness and absences

    1. What's your sick policy? When do I have to keep my child home? (Cross-check against CDC guidance for child care settings.)
    2. What's your refund or credit policy for illness, vacation, or closures?

    The reveal questions

    1. What's the hardest part of working here? (Asked of the director or a teacher.)
    2. Can I talk to 2–3 current parents? (If they hesitate, that's the answer.)

    Print this list

    Bring it on your phone or printed. You won't get to all 27, but having them ready means you'll never walk out of a tour realizing you forgot to ask the one that mattered.

    Touring in Texas? Pull each center's safety score and inspection history before you go so your tour time is spent on what matters. Pair this with our guide on what to look for beyond the brochure.

    Frequently asked questions

    How long should a daycare tour take?
    Expect 30–45 minutes for a full tour. Anything under 20 minutes usually means you didn't see every classroom or weren't able to ask follow-ups.
    Should I tour with my child or alone first?
    Tour alone or with your partner first so you can focus on observation and ask harder questions. Bring your child on a second visit if the center is a serious candidate.
    What's a red flag during a tour?
    Vague or defensive answers about ratios, inspection history, sick policy, or pickup security. Refusing parent references. Visibly stressed staff or kids in front of screens during normal play hours.

    Sources & further reading