The Daycare Tour Checklist: 25 Questions Every Brooklyn Parent Should Ask

Published April 12, 2026 by Gifted and Talented Kids

Daycare tours are strange. You walk into a stranger's space, try to imagine your child there, and make a decision that will shape a year of your family's life. Most parents leave a tour without asking the questions that actually matter, because the questions that matter don't always come to mind while you're standing in a cheerful room full of toys.

This checklist is for the tour itself. Print it. Bring it with you. Ask whatever is relevant to your situation. Specific answers tell you the center thinks about these things daily. Vague answers tell you they don't.

Section 1: Staff and Ratios

1. What is the current teacher to child ratio in the classroom my child would be in? Not the legal minimum, the actual number right now.
2. How long have the lead teachers been with the center? Turnover is a real signal. Low turnover means experienced teachers who know the space.
3. What are the qualifications of your lead teachers? Degree in early childhood education, Child Development Associate, years of experience.
4. How many staff hold current pediatric CPR and First Aid certification? Ask to see certification cards with dates.
5. What happens if a teacher calls out sick in the morning? Centers that have a plan show preparation. Centers that shrug show fragility.

Section 2: Safety and Security

6. Can I see your most recent DOHMH inspection report? Public document. Good centers produce it immediately.
7. What is your drop-off and pickup verification protocol? How do you verify the adult picking up my child is authorized?
8. How do you track which children are in the building at any moment? Sign in/out, headcounts, electronic system.
9. When was your last fire drill and how often do you run them? If they can't answer, that's a red flag.
10. What is your emergency evacuation plan and where do children go during an evacuation? Ask to see the written plan.

Section 3: Daily Operations

11. What does a typical day look like for a child my age? Ask for a real schedule, not a general description.
12. What are your hours of operation and are there early drop-off or late pickup options? Include costs.
13. What are meals and snacks like? Do you provide them or do I pack? If provided, ask about nutritional standards and sourcing.
14. How do you handle food allergies and dietary restrictions? Look for specific protocols, not "we're careful."
15. What is your nap or rest time policy for children who don't sleep? Forced rest for non-sleepers is a real issue. Good centers accommodate.

Section 4: Curriculum and Development

16. What curriculum or educational approach do you use? Ask them to name it. Then ask how it shows up in daily activities.
17. How do you differentiate activities for children who are ahead or behind their age group? Specific answer means a real program. Generic answer means it's marketing.
18. How do you communicate my child's progress to me? Daily, weekly, formal conferences, photo updates.
19. What kinds of activities happen outside? How much outdoor time do children get daily? Brooklyn daycares vary widely on this.
20. How do you handle behavior challenges like biting, hitting, or tantrums? Specific protocol, not "we have a gentle approach."

Section 5: Policies and Logistics

21. What is your sick child policy? When should I keep my child home, and when do you send them home? Clear rules prevent arguments.
22. What is your tuition and what does it cover? Are there additional fees? Ask specifically about supplies, field trips, holiday care.
23. Do you accept 3-K for All, Pre-K for All, or ACS vouchers? If not now, when and how.
24. What is your accessibility setup for families with strollers or mobility needs? Ground floor, step-free entry, wide doorways.
25. Can I see the space my child would actually be in, not just the lobby? If the tour doesn't include the real classroom, ask why.

How to Use the Checklist

Before the tour, circle the five questions that matter most to your family. Those are the ones you ask for sure. The rest come up if there's time. Write short notes next to each answer so you can compare centers later without relying on memory.

After the tour, give yourself 24 hours before making any decision. Most daycares feel different the day after you've left. Things that seemed great can feel off in retrospect, and things that seemed small can turn out to matter.

One More Thing

The best signal from a tour is not the answer to any single question. It's how the director looks at children while they're playing. Do they notice what's happening. Do they know names. Do they smile at a child who looks up at them. That's data no brochure can fake.

Gifted and Talented Kids is a new premium daycare and preschool opening in Greenpoint, Brooklyn in Fall 2026. Ground floor, wheelchair accessible, small groups, Multiple Intelligences curriculum. Every child is gifted. Our job is to find out how.