The day of your appointment make sure to bring a notebook. If you are worried about your child(ren)'s behavior bring someone along. Instruct them that they are in charge of the child(ren), so you are free to focus on your questions and observations of the center.
Turn your feedback from your parent survey into some questions. For example, if a friend said that they loved their daycare, but didn't like the time that they fed the child(ren) breakfast. Ask what time they serve meals?
Your observation of the daycare starts when you pull in the parking lot. See if it is well kept and if the
landscaping is taken care of.
Make sure you observe how secure the entrance to the facility is. Do they have a keypad for entry, badge access, or no security at all.
Rate how friendly the staff was as you arrived. Staff deal with children everyday and should be very good at being very expressive.
Look at all the little things, especially cleanliness, it is a good indicator of how well run the center is (drinking fountains, bathrooms, hallways, walls, and kitchen). Remember that they do work with kids so a fresh hand print on the wall happens everyday. If everything above is dirty, you will have a problem with sick kids on a regular basis, if the daycare is not good about cleaning and disinfecting daily.
When you enter your child(ren)'s potential classroom, see how the teacher responds to your child. A good teacher will take a moment to say, "Hi" and greet your child. Stay in the room to see if they are invited to join story time, etc. Take into account that a teacher may be in the middle of a project and not able to spend time with you. This is not a bad thing. Simply evaluate and observe how the teacher is interacting with all the children. Do not expect the teacher to give you their undivided attention. Make a separate appointment if you would like to ask the teacher additional questions. If they spend time with you and ignore the children, you are in the wrong place. The children should always come first. Ask if this will be your child's teacher for the entire day. Many times daycares will show you their best teacher, but they may only be in your child's class for a couple of hours.
Check bulletin boards in the room. Look close to see if they are up to date and creative.
Ask if they can show you a class schedule. One should be posted in the room or on the door. Even for
babies.
Ask how they track the child(ren) while they are at the center. When daycare centers open and close for the day, they combine classes and move kids around to different rooms. Make sure they have a good plan in place so they always know where your child is.
The playground is important to view. Make sure that it is well kept, mowed, and the toys are in good condition. Ensure that it is age appropriate and that it is fenced in for safety.
Ask about nap or rest time policies at the center. Where the children sleep, time schedule, and what they need to bring. Also, what teacher will be in the classroom during this time.
As you view other classrooms see how happy the staff and children look. See if the classrooms are organized with activities or if kids are running around wildly.
As your tour ends, the staff should take you back to the office to talk about details and costs. At this point refer to your notes. If they are licensed or certified, ask to see their most recent non-compliance report. Any state licensed facility is usually required to post this in plain sight. Read the entire document and ask questions if you need further explanation. Keep in mind that every center will have non-compliance issues. None of them should be major issues or repetitive. If they are your interview is over.
Ask what the teacher's qualifications are to work at the center. Do they have an Associates degree, Bachelors, or certification?
Ask how many employees they have and how long they have been working there. This is a good indication on how well the center is managed. Centers with high turnover rates aren't operated well.
If you have not met the director yet and so far the center has passed your inspection, ask to make an appointment to meet the director. If you aren't able to meet the director it is a good indication that when you have a problem in the future and need to address the director they won't be available at that time either.
Rates. Ask for the center's rates and how payment is expected. Most daycares have family discounts and know the ins and outs of obtaining assistance from State agencies. Don't walk away because the price is too high. Finish all of your evaluations first. One daycare may be $25 extra a week, but if they clean and disinfect the center better than the less expensive one you are less likely to miss work because your children are constantly sick. The cost savings may not pay off.
Use your gut. If you don't feel comfortable your child(ren) probably won't feel comfortable either.
Ask for a calendar of center events and a monthly menu. Centers that have regular family events, PTA's, and field trips should move up on your list. The menu should consist of well balanced nutritional meals and not be redundant throughout the month.
Finally if you are considering this center, ask if they can hold your spot or add your name to the waiting list for 2 days. Most centers will ask for a deposit. You can usually tell them you need to discuss it with your family and will bring it in at that time. If they won't budge, you will need to decide if loosing your deposit is worth the risk.
Don't take to long to make your decision. Try and tour all the centers within 3 days and be ready to make your decision. Many parents take too long and you may loose an available spot.
Make your final decision by reading your notes, reviewing the recommendations that you received, and asking your child which one they liked best. You must keep in mind that this decision is about choosing someone that will team up with you to raise your child(ren). Communication will be key! If they don't communicate well in a tour, they won't communicate well in the future.
