20 questions to ask before you enroll

We are publishing it knowing it will be used against us, because a parent who asks all twenty and still chooses us is a family we keep for four years. Under each question is what a good answer sounds like — not our answer, a good one.

Licensing and safety

1. Are you licensed, and what is your license number?They should give it without hesitating. Look it up at families.decal.ga.gov.
2. What did your last inspection find?“Nothing” is less reassuring than a specific finding and what changed.
3. Has a complaint ever been substantiated against you?Look for a direct answer, not a redirect.
4. Is everyone who has contact with children background checked, including anyone living in the home for a home program?Yes, with no qualifiers.
5. What happens if my child is injured, and when would I hear about it?A specific timeframe and a written incident process.

Ratios, group size, and who is in the room

6. How many children are in my child’s room?A number, not a range.
7. How many adults, at 7:30am, at nap, and at 5:30pm?Opening and closing are when rooms combine. Ask about those hours specifically.
8. Who will care for my child every day, and how long have they been here?Turnover is the thing that most affects your child and the thing least likely to be volunteered.
9. What happens when their teacher is out?A named floater beats “we cover it.”
10. Can I visit unannounced?The answer should be yes.

The actual day

11. Walk me through a full day for a child my child’s age.They should be able to do this from memory, with times.
12. How much outdoor time, and what happens when it rains for a week?
13. How do you handle biting, hitting, and tantrums?Listen for what they do with the child who was bitten as well as the one who bit.
14. How do you handle naps, bottles, diapering, and potty training?Especially whether they will follow your approach or require theirs.
15. How much one-on-one time does a child actually get?Watch for a real answer rather than a warm one.

Food, money, and logistics

16. What meals are provided, and how do you handle allergies and dietary restrictions?
17. What is the weekly rate, and what is not included in it?Ask for the second half explicitly. Supplies, meals, enrichment, late fees.
18. Do I pay for holidays, closure weeks, and sick days?Ours is yes, and it is written down. Ask everyone else to put it in writing too.
19. What are your hours, and what is the late pickup policy?Ask the fee and the grace period.
20. What is your notice period if we leave — and what is yours if you ask us to?

The one to ask last

What kind of family is the best fit for your program?

A program that knows its strengths can tell you clearly who it serves best. A thoughtful, honest answer is one of the best signs that you have found the right place.

A note on the tour itself

Pay attention to how the room feels, not just how it looks. Notice how teachers talk to the children, how calm the space is, and whether your questions get real answers. That tells you more than any brochure can.