We have four years of daycare experience, and have had kids in all rooms, from infant to pre-k, so we already have a good feel for what to look out for. I remember touring our current daycare when we were pregnant with Noah and I didn't really know what to ask. Especially the older kids' classrooms seemed so far away, that I think for the most part we focused on the infant room. I now know better. Time flies and Noah will be graduating from his pre-school program next year.
Here are some tips on touring a daycare center and preparing questions to ask.
It helps to know what you're looking for and what your main concerns are. Here are some of ours so you get an idea:
I want them to have a big playground and lots of outside time, rain or shine. We're used to bringing the kids' lunches, so either option is fine for me. I see them serving lunches as a bonus, as long as it's healthy and nutritious. A strong connection between teachers and kids is the most important. We're used to a curriculum based "school" which has its upsides, but I wouldn't mind a bit less structure. Their philosophy on potty training, discipline, and learning needs to align with mine. And maybe most importantly, I need to have a good gut feeling about it.
So, based on that, here are the questions that we asked (or would have asked if the director hadn't already answered them):
What's the typical routine for infants, two-year-olds, and preschoolers?
How often do they go outside? What does the playground look like?
Do you serve lunches and if so, give me an idea of what's on the menu.
What's your general philosophy on learning?
How do the teachers interact with the kids?
What's the turnover rate for teachers?
How do you communicate with parents? Do you share daily reports?
Tell me about potty training!
How do you help prepare the older kids for kindergarten?
How do you deal with tantrums/upset children?
Do you offer ongoing training for teachers?
In addition to the answers to these questions, there were a few things that I really liked about this program that contributed to my positive gut feeling as we left: A focus on learn through play was apparent in every classroom, demonstrated by the fact that the teachers will get down on the floor with the kids, ask lots of open ended questions, and follow the kids' lead. Outside time is a big one for me. While the playground has yet been built, she explained that it will be a natural playground with real grass and sand and dirt, which I think is great. It shows that they're not afraid of letting kids get dirty and explore nature. In the meantime, they might take the kids to the park next door. They will do some letter and number recognition for the older kids in order to help make the transition from preschool to kindergarten easier, but the focus is still on play. If they have teachers that speak another language besides English, they'll take full advantage and have bilingual center time. Overall, the approach seemed very individualized which I think is great. For example, they won't follow a strictly outlined curriculum, but will talk about different types of trees for weeks if the kids are super interested in it, even though it was supposed to be a only week long theme (that's what's currently happening in one of their other locations). They'll incorporate whatever the kids show an interest in. I am looking forward to learning more about how that plays out in a classroom with 20 children, but I love the flexibility around it, because following the children's lead is very much my own parenting philosophy.
What questions did you or would you ask a daycare provider?
Thank you for your information
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