How to Tour a Daycare: Complete Walkthrough Guide for Parents 2026

You've done your research, made your list, and scheduled your daycare tours. Now what? Walking into an unfamiliar childcare facility and knowing what to look for can feel overwhelming—especially when you're trying to imagine your own child there.

This guide walks you through exactly how to approach a daycare tour: what to observe, what to ask, what red flags to watch for, and how to compare multiple programs. By the end, you'll feel confident that you're evaluating what actually matters.

Before the Tour

Scheduling the Tour

When to schedule:

• During operating hours when children are present
• Ideally during active time (mid-morning is often best)
• Avoid nap time if possible (less to observe)
• Not during major transitions (arrival, lunch, dismissal)

What to ask when calling:

• How long is the tour typically?
• Can I observe the classroom my child would be in?
• Who will conduct the tour?
• Can I bring my child?
• Is there availability for my child's age?

Bringing your child:

• Pros: See how they react, staff interaction with them
• Cons: Harder to focus, child may be distracting
• Consider: Tour alone first, return with child for second visit

What to Bring

Essentials:

• List of questions (this guide or your own)
• Notebook and pen
• Phone for photos (ask permission)
• Address and contact info (don't rely on GPS)

Optional:

• Partner or trusted friend for second opinion
• Your child's health/dietary information
• Questions about specific concerns

What to Wear

Dress comfortably—you'll be walking, possibly sitting on child-sized furniture, and maybe getting on the floor. Nothing fancy required; this is a daycare, not a job interview.

During the Tour: What to Observe

First Impressions

As you arrive:

• Is the entrance secure? How do you get in?
• How are you greeted?
• Does the space feel welcoming?
• What's the overall cleanliness level?
• What do you notice about the smell?
• Can you hear happy sounds or stressed sounds?

Ask yourself:

• Would I feel comfortable leaving my child here?
• Do the staff seem happy to see me?
• Does this feel like a place where children thrive?

The Entrance and Security

What to look for:

• Locked entry requiring buzz-in or code
• Sign-in/sign-out system
• Clear authorized pickup procedures
• Cameras if present
• Secure fencing around outdoor areas
• No easy access from parking lot to classrooms

Questions to ask:

• What's your security protocol?
• How do you verify who's picking up a child?
• What happens if someone unauthorized tries to get a child?
• How do you handle visitors?

The Classroom Environment

Physical space:

• Age-appropriate furniture and materials
• Organized learning centers/areas
• Child-accessible materials (can kids get their own toys?)
• Clean and well-maintained
• Natural light preferred
• Temperature comfortable
• Noise level reasonable

Safety:

• Outlet covers
• Secured furniture and shelving
• No obvious hazards
• Clear emergency exits
• Visible emergency procedures
• Safe sleep areas (for infants)

Materials and toys:

• Variety of age-appropriate toys
• Books visible and accessible
• Art supplies available
• Open-ended materials (blocks, dramatic play)
• Not overly reliant on electronic toys
• Clean and in good condition

Observing the Staff

What to watch for:

• Are they engaged with children or standing back?
• Do they get down on children's level?
• How do they talk to children? (Warm? Respectful?)
• Are they interacting or just supervising?
• Do they seem stressed or calm?
• How many adults are present? (Count!)

Interaction quality:

• Responding to children's needs promptly
• Positive language and encouragement
• Helping children problem-solve vs. doing for them
• Engaging in play and conversation
• Comforting distressed children effectively
• Smiling and appearing to enjoy their work

Red flags in staff behavior:

• Harsh language or yelling
• Ignoring children's needs
• Sitting separately from children
• On phones during supervision
• Seeming burnt out or disengaged
• Dismissive of your questions

Observing the Children

What to look for:

• Are children engaged and active?
• Do they seem happy?
• Are they playing and interacting?
• Is there a mix of individual and group activity?
• Are there any children who seem distressed?
• How quickly are distressed children comforted?

Consider:

• Children won't be happy every second—that's normal
• Some fussiness during transitions is expected
• Overall, the vibe should be positive
• Children should be comfortable approaching adults

Outdoor Space

What to evaluate:

• Securely fenced
• Age-appropriate equipment
• Safe surfacing under equipment
• Shaded areas
• Clean and well-maintained
• Enough space for the number of children
• Variety of activities (active play, quiet areas, nature elements)

Questions to ask:

• How much outdoor time do children get daily?
• What happens when weather is bad?
• Is there shade for hot days?
• How is the outdoor area supervised?

Bathroom and Diapering Areas

What to look for:

• Clean and sanitized
• Accessible to children (for potty-trained)
• Adequate supervision/visibility
• Handwashing supplies at child height
• Diaper changing procedure posted (for infant/toddler rooms)
• Privacy appropriate for age

For infant/toddler areas:

• Diapering table cleaned between each child
• Gloves used
• Handwashing after each change
• Diapers stored appropriately
• Communication about diapering schedule

Eating Areas

What to observe:

• Clean eating surfaces
• Age-appropriate seating
• Staff eating with children (modeling)
• Pleasant mealtime atmosphere
• Allergy accommodations visible
• Safe food handling practices

Questions to ask:

• What meals and snacks do you provide?
• How do you handle food allergies?
• Can we send food from home?
• Is mealtime supervised? How?
• How do you handle picky eaters?

Nap/Rest Areas

For infants:

• Safe sleep practices (back to sleep, bare cribs)
• Individual cribs or playpens
• Supervision during nap
• Check procedures

For toddlers and preschoolers:

• Clean individual cots or mats
• Adequate spacing between children
• Dim, calm environment
• Staff present during rest time
• Options for non-sleepers

Questions to Ask on Your Tour

About the Program

Daily schedule:

• What does a typical day look like?
• How is the day structured?
• How much time is spent outdoors?
• What's the balance of structured vs. free play?

Curriculum:

• What curriculum do you use?
• What do children learn at each age?
• How do you approach kindergarten readiness?
• How do you individualize for different children?

Transitions and milestones:

• How do you handle potty training?
• How do children transition between classrooms?
• How do you communicate about developmental concerns?

About Staff

Qualifications:

• What qualifications do your teachers have?
• What training is required?
• What's your staff turnover rate?
• How long has the lead teacher been here?

Ratios:

• What are your child-to-staff ratios?
• How do you maintain ratios during transitions, breaks?
• What happens if a teacher calls in sick?

About Policies

Illness:

• What's your illness policy?
• When must children stay home?
• How long until they can return after illness?
• How do you handle illness that develops during the day?

Discipline:

• What's your discipline philosophy?
• How do you handle challenging behaviors?
• What behaviors would result in dismissal?
• How do you communicate about behavior issues?

Communication:

• How do you communicate with parents daily?
• Is there an app or written reports?
• How often are parent-teacher conferences?
• How can I reach my child's teacher?

Emergencies:

• What's your emergency plan?
• How do you handle injuries?
• What's your lockdown procedure?
• How would you contact me in emergency?

About Logistics

Availability:

• Do you have openings for my child's age?
• Is there a waitlist? How long?
• When would my child start?

Cost:

• What's the tuition?
• What's included (diapers, food, supplies)?
• Are there registration or supply fees?
• What's your vacation/absence policy?
• When is payment due?

Hours:

• What are your hours of operation?
• What's the late pickup policy?
• Are you open during school breaks?
• What holidays are you closed?

Red Flags to Watch For

Serious Concerns (Walk Away)

Safety issues:

• Unsecured entrance or easy public access
• Obvious safety hazards
• No visible supervision
• Staff ignoring crying or distressed children
• Anything that makes you feel unsafe

Staff behavior:

• Yelling at or belittling children
• Rough handling
• Ignoring children's basic needs
• Staff on phones during supervision
• Unwillingness to answer questions

Facility concerns:

• Dirty or unsanitary conditions
• Broken or dangerous equipment
• Strong bad odors (not just diaper smell)
• Overcrowded classrooms
• Lack of fire/emergency exits

Yellow Flags (Investigate Further)

Ask more questions about:

• High staff turnover (why?)
• Evasiveness about ratios or qualifications
• Lack of clear curriculum explanation
• No parent references available
• Unusual discipline approaches
• Resistance to drop-in visits
• Pressure to sign up immediately

Not necessarily dealbreakers but worth exploring:

• Less than ideal outdoor space
• Older or simpler materials
• Slight delays in response to children
• One negative online review

What's NOT a Red Flag

Normal things that may concern you:

• A child crying (children cry!)
• Toys out of place (children play!)
• Some noise and chaos (it's a daycare!)
• Teachers briefly looking tired (everyone has moments)
• Not immediately greeting every child's every request

After the Tour

Immediately After

Take notes right away:

• Overall impression
• What you liked
• What concerned you
• How did children seem?
• How did staff seem?
• Would your child be happy here?

Rate if it helps: Give yourself a quick gut-check score (1-10) before you forget how you felt.

Comparing Multiple Programs

Create a comparison system:

| Factor | Daycare A | Daycare B | Daycare C | |--------|-----------|-----------|-----------| | Location/Commute | | | | | Hours | | | | | Cost | | | | | Gut feeling | | | | | Curriculum | | | | | Staff warmth | | | | | Facility quality | | | | | Outdoor space | | | | | Communication | | | | | Availability | | | |

Follow-Up Steps

Before deciding:

• Second visit if uncertain (announce or not)
• Talk to current parents if possible
• Check licensing records online
• Read reviews (with appropriate skepticism)
• Ask any lingering questions

When you've decided:

• Complete registration promptly
• Pay deposits to hold spot
• Submit required paperwork
• Schedule transition visits
• Prepare your child

Tour Checklist

Security and Safety

• [ ] Secure entrance requiring check-in
• [ ] Fenced outdoor play area
• [ ] Fire extinguishers and emergency exits visible
• [ ] Age-appropriate furniture and equipment
• [ ] No obvious hazards

Staff and Interactions

• [ ] Appropriate ratios observed
• [ ] Staff engaged and warm with children
• [ ] Staff speak respectfully to children
• [ ] Staff respond promptly to children's needs
• [ ] Staff seem happy to be there

Environment

• [ ] Clean and well-maintained
• [ ] Age-appropriate toys and materials
• [ ] Organized learning areas
• [ ] Outdoor space adequate and safe
• [ ] Bathroom/diapering areas clean

Children

• [ ] Children engaged in activities
• [ ] Children appear happy overall
• [ ] Distressed children comforted quickly
• [ ] Age-appropriate activities happening

Program

• [ ] Clear curriculum explanation
• [ ] Schedule seems appropriate
• [ ] Adequate outdoor time
• [ ] Good balance of activities

Logistics Work

• [ ] Hours meet your needs
• [ ] Calendar works for you
• [ ] Cost is within budget
• [ ] Location is acceptable
• [ ] Availability for your child

Key Takeaways

Trust your gut:

• First impressions matter
• If something feels wrong, it might be
• You know what your child needs

Look at interactions:

• How staff treat children tells you everything
• Warm, responsive care is non-negotiable
• Watch more than listen

Ask your questions:

• No question is too picky
• Good programs welcome thorough parents
• Evasive answers are concerning

Visit more than once:

• One visit is a snapshot
• Return visits show consistency
• Drop in unannounced if allowed

Compare thoughtfully:

• Make lists and take notes
• Don't just go by cost
• Consider your specific child
• Trust the process

The right daycare for your child is out there. Your job is to look carefully, ask the right questions, and trust yourself to recognize it when you find it. Take your time, do your research, and know that your attention to this process is already setting your child up for success.

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