4 Questions You Might Not Think To Ask During A Day Care Tour

Posted on: 31 May 2018

When seeking out the perfect day care facility or child care center for your little one, there are a lot of important factors to take into consideration. The process of narrowing down child care options can seem overwhelming, but scheduling in-person tours is generally a good way to get a better feel for whether or not a facility is right for your child. As you tour the facility, there are a few important questions you'll want to ask as well.

What's the Staff-to-Child Ratio?

The more staff available at any given time to care for your child, the better. Any reputable facility should be able to tell you their average staff-to-child ratio for any given day of the week. The last thing you want is for your child to be one of 10 other children being watched by just one caretaker.

What is Your Official Late Pick-Up Policy?

Some child care centers have very strict rules regarding late pick-ups. These facilities will typically charge a set fee per-minute that you're late to pick up your child at the end of the day, so it's important to be aware of these policies. Other facilities will not initiate any late pick-up charges unless you're drastically late (20 minutes or more), or your tardiness becomes a recurring problem.

Are Certain Vaccinations Required?

If you plan on vaccinating your child, this is an important one to ask. You'll want to find out exactly what vaccines the child care center requires. If there are any recommended vaccines that aren't required by the facility, it's not a bad idea to ask if there are currently any parents who have chosen not to vaccinate a child in the facility's care.

Are There Any Holiday Closings?

Child care facilities can vary greatly in whether they're open 365 days a year or close for holidays. If you'll need your child watched on a major holiday, you may have a harder time finding a facility that's open, so be sure to ask ahead of time. Holiday rates also tend to be higher for those that are open, so you'll need to plan accordingly.

These are just a few key questions that you might not have thought to ask during your upcoming day care tours. By taking the time to ask the right questions, you can ultimately make the decision that's right not just for you, but for your child as well. Contact a facility, like Learning Tree Schools, for more help.

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