Questions to ask when touring a child care
A practical touring checklist for any child care center or home: what to ask, what to watch for, and how to follow up with the state record.
The state record tells you whether a program is licensed and what regulators cited. A visit tells you the rest. Plan to see a program while children are there, bring a short list of questions, and make notes straight afterward. These questions work for a center or a home in any state. This is general information, not legal advice.
Before you go
- Look up the program on this site and read the state's inspection record, dated as the state published it.
- Write down anything cited that you want to ask about, using the state's wording.
- Book a visit during the day, when children are present and awake. A visit after closing tells you little.
- Bring a notebook, and take the same list to every program so you can compare.
Licensing and records
- May I see your license, and when does it expire? It should be displayed. Confirm it on the state's lookup. In Connecticut that is the OEC lookup, which includes the past three years of substantiated complaint or incident history.
- Have you been inspected recently, and may I read the latest report? A program should be willing to talk about anything cited and what it changed.
- Is a staff member trained in infant and child CPR and first aid on site at all times?
Staffing and ratios
- How many children are in each group, and how many adults? Regulations set maximum ratios and group sizes by age, so ask which apply and how they are met at drop-off, nap time and the end of the day.
- How long have teachers been here, and what happens when one is out?
- Who has had background checks, and are visitors supervised?
- Will my child have a regular teacher or caregiver?
Health and safety
- What are your sick-child and immunization policies?
- How do you handle medication, allergies and food?
- How are infants put to sleep? Ask about safe sleep practices, such as babies sleeping on their backs in their own cribs.
- What is the emergency plan, and how will you contact me?
- Are indoor and outdoor spaces clean, secure and in good repair? Look at doors, gates and floors.
- How and when do you report injuries to parents? In Connecticut, licensed programs must report certain serious incidents, such as broken bones, hospitalizations, medication errors and deaths, to the state by the next business day (OEC).
Daily life
- What does a typical day look like? Is there time for play, reading, outdoor time and rest?
- How do you guide behaviour, and what are the rules about discipline? You want clear policies that avoid harsh or humiliating methods.
- How do you tell parents about my child's day?
- How do you handle a child who is upset at drop-off?
Costs and logistics
- What do you charge, what is included, and when does it rise? Are there fees for late pickup, registration or holidays?
- Do you accept state subsidies? Ask the program, and check with the state's child care assistance office.
- What are your hours, closures and notice terms if I leave? Ask for the contract and read it before you sign.
What to watch while you are there
- Do children look comfortable, and do staff get down to their level and talk with them?
- Does the director answer directly, including questions about citations?
- Can you see all the rooms your child would use?
- Is the program open to unannounced drop-ins by parents?
After the visit
Write down your impressions within the hour, then compare programs side by side. Visit twice if you can, once at a quiet time and once at a busy one. If something worries you, trust that and ask again. Then read the state record at home. Our guides on Connecticut records and Delaware records help turn what you read into specific questions.
Official sources: CT OEC lookup and Delaware OCCL.
A simple comparison sheet
After each tour, score nothing and rank nothing. Instead, write one line for each of these and compare the lines later: group size for my child's age; number of adults in the room; how long teachers have stayed; how the director responded to the citation question; what the day felt like; the full monthly cost; and one thing I liked and one thing that worried me. Comparing sentences is slower than comparing numbers, but it keeps you focused on what you saw.
When a visit raises a red flag
- You are not allowed to see the rooms where children spend the day.
- Staff cannot say how many children are in the group.
- The program will not show its license or a recent inspection report.
- Children appear unsupervised, even briefly.
- You feel hurried to sign or pay a deposit before you have read the contract.
None of these proves anything on its own, but each is a reason to ask more questions or look elsewhere. If you believe a licensed program is breaking the rules, you can contact the state licensing office. In Connecticut, the OEC takes licensing complaints through its website; in Delaware, contact OCCL. If a child is in danger, call 911.
Questions for your own child
Every child is different, so add two or three questions that fit yours. If your child has allergies, ask how the staff prevent exposure and respond to a reaction. If your child has a disability or developmental concern, ask whether staff have experience with it and how they work with outside therapists. If your child is shy, ask how new children are introduced to the group. A program that welcomes these questions is showing you how it will talk to you once your child is enrolled.
General information only, current as of the date above. The information on CT & DE Child Care Records is not a safety rating or recommendation. Inspection records show what the state found on the dates shown; problems may since have been corrected, and a clean record does not guarantee future safety. Visit any program in person and check the state's own records before you choose. Rules and programs change; check the official sources linked in this guide.