Touring a Daycare? Here’s What to Look Out For

Choosing a daycare for your child can be a major decision. A tour is therefore a good opportunity to get a sense of whether the place feels right. But what should you actually pay attention to as you walk around the daycare? And what questions are useful to ask?

Notice the atmosphere.

One of the first things you can pay attention to is the atmosphere. How does it feel to walk into the daycare? Is there a sense of calm and attentiveness? Do the staff seem welcoming, or as though they are busy? And how do the children respond to the adults?

It is a good idea to visit either in the morning or later in the afternoon, when the building is lively and you can get a good sense of everyday life there.

Notice whether the staff are attentive to the children and speak to them respectfully and calmly. Do the adults play and take an active part in activities with the children?

A good question to ask could be: How do you work to build secure relationships with the children?

Ask about the settling-in period

The way the settling-in period is handled can have a major impact on a child’s well-being at daycare. It can be a vulnerable time for both parents and child, so it is important to align expectations and make sure everyone feels comfortable with the process.

For example, ask how the settling-in period is usually handled. Some daycares use a “schedule” for the process, with a plan for the parents to try leaving the child as early as day 2 or 3. This can be unhelpful, as the child has only just started getting to know the new caregiver.

You can also ask whether one regular caregiver will be responsible for settling the child in.

The most important thing is not whether the daycare has a fixed method, but whether it understands that children are different and that the settling-in period MUST be adapted to the individual child.

Sleep

One of the most important things for a child’s well-being and development is sleep. It has therefore become common for daycares to have a sleep policy stating that children must not be woken from their naps.

The latest research shows, however, that waking a child from a nap does not in itself have a negative impact. Both the child’s total amount of sleep and the family’s well-being need to be considered. A poor sleep pattern can have an impact on both the child and the family’s well-being.

It is therefore important that the daycare is willing to work with the family on the child’s sleep.

Staffing situation

Despite the fact that