Daycare Tour Questions to Ask: A Parent Checklist

A daycare tour usually lasts 20 to 40 minutes. That is not much time to judge where your child will spend most of the week. The best way to use it is to arrive with your questions written down, ask the same ones at every center, and spend part of the visit just watching the room.

Below is a checklist you can print or save to your phone. It is grouped by topic, so you can skip what you already know and focus on what matters most to your family.

Before the tour: three things to check

License and inspection history. Look up the center on the state's Sunshine monitoring report search. Illinois licensing is now run by the Department of Early Childhood, which visits licensed programs every year.
Openings and start dates. Ask by phone whether there is a spot for your child's age and when. A great tour does not help if the next opening is a year away.
The basic schedule. Confirm hours and whether full-time and part-time options exist.

Try to book the tour mid-morning. That is when children are awake and busy, so you see a normal day, not nap time or the pickup rush.

Safety and security questions

How do people get into the building? Is the door locked, and who checks who comes in?
How do you confirm who is allowed to pick up my child?
Are there cameras in the classrooms? Can parents see them?
What is the plan for fire, severe weather and lockdowns? How often do you practice?
Are all staff CPR and first aid certified?
What background checks do staff pass before they start?
How do you handle an injury, even a small one? How will I find out?

Good answers here are specific. "We take safety seriously" is not an answer. "The front door is locked, the front desk checks every adult, and we keep a written list of who can pick up each child" is.

Questions about teachers

How many children and adults are in the room my child would join?
How long have the lead teachers in that room worked here?
What training or credentials do the teachers have?
Who covers when a teacher is out sick or on break?
Will my child have a main teacher, or does it change through the day?

Teacher turnover is one of the most useful things you can ask about. A child does better with familiar adults, and a room where the lead teacher has been there for years usually runs more calmly.

The daily routine

Can I see a daily schedule for this age group?
How much time do children spend outside, and what happens in bad weather?
How do you handle naps? Where do children sleep, and what if my child does not nap?
What does learning look like at this age? Can you show me an example from this week?
Are there extras like music, art or gym, and are they included in tuition?
How do you handle screen time?

For babies, ask whether the room follows each baby's own feeding and nap schedule. For toddlers and preschoolers, ask how the day balances free play with group activities.

Health and sickness rules

When does a child have to stay home? What fever temperature is the cutoff?
How long must a child be fever-free before coming back?
How do you handle medicine, and what forms do you need?
What immunization records do you require?
How do you clean toys and surfaces, and how often?
How do you manage food allergies?

Ask for the sick policy in writing. It affects how many workdays you will miss more than almost anything else on this list.

Food and meals

Licensed Illinois centers provide the meals and snacks for children who eat table food, so the useful questions are about what and how.

Which meals and snacks do you serve, and at what times?
Is the food cooked on site or delivered by a caterer?
Can I see this month's menu?
For babies: do you provide formula and baby food, or do I bring them? How do you store breast milk?
Is the center nut-free?
How do you handle picky eaters or a child who will not eat?

Communication with parents

How will I hear about my child's day? An app, a paper report or a conversation at pickup?
For babies, will I get feeding, diaper and nap times each day?
Can I call or message during the day? Who answers?
How often are parent-teacher conferences?
How do you tell parents about a concern, such as biting or a delay you notice?

Costs and policies

What is the weekly or monthly tuition for my child's age?
Is there a registration fee or deposit?
Do I pay for holidays, closures and my family's vacation weeks?
When does tuition usually go up?
What days is the center closed each year?
Do you accept CCAP, and do you offer sibling discounts?
How much notice do I need to give if we leave?
What is the late pickup fee?

What to watch while you are there

The answers matter, but so does what you see. During the tour, spend a few minutes watching the room your child would join.

Do teachers get down to the children's level and talk with them?
Are crying children comforted quickly?
Are the children busy and engaged, or wandering with nothing to do?
Is the room clean, with toys in reach and safe for the age?
Does the director know the children's names?
Do the staff seem calm, or rushed and stretched thin?

Trust your gut. If something felt off, it is fine to ask for a second visit or to move on.

After the tour

Write down your notes the same day, before the centers blur together. Score each one on the things that matter most to you, such as location, hours, cost and how the room felt. Then call back with any questions you forgot. A good center is happy to answer them.

Frequently asked questions

How many daycares should I tour?

Most families tour two to four. Seeing more than one gives you something to compare against.

Should I bring my baby on the tour?

You can. Some parents like to see how staff interact with their child. Others find it easier to focus alone. Ask the center what they prefer.

What is the biggest red flag on a daycare tour?

A center that will not let you see the classroom your child would use, or gives vague answers about safety, sick rules or staff turnover.

Can I visit again after enrolling?

Ask about the center's visiting policy. Many centers also have cameras or monitors so parents can look in without interrupting the class.

Schedule a visit at Children's Land

Children's Land has 12 locations in Glenview, Park Ridge, Wheeling, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Lincolnshire, Grayslake, Vernon Hills and Chicago. Every classroom has cameras, and monitors at the entrance let parents see the rooms. Our staff are CPR and first aid certified and pass local and state background checks. Read our FAQ before you come, then pick a location and book a tour. Bring this list with you.

Daycare Tour Questions to Ask: A Parent Checklist