On-Site Visit: Interview Questions, and Checklist for a Family Home Daycare
One of the most important decisions you will make as a parent, is choosing a childcare provider. Before making your decision about a childcare provider, visit several facilities. The more you know, the easier your decision and the more comfortable you will feel making it. Visits can be as short as 15 minutes and as long as an hour; the more time you can spend, the better. You should expect: a warm greeting, short introductions to both adults and children, a brief tour, an explanation of fees and policies, and an invitation to stay awhile to see the daily routine and children playing. To help you narrow down your choices and make an informed decision, we’ve compiled a detailed list of interview questions, and a checklist to use as you visit each child care location. Before an interview, print out the checklist, and take it with you. Use these questions to help guide your search for a quality childcare provider. Take your time and review your options carefully.
Name of childcare provider ____________________________________________________________
Phone number _____________________________________________________________________
Date of visit _______________________________________________________________________
Questions to Ask the Potential Childcare Provider
Activities/Daily Schedule
Please describe a typical day.
May I see the daily schedule/routine?
What kind of activities will my child have the opportunity to participate in?
How often do you take the children outdoors?
Are children taken off the premises, to go on walks, the park, etc?
Do you let the children watch television? If so, how much, and what types of programs?
Do you have a nap schedule?
Where do the children nap?
General Questions
Can I see a copy of your license, CPR and First Aid, and any other certifications that you have?
What supplies/equipment do you provide, and what am I expected to provide?
Who are all of the people who would be around my child?
How many children do you enroll at one time?
What is the exact arrangement for payment? By check or cash? When and where?
What's your holiday schedule?
Is there a late-pickup fee?
Why do you work with children?
Emergencies
Do you have an emergency plan in case of a fire or earthquake, etc?
If you had to evacuate, do you have an emergency location that you would use?
How would I be notified in case of an emergency?
Do you have emergency training?
What procedures do you have in place for a child requiring immediate medical attention?
Which hospital would you use in case of an emergency? Is it close?
Health and Safety
How frequently, will my child’s diaper be changed?
What precautions do you take to reduce the spread of illness? What do you use to sanitize?
Are babies always put to sleep on their back? On a firm, flat surface? In a crib?
Are children ever transported in a vehicle?
Are all children required to be immunized before attending your daycare?
Are the children ever left unattended?
What do you do if a child becomes sick while in your care?
Are safety measures in place? First aid kit, plugs for electrical outlets, etc?
Are all medicines, cleansers, and chemicals locked up and kept out of reach of children?
Do you have smoke detectors installed and an accessible fire extinguisher?
Does your home have heat and air conditioning? What temperature do you maintain?
Curriculum/Meals and Snacks
If a preschool curriculum is provided: what will my child have an opportunity to learn?
If meals and snacks are provided: what kind of foods do you serve the children? Are they healthy?
Are the menus showing meals and snacks posted for me to review?
Do you feed babies on demand or on a schedule?
Provider/Parent Communication
Is parent involvement encouraged?
What do you expect from me as a parent?
How do you communicate with parents?
Do you inform parents about their child’s day, behavior, growth, etc?
Can I drop in to visit my child unannounced, at any time during the day?
Philosophy and Policies/Procedures
What is your policy for administering medication?
How do you handle behavior management and discipline of the children?
What are your feelings on wetting, thumb-sucking, pacifiers, finishing meals, biting, etc?
What is your over all philosophy towards caring for children?
How do you comfort the children?
What is your pick-up policy?
How do you handle toilet training?
How do you handle conflicts between the children?
Ending with
Do you have space for my child?
Can I take a copy of the contract and your policies/procedures home in order to review them?
May I have some names and numbers of past and present families I could call for references?
Name ____________________________________ Phone # _________________________________
Name ____________________________________ Phone # _________________________________
Name ____________________________________ Phone # _________________________________
Name ____________________________________ Phone # _________________________________
Name ____________________________________ Phone # _________________________________
Name ____________________________________ Phone # _________________________________
A Quality Family Home Daycare Checklist
After meeting with the potential childcare provider in his or her home, take a moment to ask yourself the following questions while the interview and visit are still fresh in your mind. The following points are good ways to measure the quality of a home daycare. Also, contact your state’s local licensing agency (in San Diego County 619-767-2200 or www.ccld.ca.gov) in order to review their file on record.
Licensing/Experience/Qualifications Yes/No
Is the home daycare licensed and regulated by the state or local government?……………...______
Is the license posted? ………………………………………………………………………….......... ______
Is the childcare provider CPR and first aid certified? ………………………………………....______
Is the childcare provider experienced in the field of child care? …………………………...______
How long does he or she anticipate owning and running a home daycare? …………………______
Only while their children are at home, or is it their chosen career?......…………………………______
Does the program strive to excel beyond basic licensing requirements?....…………………..______
Activities/Daily Schedule/Curriculum/Meals and Snacks Yes/No
Does the program provide a preschool curriculum? ………………………………………….______
Are nutritious meals and snacks served to the children?.... ……………………………………..______
Are menus showing the meals and snacks posted for you to review?………………………....______
What is the emphasis of the activities? To have fun? To learn? Both? ………………..........______
Is there a daily balance of play-time and learning experiences throughout the day?......……..______
Does the program keep up with children's changing interests? ………......................................______
Are their age-appropriate toys and activities for each age group?.......……………………….....______
Are the learning programs designed for each age group?......…………………………………..______
Are the educational programs designed to prepare the children for kindergarten?..................______
Are the activities the kind your child enjoys? ...........………………………………………………..______
Do the children have a sufficient nap-time? ......... ………………………………………………...______
Is their a consistent routine and a familiar schedule for the children? ....... …………………...______
Are their times and places for my child to play quietly or actively? Alone or with others?.... …______
Environment/Atmosphere Yes/No
Are there spacious dedicated areas for the children? ...............................................................______
Are there separate environments for each age group? .............................................................______
Does the environment seem child-oriented? ………………………………………………......______
Are there knick-knacks, furniture, etc that children cannot touch? .....…………………………______
Are there knick-knacks, furniture, etc that children cannot touch? …………………….……______
A stimulating, indoor play area where children can safely explore and discover? ....................______
Large, outdoor play areas where children can safely run, climb, explore, and discover?........______
Can the childcare provider see the entire playground at all times? ...…………………………..______
Do you hear the sounds of happy children? …………………………….....…………...………______
Do the children seem happy and engaged? ……………………………………………...…….______
Are you comfortable in this atmosphere? ………………………………………………….....…______
Are the toys, furniture, and home in good condition? ………...……………………………….______
Is the home well lit and ventilated? ………………………............……………...………………______
Is the atmosphere bright and pleasant? …………………………………………………….......…______
Is their adequate space for my child? ……………………………………………….....…….......______
Are there adequate bathroom facilities? …………………………………………………......….______
Is the bathroom a pleasant setting, encouraging children to use it?....... ……………………...______
Are there separate diaper changing areas for each age group?....……………………………..______
Provider/Parent Communication Yes/No
Is the childcare provider a nice person? (The foundation for positive communication) ….….______
Was the childcare provider happy and eager to answer all of your questions? .……………...______
Is your participation and involvement encouraged? …………………………………………______
Will the childcare provider tell you what your child is doing every day? …………………..______
Are your questions, comments, and ideas welcome? ………………………………………..______
Does the provider respect the language, culture and values of my family?.....…...…………... ______
Are parents welcome to drop in at any time? …………………………………………......…….______
Does the childcare provider take your needs into consideration?......………………...………...______
Is the childcare provider accommodating and flexible? ……………………………………...______
Are parents informed of accidents and anything out of the norm?.......………………………….______
Do you trust the potential childcare provider? ………………………………………......……...______
Provider/Child Interaction Yes/No
Is the childcare provider attentive to the children? .……………………………....…………....______
Does the childcare provider treat the children with respect? ………………………………..______
Does the provider treat each child as an individual? Use their names? ..……………………..______
Does the provider give the children encouragement and provide positive reinforcement? ... ______
Does the childcare provider instill confidence in the children? ...... …………………………….______
Does the provider speak to the children at their level, in a friendly and caring tone? ……....______
Does the childcare provider use straightforward, simple words to talk with the children? ….______
Does the provider strive to instill sharing, kindness, and manners within the children? ……______
Are children greeted warmly and enthusiastically when they arrive? ..... ………………………______
Are children given hugs and high-fives when they go home? .......……………………………....______
Are children's needs quickly met, even when things get busy?.......……………………………..______
Do the childcare provider and children enjoy being together? ……………………………...______
Are crying children responded to immediately? ……………………………………....……….______
Are children comforted when needed? ……………………………………………….......……....______
Does the childcare provider interact with infants down at their level? ………….....………...______
Are babies constantly cuddled and talked to? ………………………………………….....…….______
When the provider physically handles a child, such as when diapering, are they gentle? …..______
How capable do the providers seem at being able to resolve conflicts between children?....______
Does the provider describe objects, actions, and their meanings to the children? ………….______
Does the provider ask and answer all the children’s questions? …………………………........______
Philosophy and Policies/Procedures Yes/No
Will I be given a written contract, parent handbook, and policies/procedures? ……………..______
Do I agree with the provider’s policies and procedures? ……………………………..……...______
Do I agree with the behavior management and discipline philosophy?.....………...…………..______
Do the childcare provider and I agree on weaning, toilet training, feeding, etc? ..…………….______
Everyday, can I drop-off/pick-up my child within the provider’s hours of operation? ........…...______
EmergenciesYes/No
Does the provider have an emergency plan in case of a fire or earthquake? ………………....______
Does the provider have an emergency location that he or she would use? …………………..______
Would I be notified in case of an emergency? ……………………………………………....…______
Does the childcare provider have emergency training? ……………………………………..______
Are there procedures in place for a child requiring immediate medical attention? ......……....______
In case of an emergency, does the provider have a nearby hospital he or she would use?...______
Health and Safety Yes/No
Are child’s/provider’s hands always washed before and after eating/diaper changes?……..______
Are children encouraged to wash their hands? ……………………………………..………….______
Is the environment safe, clean, and sanitary? …………………………………………..……...______
Are all medicines, cleansers, and chemicals locked up and kept out of reach of children?...______
Are their smoke detectors and fire extinguishers? …………………………………………....______
Does the home have heat and air conditioning? ……………………………………………....______
Is the provider’s home always kept at a comfortable and constant temperature?……………______
Are babies always put to sleep on their back, and on a firm, flat surface? …………………..______
Are indoor and outdoor play areas child-proofed and escape-proof? ... ……………...………..______
Are safety measures in place? First aid kit, safety plugs for electrical outlets, etc? ..………...______
Is there adult supervision at all times? …………………………………….....………………....______
Does the childcare provider have a strict sick-child policy? ……………..…………………..______
Are diapering, sleeping, food preparation, and play areas separate? .………………………...______
In General Yes/No
Is the childcare provider able to multitask without becoming stressed? …………………...______
Is the childcare provider a professional, dependable, mature, honest, and kind person? .....______
Is the childcare provider calm, patient, and loving? ……………………………….………….______
Are the providers the kind of people you would enjoy being with outside of the daycare?.......______
Did your child feel comfortable during your visit? ………………………………………….....______
Did your child like the other children? ………………………………………………......…….....______
Does your child think it would be fun to go there? ………………………………....…...……..______
Will my child be happy here? …………………………………………………………….........….. ______
Would you enjoy spending your day there? …………………………………….....…………….______
Is there a feeling of belonging at the home? ……………………………………………..…….______
Are you comfortable with the teacher to child ratio? …………………………………...……...______
Is this childcare provider able to accommodate the special needs of my child? ……………..______
Are the ratios and group size appropriate for my child’s age? ……………….……………….______
When you and your child are apart, will you feel at ease, knowing your child is in this setting?_____
