Questions to Ask on a Preschool Tour

Start with the daily routine

First, ask what a regular day looks like from drop-off to pick-up. Ask when children eat, play outside, rest, and do group activities. A clear routine often helps children feel safe and know what to expect.

Then ask how flexible the day is. Some programs follow a very set schedule. Others allow more choice and child-led play. Neither is always better. It depends on your child and what kind of program you want. If you are comparing styles, it may help to read about play-based preschool, Montessori preschool, or bilingual preschool.

Helpful questions:
- What does a normal day look like?
- How much time is for free play, outdoor play, group time, and rest?
- What happens if a child is tired, upset, or not ready to join the group?
- How do you help new children adjust in the first few weeks?

• Ask to see the daily schedule, not just hear about it.
• If possible, tour during class time so you can watch the routine in real life.

Ask about teachers, staffing, and ratios

The people in the room matter as much as the classroom itself. Ask how many teachers are in the class and how many children are usually there. This is called the teacher-child ratio. A lower ratio usually means each child may get more attention, but rules vary by state and age group.

Also ask about staff turnover. Turnover means how often teachers leave and new ones come in. Frequent changes can be hard for young children. You can also ask who covers the room when a teacher is sick or on break.

Good questions to ask:
1. How many children and teachers are usually in this classroom?
2. Do you usually have the same teachers every day?
3. How long have the lead teachers worked here?
4. Who steps in if a teacher is absent?

For more detail, see understanding teacher-child ratios.

• Watch whether teachers speak calmly and get down to the child's eye level.
• Notice if children seem to know and trust the adults in the room.

Look closely at safety and supervision

You do not need to be an expert to ask smart safety questions. Ask how children are supervised during bathroom breaks, outdoor play, meals, and transitions between activities. Many problems happen during busy moments, not during circle time.

Ask what happens at drop-off and pick-up. Who is allowed to pick up a child? What if someone different needs to come? Ask how they handle allergies, medicine rules, and emergencies like fire drills or severe weather. Policies vary, so listen for clear, simple answers.

Important note: always verify the program's state license yourself and visit in person. A nice tour is not the same as proof. This guide on how to check a preschool license can help.

Questions that often reveal a lot:
- How do you supervise children outside and in the bathroom area?
- What is your pick-up policy?
- How often do you practice emergency drills?
- How do you clean toys, tables, and rest areas?
- Where can I verify your state license?

• Check if doors, gates, and sign-in areas seem organized.
• If something feels unclear, ask again. Clear answers matter.

Ask how they handle behavior and hard days

This is one of the most important parts of a tour. Ask what teachers do when a child hits, bites, throws, cries for a long time, or refuses to join an activity. Every child has hard moments. You want to know how adults respond under stress.

Listen for answers about calming, redirection, teaching feelings, and talking with families. Redirection means guiding a child to a safer or better activity. Be careful if the answer is very vague, or sounds mostly about punishment. Ask for a real example of how they handled a hard day.

You can ask:
- What do you do if a child bites or hits?
- How do you help a child who is having a hard time separating from family?
- How do you talk with parents about behavior concerns?
- When do you call a parent during the day?

Try to notice the tone of the adults during the tour. Do they speak with respect about children, even when talking about challenging behavior? That often tells you a lot.

• A strong answer is usually specific and calm.
• It is okay to ask, 'Can you give me an example?'

Talk about food, naps, toileting, and your family needs

Small daily details can make a big difference. Ask whether meals and snacks are provided, what a sample menu looks like, and how they handle allergies or religious food needs. If your child still naps, ask where children sleep, how long rest time is, and what happens if a child does not fall asleep.

If toileting is important for your child, ask what support is offered. Some programs expect children to be fully toilet trained. Others help with accidents or are more flexible, especially for younger children. It depends on the program and age group.

This is also the time to ask about language. If your family speaks a home language other than English, ask whether teachers can support that. Ask how they communicate with parents who prefer another language. Families often find this especially important in bilingual preschool and in our guide on keeping your home language.

Useful questions:
- Are meals and snacks included?
- How do you handle allergies, cultural foods, or religious food rules?
- What is nap or rest time like?
- Does my child need to be toilet trained before starting?
- How do you communicate with families who prefer another language?

• Ask to see a menu if food is provided.
• If communication is hard on the tour, that may continue later too.

Finish with cost, waitlists, and next steps

Before you leave, ask practical questions. What are the hours? Is there part-time care? Are there extra fees for registration, supplies, meals, or late pick-up? Cost can vary a lot by city, age, and schedule. If you want a simple overview, read costs and help paying for preschool.

Also ask if there is a waitlist. A waitlist means you may not get a spot right away. Ask how long families usually wait, but remember that timing can change. No one can honestly promise a spot by a certain date unless they truly have one open now.

End with these questions:
1. Do you have openings now, or a waitlist?
2. What fees should I expect besides tuition?
3. What are the hours and late pick-up rules?
4. What are the next steps if I want to apply?

If you want help finding programs that fit your budget, schedule, and language needs, Cubby Road can get you matched, free. We are a free guide service. We help parents find options to contact and compare.

• Write down the total monthly cost, not just the base tuition.
• After the tour, compare your notes with this preschool tour checklist.