12 Questions Every BC Parent Should Ask on a Daycare Tour

A licensed BC daycare tour is a 30–45 minute investigation, and the people running good centres want you to dig in. Here are the 12 questions we recommend, what a good answer sounds like, and what a red-flag answer sounds like.

The 12 questions

1. "What's your licence number, and can I look it up?"

Good answer: A specific number, plus they offer to show you the inspection report. Red flag: "Oh, we're licensed, but I'm not sure where the number is."

2. "What's your educator-to-child ratio in this room, right now?"

Good answer: They walk you through it. "We have 8 children today and 2 educators, plus our director floats in. So 1:4." Red flag: "We meet BC requirements." Requirements are the floor, not the ceiling.

3. "How long have your educators worked here, on average?"

Good answer: "Our infant educator has been with us 4 years; our toddler educator is going on 2." Red flag: Vague answers or visible turnover in the past year you only find out about after enrollment.

4. "What happens when an educator calls in sick?"

Good answer: They have a substitute network or a director who covers. Red flag: "We close that room" or "we combine groups." Combining can be unsafe and stressful for kids.

5. "Can I see the outdoor space?"

Good answer: They walk you there during the tour. Look for: shade, separate areas for different ages, drainage, fencing condition. Red flag: "We share with the public park" without a private fenced backup.

6. "What's your sickness/exclusion policy?"

Good answer: Specific. "Fever over 38°C → 24 hours fever-free. Vomiting → 24 hours symptom-free." Red flag: "We follow Fraser Health guidelines" with no specifics.

7. "How do you handle a child who's struggling to settle?"

Good answer: A detailed story about a specific child and what they tried. Red flag: "Children adjust on their own."

8. "Walk me through 7 am to 5 pm — what's the daily schedule?"

Good answer: A reasonable rhythm — drop-off, free play, snack, group activity, outdoor, lunch, nap, snack, free play, outdoor again, pickup. Red flag: "It's flexible based on the kids" — no anchor schedule means no predictability.

9. "How do you communicate with parents during the day?"

Good answer: App-based daily updates (Brightwheel, HiMama, KidReports) or a paper notebook per child. Red flag: "We tell you at pickup."

10. "What's your food policy? Do you supply or do parents?"

Good answer: Specific menu, clear allergy substitution policy or lunch-from-home guidelines. Red flag: Inconsistent answers between staff.

11. "Can I see your most recent Fraser Health inspection report?"

Good answer: They have a binder or digital copy ready. Open transparency = good operator. Red flag: "I'm not sure where that is."

12. "What's your educator-turnover rate over the past 2 years?"

Good answer: A specific number. "We had 1 educator leave in 2024 and replaced her in 5 weeks." Red flag: Avoidance, or you find out from another parent that 4 educators left in 18 months.

What's NOT on this list (and why)

• "Do you teach the alphabet?" — Under-3, alphabet learning isn't developmentally appropriate. Over-3, all licensed BC preschools do letters as part of early literacy.
• "Will my child be the only [language/ethnicity] here?" — Better question: "What languages do educators speak? How do you welcome multilingual families?"
• "Can I pop in unannounced?" — Every BC licensed centre is open to parental visits during operating hours. If they say no, walk away.

Three FAQ

Should I tour multiple centres or trust my gut on the first one?

Tour at least 2, even if the first feels perfect.

Is it OK to bring my child on the tour?

Yes — and many centres prefer it. Watching educators greet your child is informative.

How long should a tour be?

30–45 minutes is normal. Under 20 = rushed. Over an hour = sales pitch.

Our tour at PWA

Book a tour for either Little Ones House (0–36 mo) or Big Kids House (30 mo+). We do 30-minute walkthroughs Tuesdays and Thursdays in actual rooms during operating hours — not a pretend "tour room." Bring your questions, bring your child if you can, and grill us. See our parent FAQ for what we hear most often.