5 Questions to Ask When Touring a Daycare

Choosing a daycare is one of the most emotional and important decisions you’ll make as a parent. You want to feel confident, not just comfortable. Here are five questions that cut through the marketing and get to what actually matters.

1. What is your staff turnover rate?

High turnover is the single biggest red flag in childcare. Children form attachments to their caregivers — and constantly losing teachers disrupts that bond. A good center will answer this question directly and proudly. If they hesitate or dodge it, that tells you something.

At Little Sprouts, we invest heavily in our teachers — competitive pay, paid training, and a supportive culture — because we know that stable staff means stable, happy kids.

2. What does a typical day look like for my child’s age group?

You want to hear a clear, structured answer — not a vague “we play and learn.” Ask about the balance between free play and structured activities, outdoor time, nap schedules, and how transitions between activities are handled. The answer tells you a lot about how intentional the curriculum is.

3. How do you communicate with parents throughout the day?

Modern childcare centers should offer real-time updates — photos, videos, feeding logs, and sleep reports. At Little Sprouts, we use Procare to send daily activity updates so you’re never left wondering what your child is up to.

4. What are your sick child and illness policies?

This question reveals how seriously a center takes health and safety. Ask specifically: What symptoms require a child to stay home? How quickly are parents notified if a child gets sick during the day? What is the re-entry policy after an illness? Clarity here protects every child in the building.

5. What training do your teachers receive beyond state requirements?

Pennsylvania requires 12 hours of professional development per year. That’s a floor, not a ceiling. Ask what the center does above and beyond that. At Little Sprouts, our teachers receive 30+ hours of annual training — more than double the state requirement — because great early education starts with great educators.

Ready to see it for yourself? Schedule a free tour at our North Wales or Collegeville location — no pressure, no obligation.