Choosing a childcare provider is one of the biggest decisions parents make, and most of what matters cannot be seen on a tour. The best way to evaluate a toddler program is to ask direct questions and listen closely to how, and whether, the staff answers them.
Here are 12 questions worth asking on every tour, and what to listen for in response.
1. What is your current staff-to-child ratio, by classroom?
Washington state sets minimum ratios by age group through DCYF licensing rules, and toddler rooms carry a tighter ratio than older classrooms, 1 to 7. A good school should be able to tell you the ratio for the toddler room without hesitating, and should be transparent if that classroom is currently at or near capacity.
2. How long have your lead teachers been here?
Caregiver consistency matters for young children’s attachment and development, and toddlers in particular settle faster when the same familiar face greets them each morning. Ask specifically about lead teacher tenure in the toddler room, not just overall staffing numbers. Observe staff as you tour. Are they friendly, engaged in the classroom, and attentive to the children?
3. What trainings do teachers complete beyond the state minimum?
State minimums are a floor, not a ceiling. Ask about ongoing professional development and how often CPR and First Aid certification is renewed. Washington State requires a minimum of 10 hours of professional development each year for caregivers, and every center should be in compliance with this.
4. How do you handle illness, injury, and medication administration?
Toddlers are new walkers and enthusiastic climbers, so bumps happen. Ask how the school communicates with parents when injuries occur. What is their illness policy, and what paperwork is required for medications and allergies? Another great question is who in the school is responsible for administering medications.
5. What is your daily schedule, and how much is structured vs. child-led?
This helps you understand the program’s educational philosophy in practice, not just in marketing language. It also helps to understand how much autonomy and free choice the children have to pick activities they personally enjoy. For a toddler, ask where naptime falls in the day and how much time the class spends outside.
6. How do you communicate with parents day-to-day?
Toddlers cannot tell you about their own day yet, so the school is your only window into it. Ask specifically about daily reports, photos, and whether there is an app. Can you request a meeting with your child’s teacher? Does the school offer opportunities for parent involvement?
7. What is your food and allergy policy?
Ask how allergies are tracked, how cross-contamination is prevented, and who is responsible for checking labels. Is the school nut-free? Can personal or religious food preferences be accommodated? With toddlers, also ask how food is prepared and cut, and how closely children are supervised while eating.
8. What is your nutrition program?
Good schools should recognize the fundamental link between nutrients and absorbing the curriculum during early education. Their offerings should focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins needed for ongoing energy, concentration and academic growth.
9. What does your emergency preparedness plan cover?
Fire drills, lockdown procedures, and severe weather protocols should be documented and practiced, not improvised. Ask how often drills happen and how parents are notified afterward. Does the school have a written disaster plan policy, and how do teachers move a room of toddlers who may still need to be carried?
10. How do you handle behavioral or developmental concerns?
Biting, hitting, and big feelings are part of the toddler stage, and a strong program has a defined process: observation, documentation, parent communication, and referral resources if needed, rather than an ad hoc approach.
11. What is your tuition structure, and what times and dates does it cover?
Ask about registration fees, waitlist deposits, holiday and closure policies, and daily open and close times. It is also worth asking whether meals and diapers are included or billed separately.
12. How does the school track my child’s progress and developmental milestones?
Are regular assessments being done throughout the year? How are development milestones tracked? The toddler years are when speech and motor differences often first appear, so a great program will have open communication between teachers and parents about how children are progressing.
The right questions will do more than help you compare programs. They tell you a lot about how a school operates when parents are not there. A school that answers clearly, points to documentation, and does not get defensive is showing you something important about the culture where your toddler will spend their days.
Schedule a tour of the Toddler program at Early World by calling 425-747-7020 and see why we stand out from the rest!
