If you’re interested in starting your child at daycare, or want to transition them to a different one, you will need to visit potential facilities to check out their classrooms and staff. During these tours, in order to make an informed decision and find the right fit for your little one, it’s a good idea to come equipped with a list of questions to better understand the policies and child care philosophies of each daycare you tour.
If you are a new parent and have never toured a childcare center before, you might not know some of the best questions to ask during a daycare tour. The questions outlined below should provide a strong sense of what a parent can expect from a child care facility after being given the answer to each of them.
What Questions Should You Ask at a Daycare Tour?
“What’s Your Philosophy on Child Care?”
Before you decide to send your newborn, infant or toddler to a daycare or preschool, you will want a general sense of the facility’s beliefs and philosophies when it comes to caring for small children. This includes their feelings on education, socialization, wellness and several other factors.
“What Are Tuition/Enrollment Fees?”
Let’s face it, one of the most important factors in determining which daycare or child care in Kenosha is right for you is the cost of enrollment or tuition. This should be one of your first questions, so that if the cost ends up being far outside of your budget you will know right away that the facility is not right for you. There is a very wide range of enrollment costs for daycares and preschools in Kenosha, so you should be able to find one you like that fits your family financially.
“What Activities Do Children Do Throughout the Day?”
There is an expectation that daycares, and of course preschools, will have various activities throughout each day to occupy, engage and educate children. Some facilities focus more on sports and physical games for exercise whereas others might tailor their activities more towards arts, crafts and education. Cornerstone Academy offers several opportunities for exercise and entertainment, however, it is our prime goal to foster growth and development in the children in our care each day.
“What is Your Ratio of Staff to Child?”
You will want to know the average number of children that attend the daycare each day and how many staff members are there each day. If there are too many children and not enough staff, there is the concern that your child will not receive the necessary attention throughout the day.
“What Certification Does Your Staff Have?”
You will want to choose a preschool that staffs certified employees able to properly educate and care for your children. There is nothing more important than the safety and well-being of your child, so there is a certain comfort level established in choosing a daycare that staffs certified and trained individuals at their location.
“How Do You Discipline Children?”
You will want to be comfortable with the disciplinary policy the child care facility or preschool subscribes to. Forms of discipline vary from daycare to daycare and you will want to ensure that you have no issues with the method practiced at the daycare you choose. Some popular forms of discipline include timeouts or reward systems where good children receive rewards throughout the day and children with bad behavior do not.
“Are Meals Provided?”
Some daycares provide meals or snacks for the children under their care while others require parents to pack a healthy lunch. For newborns, you will want to know the daycare’s policy on storing breast milk and if they provide formula or not. You will also want a list of what to pack for your newborn in order to ensure you have all the necessary items for the child care center to look after your son or daughter each day.
“Are Parents Allowed to Visit Throughout the Day?”
Some child care centers have strict policies on allowing parents and other adults to visit their children during the day. These facilities feel it is best to create a clear separation between the parents and the children during this time so that the child is focused on their preschool or not distracted from the daycare routine. If you feel you will want to visit your child from time to time throughout the week, you will want to know the daycare’s policy on this matter.
“What Happens if We Are Late for Pickup?”
Unfortunately, on occasion, parents are unable to arrive at a daycare in time for a scheduled pickup due to traffic or other inconveniences. Some child care centers are flexible with this while others impose fines that are added to your weekly or monthly bills from their service. If you fear there is the potential for you to be late for pickup often, you will want to find a daycare that does not impose such financial penalties.
“What is Your Policy on Illness?
Daycares often have policies concerning whether they’ll allow a child to come to their facility if ill or when the child will be allowed to return to the facility after being ill. This policy is important to know for parents during cold and flu season, when illnesses in the home are much more common.
“What Security Measures Are in Place?”
You can never be too careful when it comes to the safety of your child. You can learn about the safety measures each daycare has in place during your tour there. Some daycares do not allow any visitors during the day and almost all require sign-in and identification in order to enter the facility.
“Do You Have References?”
You can always conduct research online to see reviews of each daycare on Google or other social media channels, and you should also ask the daycare if they can provide a list of references and current or past parents that chose their facility. You will then be able to ask some of the same questions from this list to those parents to see how they feel about the child care center in question.
If you’re interested in more information regarding questions to ask at a daycare tour, check out the video below, or feel free to contact us. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have!
