Before you sign an enrollment agreement or commit your child to a daycare, you should understand the facility's policies and approaches in detail. Asking the right questions now prevents surprises and frustration later. Share your child's health information from Healthbooq with providers so they understand any specific needs.
Questions About Staff and Qualifications
Ask about the qualifications of the director and lead teachers. What education and training do they have? Are they child development specialists, teachers, or simply experienced with children?
Inquire about staff-to-child ratios for each age group. What are the legal requirements in your state, and does this facility meet them, exceed them, or barely meet them?
Ask about staff training requirements. Beyond state-mandated initial training, what professional development do they pursue? How often are staff trained on current child development research?
Find out about staff turnover. Ask how long the current staff have been at the facility and what the annual turnover rate is. Staff stability directly affects your child's experience.
Questions About Communication
How often and how do they communicate with parents? Daily? Weekly? Through what methods—written reports, conversations, apps, emails?
Ask how they handle behavioral observations and concerns. Will they share observations about your child's development, friendships, challenges? How frequently?
Find out how they handle emergency communication. If your child gets sick or injured, how quickly will they contact you? What's their notification system?
Questions About Health and Safety
How do they handle medication administration? Can they give prescribed medications? Who manages this? Is there a system to prevent errors?
What's their policy on illness? When must children stay home? When can they return? How do they handle children with illnesses present at the facility?
Ask about their emergency preparedness. Do they have evacuation plans? First aid kits? Emergency contact procedures? Have they practiced emergency drills?
How do they handle injuries? What's their documentation process? Will they notify you of minor incidents as well as serious ones?
Questions About Discipline and Behavior
How do they approach challenging behaviors? Do they use time-out, removal of privileges, positive reinforcement, or other methods? Does their philosophy align with yours?
Ask about specific scenarios. "How would you handle a child biting another child?" or "What if my child refuses to clean up toys?" Their answers reveal actual practice.
Will they communicate with you about behavioral issues? How do they partner with parents to address challenges?
What's their policy on physical punishment or harsh discipline? Most quality centers have clear policies against spanking, yelling, or harsh language.
Questions About Policies and Costs
What are the fees, and what exactly do they cover? Is food included or do you pack lunches? Are there additional costs for activities, supplies, or late fees?
What's their payment schedule? Is payment weekly, monthly? What happens if you're absent?
Ask about contracts. Are there cancellation clauses? How much notice do you need to withdraw your child? What's their refund policy?
What happens on days the facility is closed? Do they offer alternatives? How many closures happen yearly?
Questions About Your Child's Specific Needs
If your child has allergies, ask how they manage food safety. Do they have separate supplies? How do they prevent cross-contamination?
If your child has special needs, ask how they accommodate them. Do they have experience with your child's condition? What support do they offer?
Ask about dietary needs. Do they offer vegetarian options? Can they accommodate dairy-free, gluten-free, or other dietary restrictions?
Questions About Developmental Approach
Ask about their curriculum or daily structure. Do they follow specific learning frameworks? What's the balance between structured learning and free play?
How do they assess children's development? Do they track milestones and share observations with parents?
What's their approach to screen time? How much educational media is used? When and why?
Ask about parent involvement. Are they welcome to volunteer? Observe? Participate in events?
Get Policies in Writing
After asking these questions, request written copies of their policies on discipline, illness, emergency procedures, and payment terms. Don't rely on verbal explanations—written policies matter if disputes arise.
Ask to review their parent handbook. This document should cover major policies and expectations for both the center and families.
Trust your comfort level with their answers. If responses seem evasive, overly defensive, or don't align with your values, keep looking.
Key Takeaways
Before enrolling, ask questions about staff qualifications, communication systems, handling of health emergencies, behavioral discipline approaches, costs and payment terms, and what the enrollment process itself involves. Get clear answers in writing to avoid misunderstandings.
