Top Questions to Ask a Daycare Before Enrolling Your Child
Zukeepr TeamMay 12, 2026
Top Questions to Ask a Daycare Before Enrolling Your Child
Touring a daycare can feel like a job interview — except you're interviewing the facility, and the stakes are your child's safety, development, and happiness. It's easy to be charmed by a clean lobby and colourful murals. But the right questions reveal what the lobby can't.
Here are the 15 questions every parent should ask before signing an enrollment contract — and what to listen for in the answers.
About Safety and Compliance
1. Are you licensed with Texas DFPS, and can I see your most recent inspection report?
A licensed facility must display its license and most recent DFPS inspection report. Any hesitation to show you this is a concern. You can also look up any licensed facility at childcare.hhs.texas.gov before your visit. Listen for: Confidence and immediate access.
2. What is your staff-to-child ratio for my child's age group?
Texas minimums: 1:4 for infants, 1:5 for toddlers 18–23 months, 1:9 for children 2–3 years. Ask what the actual ratio is — not the minimum — and how it's maintained when staff call in sick. Listen for: Numbers that exceed the minimum and a clear coverage plan.
3. What is your secure entry procedure?
Ask specifically who is authorized to pick up your child, how you add or remove authorized individuals, and whether photo ID is required. Listen for: A clear, documented procedure — not "we know all the parents by face."
4. How do you handle medical emergencies?
Ask who in the building is CPR certified, how often certifications are renewed, and what the procedure is for a true medical emergency. Listen for: Specific protocols, not general reassurances.
About the Teachers and Staff
5. What are the qualifications required for teachers?
Ask about education requirements and ongoing training. Better daycares require ECE coursework above the Texas minimum. Listen for: Requirements above the minimum and investment in professional development.
6. What is your staff turnover rate?
High turnover destabilizes attachment relationships for children. A centre proud of its culture will answer this confidently. Listen for: Pride and specifics, not evasion.
7. Will my child have a consistent primary caregiver?
For infants and toddlers especially, consistency is developmentally important. Ask whether teachers rotate classrooms or stay with their assigned children. Listen for: Evidence of intentional consistency.
About Daily Life and Communication
8. What does a typical daily schedule look like?
You want to understand the balance of structured learning, free play, outdoor time, meals, and naps. Listen for: A thoughtful answer with real detail.
9. How do you communicate with parents throughout the day?
Will you receive feeding and diaper updates for your infant? Photos? A digital daily report? Know what communication system they use and whether it matches your expectations. Listen for: A clear, consistent system.
10. How do you handle challenging behaviour?
You want to hear about calm redirection and consistent response — not punishment or isolation. Listen for: Specific language around guidance vs. discipline.
About Operations and Logistics
11. What is your sick child policy?
Ask which symptoms require a child to stay home, how quickly you must arrive after a call, and the required symptom-free period before return. Listen for: Clarity and specificity.
12. What are your holiday and closure policies?
Ask about Texas state holidays, annual centre closures, and weather-related closures. Does tuition continue during closures? Listen for: Written policies, not verbal assurances.
13. What is your tuition and billing structure?
Understand the full cost: monthly vs. weekly billing, registration fees, annual supply fees, late pickup fees, and accepted payment methods. Listen for: Transparency and written documentation of all fees.
14. What is the required notice period to withdraw my child?
Two to four weeks is standard. Some contracts require 30 to 60 days' written notice. Know this before you sign. Listen for: Clarity on the exact requirement and form notice must take.
15. Can I drop in unannounced once my child is enrolled?
Under Texas DFPS regulations, parents have the right to enter a licensed facility at any reasonable time during operating hours. A daycare that discourages drop-in visits should raise immediate concern. Listen for: An enthusiastic "of course."
Use Zukeepr to Research Daycares Before Your Tour
Zukeepr lets you browse licensed daycares in North Texas with profiles, program details, and direct applications — so you walk into your tour already informed.
