Once you have the basic questions answered, a personal visit is in order. Spend at least 30 minutes. It’s important to visit several homes or centers and, once you’ve narrowed your choices, to visit your favorites more than once. If a home or center doesn’t permit unannounced, drop-in visits, find a different care provider. During your visits, count the number of children and the number of employees working with the children and see if it tallies with what you’ve been told about the ratio. Observe firsthand whether employees put their philosophy into actual practice. Watch how they interact with the children: What types of activities have they planned and how do they handle whiny, disruptive or sick children? Also look at how they praise and encourage children. Is the atmosphere cheerful and relaxed? Is the facility clean and well-ventilated? Are the proper safety precautions in place? Now is the time to ask more questions.

Emotional Development and Discipline:

• What, if any, special programs do you offer?
• What discipline methods do you use? When are they used?
• How are conflicts between children resolved?

Activities:

• What is a typical day? What games do you play? What will my child do all day?
• How do you provide activities that are age appropriate?
• How often do children play outdoors and where do they play? Visit the outdoor play area.

Staffing, Licensing, Policies and Procedures:

• Can parents stop in unannounced at any time? Do not even consider a facility that does not have an open-door policy.
• Are required licenses posted or available? Are they up-to-date?
• What type of liability insurance do you carry? A family child care home should carry liability insurance (not basic homeowners). Ask for proof of a special rider or policy.
• What is the procedure for notifying parents in case a child is ill or injured? What if the parent cannot be reached?

Health, Safety and Nutrition:

• What physician or hospital is on call in case of an emergency?
• What food do you serve? Are meals and snacks wholesome and nutritious?
• What procedures do you have to ensure the safe pick-up of a child?
• Is there a fire escape plan posted?
• Are there fire escape doors?
• Are there working fire extinguishers and smoke detectors?
• Are fire drills practiced on a regular basis?
• Are there gate guards on doorways and stairwells?
• Are unused electrical outlets covered?
• Are dangerous or toxic substances locked out of reach?
• Is a first aid kit accessible?
• Are emergency phone numbers readily available?
• How does the facility smell (food, dirt, soiled diapers)?
• Are the diapering areas cleaned and disinfected after each diaper change?
• Are the diaper changing and food handling areas separate?
• Is a sink readily accessible to both?
• Are there soap dispensers near the sinks? Do they make children wash their hands before eating and after using the bathroom? What about the adults?
• Are there paper (not cloth) towels to cut down on the spread of germs?
• Is the outside area fenced and clean?
• Does the facility have peeling paint, rusty nails, etc.?