Planning a Child Care Tour

Family

Care & Education Options Infants & Toddlers Preschool Age Children School Age Children Special Needs

Selecting the right program

Navigating child care tours

You have your list of providers that meet your initial child care search criteria – now what? The next step is to narrow your search to find the best fit for your family. Additional research will help you determine which programs best meet your needs or if you might need to expand your search. We encourage you to follow the process in this guide as you learn more and decide on a program.

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Getting Started

Choose a program with confidence.

We know quality comes first in your search for child care, preschool, and school-age care.

Quality matters

You want your child to have a safe, supportive, and enriching environment, and programs like Indiana’s Paths to QUALITY™ system can help you understand what quality means.

Factors to consider

Additionally, you should consider other factors, including your child’s age and personality, where you live or work, program philosophies, and cost in finding care.

Care options

High-quality child care providers can come in many shapes and sizes. Take a step back to think about what type of care will best fit your needs and the needs of your child.

Before You Visit

Call potential programs.

Start by calling each program on your list. Ask questions and get a feel for the program before ever visiting. This will allow you to find the best match for your needs, check for openings, and verify pricing information – helping you narrow down to only the best possible programs to visit in person. As you look over your list of potential programs, you should see their location, hours of operation, and ages of children they serve. Additional questions include:

Does your child care have an opening for the dates I need to begin care?
How much does care cost?
Is financial assistance available? (e.g. CCDF child care vouchers, sliding scales)
Do you provide transportation?
How many children will be in my child’s class, and/or how many are there per adult?
Do you provide meals?
What days are your program closed, including holidays?
Do you have additional accreditations?
When can I visit to tour your program?

Touring Child Care

Provider Checklist for Families

We encourage you to follow the process in this guide as you learn more and decide on a program. Consider printing a copy of this guide for each program you research. Each phase includes a useful list of questions to ask and key program elements to consider. Use this guide to take notes as you talk to providers and do additional research.

Care for your child's age group

When touring child care programs, consider your child’s age and the needs specific to their developmental stage.

Look

Look around the environment. Are children playing with toys that are age appropriate and open-ended? Are materials and toys accessible and promote choice? Is there an appropriate outdoor space?

Ask

Ask about routines—like eating, sleeping, changing diapers, toileting, and play. What would a typical day look like for your children? Are the needs of the individual child considered within the larger group?

Consider

Consider the program's quality rating, feedback from references, and how their beliefs align with your values. How do program policies support children's health and safety? In high-quality programs, health and safety come first.

Infant Care

Infant care is all about relationships.

Look for infants on the floor and out of devices. Are the adults on the floor and engaged with the babies? Are infants sleeping in alone in cribs and on their backs?
Ask how the program follows the family’s lead, ensuring that baby’s needs are met. Do they help infants feel secure and start understanding what will happen next through conversations and predictability?

Learn More

Toddler Care

Toddlers are on the move and their needs have changed.

Look around the environment. Toddlers need lots of interesting objects to explore. Are there toys and materials that can be used in different ways so toddlers develop creativity and problem-solving skills?
Ask about routines. What does the daily schedule look like? How flexible is it? Is there a balance between active and quiet play? How will the program support my child as they develop new routines, including toileting?

Learn More

Preschool

Your preschooler is always learning.

The child care program you choose should take important steps to encourage hands-on learning.

Look at the room layout. Is the space organized into different play areas (e.g. blocks, dress-up, books) with age-appropriate materials? Are toys and materials displayed at eye-level and easy to access, promoting child choice.
Ask what a typical day would look like for your child? Do they have lesson plans you can see? Are teachers engaged in play with children?

Learn More

School-Age Care

School-aged children have specific needs.

Quality programs understand that children and youth in different age groups have different academic, psychological, and physical activity needs.

Look around. Is there a wide variety of activities and choices, but offered under a set routine? Are there both quiet areas as well as noisy areas?
Ask about how staff support social-emotional development, including peer relationships and friendships.

Learn More

Thank you for the quick response and information. There were programs I have never heard of that met my criteria. It was definitely helpful!

Kim

pregnant mom looking for child care

Making Your Decision

Once you have visited and talked to the owner or director and the other adults who will be caring for and teaching your child, compare what you have seen and heard at each program to pick the best one for your family.

Choose the Right Program

After you have researched the available child care programs, ask yourself,

Which program will best allow my child to be happy and grow?
Which caregiver can meet the special needs of my child?
Are the caregiver’s values compatible with my family’s values?
Is the child care available and affordable according to my family’s needs and resources?
Do I feel good about my decision?

Choosing Care

Featured Resource

Tours During a Pandemic

With the added safety concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many things to consider when choosing the right child care for you. We're here to help you as you navigate COVID-19 and finding care for your child.

Selecting the right program

Navigating child care tours

Choose a program with confidence.

Quality matters

Factors to consider

Care options

Call potential programs.

Top questions to ask, regardless of your child's age.

Ask general questions about the program and policies

Ask questions about staff

Ask questions about child interactions

Provider Checklist for Families

Care for your child's age group

Look

Ask

Consider

Infant care is all about relationships.

Toddlers are on the move and their needs have changed.

Your preschooler is always learning.

School-aged children have specific needs.

Making Your Decision

Choose the Right Program

Tours During a Pandemic

Planning a Child Care Tour

Selecting the right program

Navigating child care tours

Choose a program with confidence.

Quality matters

Factors to consider

Care options

Call potential programs.

Top questions to ask, regardless of your child's age.

Ask general questions about the program and policies

Ask questions about staff

Ask questions about child interactions

Provider Checklist for Families

Care for your child's age group

Look

Ask

Consider

Infant care is all about relationships.

Toddlers are on the move and their needs have changed.

Your preschooler is always learning.

School-aged children have specific needs.

Making Your Decision

Choose the Right Program

Tours During a Pandemic

Learn more about choosing the right program for your family.

Finding Child Care

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