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The daycare tour: FAQs and what to expect when you go

As a working mom, I want one thing – balance. I want to be able to successfully balance my career, my personal needs, and the responsibilities of parenting. To do that, I need support, and that means having reliable, quality childcare. Finding quality childcare can be a real process. There’s the searching, the organizing, narrowing down the lists, and then… the daycare tours. 

Scheduling daycare tours is usually one of the last steps you’ll do in the process of searching for childcare. It’s very important to tour potential daycares – you’ll get to see the facility, learn about its values, and understand how your child will be spending their days (and with who). It’s where all the first impressions are made.

Before you schedule and go on tours, there are some things that’ll be helpful to know so you can get the most out of the process. 

Why is it important to tour potential daycares? 

You probably already know this, but touring is a crucial step in finding the right daycare. During the tour, you’ll be able to get a lot of insight into how the teachers interact with children, the cleanliness, outdoor spaces, security and safety measures, and day-to-day routines. This is the time you’ll get to meet your child’s potential teachers and have your questions answered regarding how your child will be cared for.  

When is the best time to schedule a daycare tour? 

There are two answers to this question, depending on what you’re asking. 

The best time to tour during the day is typically sometime in the morning before naptime but after drop-off, generally around 10am – 11.30 am. This is when the curriculums are in full swing and children are engaging in morning routines like circle time, outdoor playground time, and other planned activities. You can also just ask the facility’s director when the best time would be for your child’s specific classroom, as their lunch and nap times may vary depending on classroom and age.  

In the general timeline of enrollment, the best time to tour would be once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential daycares (ideally at least six months to a year before your child’s anticipated start date). The daycare process starts as soon as you find out you’re pregnant; waitlists for daycares are long, sometimes months to years long. 

How long will the tour be? 

Standard daycare tours usually run around 30-60 minutes. 

Who will be giving the tour? 

You will probably be guided through your tour by the daycare’s director or assistant director, as most teachers will be busy caring for their kids (as they should be). The director should be able to answer most of your questions about the facility and tell you about its values and mission, procedures, and policies. 

Does scheduling a tour mean there’s a spot available for my child? 

Unfortunately not. Many daycares schedule running tours of the facility despite not having any available openings. It’s nice to see the facility and meet your child’s potential teachers, but don’t assume that it means you’ll get a spot next week! You’ll still probably need to get on the waitlist and follow up after your tour. 

Should I do a virtual tour? 

It can be tempting to opt for a virtual tour over an in-person one due to time and convenience, but in-person is generally better unless you just can’t make it work. You won’t be able to get a true feel for the daycare and the environment via a screen, and you may not get the chance to talk to and observe the teachers the way you would like. Plus, there’s always the potential for frustrating technology and connectivity issues to arise and make your tour less than smooth. 

What should I be looking for?

You want to look closely at the cleanliness of the daycare, the way the teachers interact with the children (they should be warm, attentive, and engaged), how the children behave, licensure information, outdoor play spaces, indoor play spaces, toys and equipment, security measures, nutrition and meal plans (if any), medication and safety protocols, and number of children in each classroom. All of these things together will give you a snapshot of the overall quality of the daycare. 

What questions should I ask? 

The daycare tour is a chance to have all of your questions about the facility answered. You should ask questions related to daycare security, licensing, teaching curriculum and methodology, allergy and emergency protocols, class ratios, teacher turnover, meals, teacher background check and certifications, and day-to-day routines. To find a comprehensive list of questions you should ask on a daycare tour, visit the following resources:

Childcare.gov

Child Care Aware of America 

What red flags should I be aware of?  

When touring daycares, there are some things you should be on lookout for. Red flags on tours can include disengaged or harsh teachers, unusually timid or unhappy children, dirty or broken equipment and classrooms, too many children in one class for the amount of teachers (unsafe class ratios), poor security protocols, or a director that hesitates to answer questions or show certain areas of the daycare.

Should I follow up after the tour? 

Sure, if you’re interested in the facility! Following up within 2-3 days to thank the director for their time can show how interested you are in the daycare (which may be helpful if there’s a long waitlist), and give you a chance to ask any questions you might have forgotten.

Sources 

“Comprehensive Toddler Daycare & Preschool Programs | Bright Horizons | Bright Horizons?” Brighthorizons.com, 2026, www.brighthorizons.com/daycare/enrollment/daycare-tour.

Center, Childcare. “HINGE Early Education Advisors.” HINGE Early Education Advisors, 21 Aug. 2023, hingeadvisors.com/blog/childcare-center-tour-secrets-and-strategies.

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