A daycare tour tells you the truth if you ask the right questions: about licensing, ratios, staff tenure, safety procedures, daily rhythm, communication, and the contract's fine print. Here are the 25 that matter, grouped so you can work through them naturally — plus the red flags that should end a tour early.
Safety & staffing (the non-negotiables)
- Can I see your current PA DHS license and most recent inspection results?
- What clearances and certifications do staff hold? (PA/FBI clearances are required; CPR/first aid should be current.)
- What are your actual ratios and maximum group size per room?
- Is any adult ever alone with a child?
- How does secure entry work — who can get in, and how is pickup verified?
- What's your emergency plan (fire, lockdown, medical), and how often do you drill?
- How long has your current staff been here? What's your turnover like?
Daily life & development
- Walk me through a typical day for my child's age.
- What's your approach to learning — play-based, academic, mixed?
- How much outdoor and physical play daily?
- Do children use screens here? (Screen-free is a meaningful differentiator.)
- How do naps and quiet time work? (Nap details.)
- How do you handle discipline and conflicts between kids?
- How do you support potty training?
Food, health & illness
- Do you serve food or do we pack — and what's your allergy protocol? (Food policy guide.)
- What's your illness exclusion policy, and when can kids return? (The standard rules.)
- How do you administer medications?
- What health records do we need to enroll, and by when? (PA requirements.)
Communication & logistics
- How will I know how my child's day went — app updates, photos, reports?
- What are your exact hours, and what happens if I'm running late?
- What's your closure calendar — holidays, training days, weather?
Money & contract
- What's the all-in cost — tuition plus registration, supplies, deposits, and fees?
- What's the contract term and withdrawal policy? (Month-to-month exists.)
- Can my schedule change, and how fast? Do you offer part-time or hourly options?
- Can my child do a trial visit before we commit?
Red flags that end the tour
Reluctance to show the license or discuss inspections; vague answers on ratios; you're not allowed to see classrooms in action; staff who don't engage children at eye level; screens running as ambient babysitting; chaotic, joyless rooms; pressure to sign today. Trust the visceral read — you're choosing people, not brochures.
Put a good tour to the test
Every answer above is verifiable in one trial visit. Recess welcomes exactly this scrutiny: tour either Northern Liberties location, ask all 25, then let your child try a free session up to 4 hours and judge by how pickup goes. Start here.