It is very important, as a parent, to know that your child will be safe and cared for when they go to preschool. Just because a preschool is close to your home or work, doesn’t guarantee that it will be the best place for your child.
There are so many important preschool tour questions to ask when choosing a preschool, but you need to know the right preschool interview questions to ask about a preschool program so that you have the information you need to make the right choice for your child.
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Preschool Tour Questions for Parents
Your child will grow and flourish when he or she is in a safe environment. As you look for a preschool for your child, you want that preschool to support and encourage the beliefs and values that are important to your family. Kids should enjoy going to school because this is the beginning of their job as a child – to go to school.
You may be wondering what questions to ask preschools you interview or how do you choose a preschool for your child? What things should you take note of during a preschool tour? What should you look for to find a good preschool? And, of course, what are the most important questions to ask when choosing a preschool?
Change is difficult! Getting ready to send your baby off to preschool or daycare can be a very overwhelming decision. You probably have a lot of questions and possible anxiety.
Start with this list of preschool interview questions for parents to help you choose the right preschool for your child so this first exposure to school is a happy transition for you and your child. These preschool tour questions will help you get a good overview of the preschool program you are considering.
RELATED: Preparing for the first day of preschool
Preschool Tour Questions
The best thing you can do when touring a prospective preschool is to have your questions ready. Make a list on your phone, or a piece of paper, so you don’t forget something you really wanted to know. Of course, you can always call back and ask the questions later, but if you have your list of questions to ask the preschool during the tour, you will be better able to process the information after the tour.
Schedule a Tour
First of all, you need to schedule a tour and appointment with the preschool director or teacher. The tour will give you the opportunity to see the classroom, bathrooms, and playground. By interacting with the staff, you will be able to initially determine if this will be a good fit for you and your child. Some of your preschool tour questions may be answered just by what you observe.
If you don’t feel welcomed or valued when you meet the teacher, this may be how your child will feel as well.
Once you have made the initial contact, schedule a tour and write down your preschool interview questions from the list below to help you choose the preschool where you will enroll your child. Your preschool tour questions may be answered in the tour but you want to make sure you get the answers before you leave.
Security
You are entrusting your precious child into someone else’s care and you need to know that they are going to be safe. Security can have a wide range of applications and you want to make sure that you are completely comfortable with the security procedures at the preschool before you ever leave your child there.
Ask these preschool tour questions on the the phone or when you take your tour of the facility.
- Are the doors locked?
- Is there an alarm on the outside door so that a child can’t go out without the knowledge of a teacher?
- Does the school require ID for parents or other people who are picking up the students at the end of the day?
This is especially important if you are not the only one who will be picking up your child. You don’t want someone to be able to pick up your child without your permission or knowledge.
While you are doing the tour of the center, be observant about potential safety issues for your child. Ask your preschool tour questions if they aren’t provided in the tour.
- Is the playground fenced and secured?
- Are the toys well-maintained?
- Do they have a soft ground cover under swings, slides, and other climbing toys?
Food
Food is a large part of a child’s life and one of their basic needs. So, you need to find out if the preschool/daycare provides snacks and meals or if you need to provide these things. Here are a few more questions to ask about preschool.
- If the center provides the food, do their menu items match your child’s food requirements?
- Is your child dairy-free and does the center offer dairy-free milk?
- When a child has a special diet or allergy, how does the center accommodate that need?
- If your child has special needs, can you provide the snacks and meals for your child instead?
Centers should have a weekly menu posted for you to look at. This will help you understand their food philosophy a bit. You will also be able to see what types of snacks are provided to ensure that your child will be getting healthy food options.
Price
Obviously, the cost is a factor, but don’t let it be the only factor. Just because a center has a lower or higher price doesn’t necessarily mean it is better or worse. You need to know the cost so you can plan, but be sure to make sure your other preschool tour questions are answered to meet your needs before you make your decision based on the price.
Some questions to ask about the price.
- Is the price a monthly tuition price or is it charged by the hour or day?
- If your child is sick, is there a discount if they are not at school?
- If there is monthly tuition, when is the tuition due?
- Are there any discounts for pre-payment or multiple children in the same family?
What supplies will you need to provide for your child? Often, parents provide nap mats and bedding, extra clothing in case of an accident, a water bottle, and some school supplies such as glue sticks and crayons. Each center will have a different list.
You should also ask about potential state funding, scholarships, or discounts.
Naptime
Another preschool tour question is about naptime. What is the procedure for nap time? Do the kids all sleep? What if they don’t go to sleep? Where are the children when they are napping? All in the same room? In multiple rooms?
If your child is used to taking a nap every day, you want to make sure that their needs will be accommodated. If your child has not been napping for a while, you will want to know what the procedure is for rest time. Can your child bring their blanket or favorite stuffed animal? How is this time utilized to benefit all of the children?
Toilet Training
If your child is not yet toilet trained, you will want to ask about the center’s policy on potty training. Some centers will help you with the potty training process while other centers will not accept students who aren’t fully toilet trained. If your child is in the process of toilet training, this is definitely a preschool tour question you want to ask.
Check out the restroom while you are touring. Is there a toilet that is accessible for small children?
Ask the teacher about the bathroom usage for students. Do the teachers remind students to use the bathroom frequently? Do they help them if they need additional assistance in the restroom? Depending on your child’s needs, you may have some other preschool tour questions about this area of your child’s day.
Curriculum
Perhaps the most important preschool interview question you can ask as a potential preschool parent when choosing a center is about the curriculum. As a parent, you want to ensure that your child will be in an environment that supports and encourages your family’s values and beliefs.
- Is the curriculum Bible-based and God-centered?
- Will your child be encouraged to learn about Jesus and be offered many daily opportunities to learn more about nature and the world around them with a Christian perspective?
- Does the curriculum match or support your own Christian beliefs?
- What types of books do they read or have in their library? Do these line up with your perspective and beliefs?
This can and should be one of the most important preschool tour questions to help you choose the best preschool for your child. You want to ensure that your child will be in an environment that will support your beliefs and not undermine them or make fun of them.
As you prepare for sending your child to preschool, remember to ask God to guide you as you make this decision. Who your child will be spending many hours with every week is going to impact and influence them. Your preschool tour questions can help you get a good idea of what that influence is going to be, but you want God’s leading in this important decision.
If you get home and have more questions, a good preschool would welcome your additional questions and be happy to answer your questions about preschool.
Don’t settle for the center that is the closest or cheapest if that’s not the best preschool setting for your child. There are a lot of questions to ask a preschool, but with your list, prayers, and eyes wide open, you will be able to make a good decision for your child’s education.
Volunteers
Does the center have volunteers who help in the classroom and go on field trips? What is the screening process for the volunteers and staff? Do they have to do a background check? They should!
If they say they don’t, you need to consider this very seriously. A background check doesn’t guarantee that a person is 100% safe or prevents something from happening in the future, but it does provide a screening process.
Student/Teacher Ratio
Another preschool interview question you should ask when you are considering sending your child off to the care of someone else, is how many teachers are going to be in the classroom every day and how many students are enrolled?
Many states have specific requirements about the ratio and there is a good reason for this requirement. It is very difficult for one adult to supervise, love, engage with, protect, and nurture 20 three-year-old children at once.
First Aid and Sick Policy
Another preschool parent interview question to ask when choosing a preschool is about the center’s policy if a child gets injured or becomes sick? If a child is injured, does the teacher contact the parent immediately? How do they assess the severity and then make that call?
You probably don’t want a call for each band-aid that is applied, but if your child falls and bumps their head, you may want to have the call so you can watch for any adverse effects later on.
If you are at work, will you have to leave work if your child gets a fever or throws up? This is also an important question because it also applies to the other students as well. You want your child to stay well, so you also want other children who are sick to stay home and not share the germs.
Many centers will require a 24 hour period of being fever free before a child can return to the classroom. Ask for a copy of their sick policy so you know what those expectations will be for the children.
This is a good preschool tour question to ask so you can also see where your child will wait if they are sick or injured.
Location
When you are trying to decide on this first step into school, you want to look at the location and its proximity to your home or work. Will you need to drive an extra half hour each way to get your child to school?
Many parents make the choice to send their child to a center that isn’t next door because the center is the right fit for their family.
- Is the center in an urban area where there is lots of traffic and people walking by on the sidewalk?
- Is the center in a rural area where there is lots of space and an abundance of nature?
- Again, double-check the safety of the outside areas for fencing and safe toys.
Licensing/Accreditation
Many states require centers to be licensed. Licensing provides a level of oversight in areas of health and safety for the children. In the state of Washington, for example, licensors check the playground equipment and test the water for safety and temperature so that a child won’t get burned accidentally.
They also check on the snack menu to verify that foods meet the daily requirements for children and include fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein. The licensors also verify the employee files and check for current background checks and training for the employees and volunteers.
Just like background screening, licensing doesn’t prevent something from happening, but it provides an additional level of oversight that can help provide a safe place for your child.
Using the Important Questions to Ask When Choosing a Preschool
Once you have asked your questions and toured the facility, take some time to weigh your options and pray about the decision. Your child has been entrusted to you as a parent and your responsibility is great. God has given you the task of teaching your child about Him, and protecting and nurturing your child. Ask God for wisdom in making this choice.
If your feel like your preschool tour questions weren’t answered adequately, call and ask for clarification or more details.
Celebrate the Milestone
Once you have asked all of the preschool parent interview questions and you are ready to enroll your child, take some time to prepare your child. Celebrate their growth and the fact that they are starting preschool. Read some books about going to school.
Start this a few weeks before your child starts school. Stories and pictures can provide opportunities for your child to express anxiety, ask questions, and for you to reassure your child of your love and security.
If you found these preschool parent interview questions helpful for choosing a preschool, please pin or share this post with a friend.
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We use a Catholic School and these were the questions I asked. Security and volunteers are important questions.
Very true! Just because a school is associated with a church doesn’t mean it’s best for your child. You have to be diligent to protect your children!
Great tips and advice for any preschool! Our little ones count on us to make sure they are happy and safe!
That is so true! We must be diligent to protect our precious children!
Great thinks to consider and think about!
While I cannot speak to a personal experience in picking preschool, I did intern in one. These questions would be great for any preschool, kindergarten, and even daycare!
Thanks CJ!
Ooh this are really good things to consider. I’ll definitely have to think about this someday when I have kids.
All very good tips. There is so much to consider and it’s all improtant.
Such a good shout to check the toilets to see if they are kid-friendly. But you’re right, not every preschool aren’t okay with children who are not potty trained.
Knowing what the center policy is on toilet training can help you plan as well.
Such a well written, helpful post. Wish I would have had this when my kids were young. Pinned it to share with other moms!
This is a great list of things to think about. Very helpful!
Future Pre-school mom here! Thank you for this comprehensive list! I’m definitely saving this list of questions to ask as we move through pre formal education schools.
Thank you for your kind words, Ashley! I’m so glad it was helpful!
Great questions & thoughts for picking any school
These are good questions for all ages!
Pinning this for later! I have a few years before having to deal with this *internally crying already*
Thanks for pinning, Sydney!
These are great Questions to ask when considering a preschool! It is good to think ahead of time and know what you want to ask!
Planning ahead with your questions helps you get the information you need.
Great tips! Sending this to my daughter!
Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
These are great tips! When we were looking for a place for our kids, security was very important. We wanted to choose someplace that had cameras that we could use to observe our kids in the classroom while away.
Security is definitely incredibly important!
Great tips! I’ve been through this process twice and each time, these are all on my checklist!
It sounds like you are a pro! 😉
Great tips. In my opinion these apply no matter if it’s a private or public school.
That is true!
I remember looking for preschools for boys. The attorney in me shined through as I put them through a grueling cross-examination. LOL! I am sure it was not that bad, but I did elicit a lot of information. These are important questions to ask. Nice post!
I can picture you cross-examing the director or teacher! 🙂
Great list! I wish there were more choices where I live.
It is hard when you don’t have good options!
Thanks for sharing this information!
You’re welcome! 🙂
these are good questions to ask when looking at any school really. nice.
Wow, so many things to think about! Great tips, especially the ones about how do they approve and check out volunteers. I think that’s something people don’t usually think about.
A friend told me that one center where her son was allowed anyone to sign out the kids. They didn’t even have to show ID! I can’t even imagine that!
Great tips. I needed this list when we were starting our son in preschool!
Thanks Lisa! Hopefully the list will help others!
Christian pre-school over here are quite hard to get it and they aren’t cheap too. They have good values that’s why every family wanted to send their kids there.
Good tips on preschool. My granddaughter started 4 year old kindergarten yesterday.
Congratulations to your granddaughter!
to be fair I think these are important questions before send ing a child to any preschjool. Peace of mind is so important for us working parents.
You are absolutely right! Not just preschool!
Thank you so much for sharing these tips on choosing a Christian Preschool. My nephew went to a Christian Preschool when he was young and loved it! I am going to bookmark this page so that I can come back as my God Daughter is getting ready to go to school and may go to a Christian Preschool as well 🙂
Thanks so much, Melissa!
This will be me in a few years so it’s great to have a guide!
Great questions no matter what type of pre-school you are considering. Helpful for anyone with children of that age.
This is interesting. We have more catholic schools in this area. I live in New Mexico and the majority of the population is catholic. Great tips! Thank you
These are all great things to look for and ask about! Curriculum and play time are definitely important, as well as all of their policies!
-Jennifer
Sometimes policies can be very different from your expectations as a parent!
These are wonderful questions to ask when looking for a preschool. I’ll definitely bookmark this and save for when my little one starts school.
Thanks so much for saving this for later!
These are all such great questions. I will be choosing a preschool in a year or so but need to get on a list soon I imagine.
It’s important to start early because some centers fill up or have a waiting list.
I think there are so many things to consider when choosing the right school, whether it’s religious or not. It depends on the needs of the child.
That’s for sure! Just because a preschool or daycare is a great fit for another child, doesn’t necessarily mean it will be a good fit for your needs.
You’ve definitely given me something to think about here! It’s important information to know.
I’m glad it was helpful for you! 🙂
This is a helpful list for new mums to take note of when choosing a Christian preschool. We did not have an option to enroll our kids into a Christian preschool here, but wished we had.
This is a very thorough list. I wouldn’t have thought to ask about naptime….but IT IS IMPORTANT! (For everybody)
Yes! 🙂 For everybody for sure!
Very informative post, I know some of these questions are necessary to know the education is going to align with the family values
Family values can be undermined in so many ways, so it’s really important to do all you can to encourage those values in your children.
If you asked me Security is one of the most important things for me when I choose a school. I also consider the ratings and others opinions.
Good point! You can learn a lot by talking to other moms!
These are great tips for any pre-schoolers. Safety is very important considering on what’s happening with the world these days.
These are all great questions to ask! You can never have enough information when it comes to your kids’ daycare!
I definitely agree with that! Our kids’ safety and well-being is our full-time job!
Great things to look at or ask about, no matter the schools religious denomination!
I agree! As a parent, you have to find a place that will support your beliefs.
Lots of good questions to consider! Choosing a pre-school can be such a difficult thing to navigate (especially for the first time!) – Thank you for laying things out so clearly!
Absolutely! There are so many things to consider when you’re sending your child off into someone else’s care.
You provided such an extensive list of things one might not have thought of. Finding out security protocol as well as the procedure for safety incidents are at the top of my list.
I’m so glad it was helpful!
great info, especially since it’s such an important decision!
I remember those days…and, since we moved a lot with my husband’s military career, we had to do this several times for each of the boys.
I’m sure that was challenging to find a new school every time you moved!
You nailed it. Great advice. I know when I sent my son to preschool, he got out and ran around the building. They chased him because they were on a busy street and they didn’t want him getting hit by a car. So sometimes making sure they lock the door (even in quiet crime-free neighborhoods) isn’t just to keep strangers out – it helps keep children safe INSIDE…lol.
Oh, this is scary to think about. You’re correct in that the locks aren’t only to keep others out. Glad your son is ok!
I just went through all of this when finding my son a school. It can be so stressful, but this list is amazing!
Thanks Lisa! There are lots of things to consider when choosing a school for your kids!
These are wonderful suggestions! Some I would not have thought of. We have always homeschooled so I guess I have just not thought about it.
It’s hard to think of all the things you need to find before you make a choice about preschool or school for that matter. I’m sure you had a lot of questions about homeschooling as well. 🙂
Questions to ask when choosing a christian preschool is such a helpful and practical guide for the parents of young children. Very well written post. Thank you … ❤
I can’t imagine a more thorough handling of questions to ask when choosing a christian preschool. I wish – many years ago- I had know even half of the questions to ask. I guess I can pass it on for my future grandchildren!
Bravo- from a preschool teacher with 20+ years of experience. These are all great questions. Early education shapes children’s views of education their entire lives; the decision of where to place your child is critical. Thanks for this informative post!
You are so right, Candace. The things our children learn at an early age, during preschool and daycare, all shape their worldview, how they relate to others, and how they relate to us a parents.
Great and helpful information for parents to ask the right questions when choosing a pre-school for their children. Thank you for your insight!
You are welcome! I’m glad you found it helpful.
Good thing I have a couple years until preschool but I didn’t even think about all the things you should think about. The health and safety of our child is so important.
You are absolutely right, Haley. Health and safety of our kids is so important. It takes careful planning and preparation to ensure that our kids are in a safe and healthy environment in preschool!
A very helplful list for parents of preschoolers. My kids are entering their teen years now, but when we were looking for the right school we spent time in prayer asking God to guide us. We chose a Christian school because we saw the importance of our children being nurtured in a healthy spiritual environment. We also preferred a small school so they would feel like they were in a “family” environment. We’re so thankful we made the choice we did!
I wish I had thought of all of these! I think I was so hyper-focused on security that I almost forgot everything else!
It is easy to focus on just one thing and often that one thing isn’t always the most important thing. Security and protection for our kids go far beyond a fence and a locked door.
I remember taking my first child to daycare. It was very nerve-racking. These are some helpful tips for when searching for preschool. Parents should ask alot of questions.
These are such insightful questions to ask when choosing a Christian preschool. I know this will help many parents!
Thank you Rachel. That is certainly my hope! 🙂
Very helpful! Thank you for putting such a comprehensive list together!
I liked it when you said that in choosing a pre-school for my kids, I should make sure that they’re incorporating the same values and beliefs we instill at them at home. My husband and I are conservative Christians, and we’d like our daughter to grow up as God-fearing as us. Since she’s starting pre-school next school year, I’ll make sure that we’ll enroll her in a private Christian pre-school with a Bible-based curriculum. Thanks for this!
You are so right. Making sure that our kids are in a Christian environment to support your beliefs is such a critical thing as children are growing up and developing their belief system.