Touring a Child Care Center: Questions and Things to Notice

A checklist for parents visiting child care centers, with the questions to ask the director and what to observe.

When you tour a center, you are checking a program and also a relationship you will rely on every day. Use this list, and take notes so you can compare programs afterward.

Before the tour

• Look up the center's license in the state's Care Facility Search and read the posted inspection reports.
• Note the licensed capacity and the license type, and check that the center is licensed for your child's age.
• Write down questions based on anything you read in the reports.

Ask the director

• How long have you directed the program, and how long have the teachers been here?
• What is the staff-to-child ratio in my child's room, and who covers when a teacher is out?
• What background checks, training and health screening do staff complete? Do they hold current first aid and CPR for infants and children?
• What is your policy on illness, medication, allergies and emergencies?
• How do you handle biting, tantrums and other behavior?
• How do you communicate with parents each day, and how can I reach my child's teacher?
• What are your fees, deposits, late fees and policy on vacation and holidays?
• What is the procedure for pickup, and who may pick up my child?

What to observe

• Do children look engaged and comfortable? Do caregivers get down to a child's level and speak warmly?
• Is the space clean, safe and organized? Are there hazards within reach of young children?
• Are infants held and fed on demand, and are babies placed to sleep on their backs in cribs, as safe sleep guidance advises?
• Is the outdoor area secure, shaded and in good repair?
• How are doors secured, and how do visitors sign in?
• How does staff handle diapering and handwashing?

Meals and health

Ask for the menu and how allergies are handled. Ask whether the center requires immunizations and how it follows state health rules. Ask how the staff will inform you of an incident or injury, and whether you will receive a written report.

Trust your observations

Notice how you feel in the building. A good center welcomes questions, lets you visit again, and does not rush you. If staff avoid your questions or limit your access to the rooms, ask why. You are entitled to see the area where your child will spend the day.

After the visit

1. Write down your impressions the same day.
2. Compare costs, hours, ratios and answers side by side.
3. Ask the center for the names of current parents you can talk to.
4. Visit again at another time of day, such as pickup time.

If something concerns you later

Talk to the teacher and director first. If a concern about safety is not addressed, contact Community Care Licensing using the information on the CDSS child care licensing page. In an emergency call 911.

We list state records for licensed centers and do not rate, vet or recommend any program. A listing shows what the state recorded, not what your child's day will be like.

A note on ratios

California sets minimum adult-to-child ratios in its licensing regulations, and they differ by the age of the children and the type of program. Ask the director what the ratio is in your child's room and compare the answer with the state's rules, which you can ask the licensing office to explain. Also ask how ratios are kept during nap time, outdoor play and when staff take breaks. A program that keeps ratios lower than the minimum is worth noting, but the more important thing is whether adults are paying attention to the children in front of them.

Bring your child, if you can

If the program permits, bring your child for a short visit. Watch how your child responds to the staff and the other children, and how staff respond to your child. Children often show quickly whether a place feels comfortable. Ask whether there is a gradual start so your child can get used to the room, and what the policy is if the first weeks do not go well.

Updated 2026-10-01.

General information only, current as of the date above. The information on California Daycare License Check 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.