15 Questions Omaha Parents Should Ask on a Daycare Tour

Choosing a daycare is a big decision, and a short tour can feel like a lot to process. You are meeting teachers, looking at classrooms, thinking about your child’s needs and trying to remember every question you meant to ask—all at the same time.

A written checklist can help you slow the process down. It gives you a consistent way to compare programs and helps you look beyond first impressions. Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services notes that licensing establishes minimum health and safety standards, but it still encourages parents to visit and personally evaluate any child care setting they are considering. Nebraska DHHS provides a detailed list of questions and observations for families.

Use the following 15 questions during an Omaha daycare tour. You may not need every question, but you should leave with a clear understanding of how the center will care for, teach and communicate about your child.

Before the tour: identify what matters most to your family

Before you arrive, write down your nonnegotiables and your biggest concerns. Think about:

• Your child’s age, temperament and current routine

• The days and hours when you need care

• Your commute and pickup plan

• Allergies, dietary needs or medical considerations

• Nap, feeding or toileting routines

• How you prefer to receive updates

• The type of learning environment you want

Nebraska Extension offers a childcare quality checklist that can help you prioritize what matters most. Bring your notes to each tour so you evaluate every center using the same basic criteria.

Safety, licensing and supervision

1. Is the program licensed, and where can I review its licensing history?

Ask for the program’s full licensed name so you can verify it through Nebraska’s official child care resources. Licensing is an important baseline: it means the provider and facility must meet minimum state health and safety standards. It should not be the only factor in your decision, however. A tour lets you observe how those policies work in everyday practice.

2. What is the teacher-to-child ratio in my child’s classroom?

Ask about the ratio your child would experience on a typical day, not only the maximum allowed ratio. You can also ask what happens when a teacher is absent, during staff breaks or while children move between rooms.

Watch whether teachers appear able to see, hear and respond to the children in their care. The federal ChildCare.gov center-selection guide recommends looking closely at supervision and teacher-child interactions while visiting.

3. How do you handle secure entry, authorized pickup, injuries and emergencies?

A clear answer should explain who may enter the building, how pickup authorization works and how parents are contacted after an injury or urgent situation. In Nebraska, it is also reasonable to ask about fire and tornado procedures, evacuation routes and severe-weather shelter locations.

Look for practical signs of preparedness, such as controlled entrances, posted emergency information and staff members who can explain the procedures without guessing.

Teachers and classroom relationships

4. What training and experience do the teachers have?

Ask about experience with your child’s age group, first aid and CPR preparation, onboarding and continuing education. If your child has an individual need, ask how teachers are prepared to support it.

The goal is not to collect impressive-sounding credentials. You want to understand whether the adults in the room have the preparation and support to care for children safely and respectfully.

5. How long do teachers typically stay, and who will care for my child when someone is absent?

Consistency helps children build relationships and learn classroom routines. Ask how long the lead teacher has worked at the center, how substitute or “floating” teachers are used and how parents are introduced to new caregivers.

A center may experience normal staffing changes. What matters is whether leadership can answer transparently and explain how it maintains stable care during those changes.

6. How do teachers respond when a child cries, bites, hits or has a difficult transition?

This question reveals more than asking whether a center has a discipline policy. Listen for calm, age-appropriate strategies: helping children name emotions, redirecting unsafe behavior, setting consistent limits and communicating patterns with families.

Observe the room as you walk through it. Do teachers get down to children’s level? Is their tone patient? Are they actively engaging, or mostly directing from across the room?

Daily routines and learning

7. What does a normal day look like for this age group?

Ask the teacher to walk you through a typical day from arrival to pickup. A useful answer should cover meals, snacks, rest, outdoor time, active play, quiet activities and transitions.

Young children often benefit from predictable rhythms, but they also need flexibility. Ask what happens when an infant needs to eat earlier than expected, a toddler does not nap or a preschooler needs extra time during a transition.

8. How does the curriculum support children at different developmental stages?

Look for more than a list of crafts or worksheets. Ask how teachers choose activities, observe progress and adapt experiences for individual children.

At Jambo, we believe children learn through play and exploration in a nurturing, child-centered environment. You can read more about Jambo’s philosophy and approach. During any tour, ask for real examples of how the center’s stated philosophy appears in the classroom.

9. How much time do children spend outdoors, and what do they do during Omaha’s difficult weather?

Outdoor movement and exploration can be an important part of the day, but Nebraska weather does not always cooperate. Ask how the center decides when children can go outside and what indoor movement options are available during severe heat, cold, storms or poor air quality.

Look for safe, age-appropriate space where children can move their bodies rather than spending the entire day sitting at tables.

Communication and transitions

10. How will you communicate with me about my child’s day?

Ask what information parents receive and how often. Depending on the child’s age, updates might include meals, bottles, diapers, naps, activities, mood, incidents or developmental observations.

Also ask who you should contact with a concern and how the center handles conversations that require more time than a quick exchange at pickup. Communication should work in both directions: families need updates, and teachers need a reliable way to learn about changes at home.

11. How do you help children start daycare and transition between classrooms?

The first few days of care can bring big feelings for children and parents. Ask whether the center recommends shorter introductory visits, a familiar comfort item, a consistent goodbye routine or another transition plan.

You should also understand how children move into the next classroom. Is the decision based only on age, or does the center consider development, readiness and available space? Will your child visit the new room and meet the teachers beforehand?

Health, food and individual needs

12. What are your illness, medication and cleaning policies?

Ask when children must stay home, when they may return and how parents are notified about contagious illnesses. If your child may need medication, ask who can administer it, how it must be labeled and documented and where it is stored.

Request the written policy or parent handbook so you can review the details after the tour. A clear written policy reduces confusion when a child becomes sick.

13. How do you handle meals, allergies, breast milk and formula?

If food is provided, ask to see a sample menu. Find out how allergies are documented, how substitutions are managed and how classrooms prevent food mix-ups.

Families with infants may also want to ask how bottles, breast milk and formula are labeled, stored, prepared and tracked. Care.com’s expert-informed daycare guide also recommends asking about menus, dietary needs and infant feeding practices.

Enrollment and practical policies

14. What does tuition include, and what additional fees should I expect?

Ask for the complete cost in writing. Depending on the center, additional charges could include registration, supplies, meals, late pickup or special activities. Also ask how payment works during holidays, weather closures, family vacations or a child’s illness.

The purpose of this question is not simply to find the lowest price. It is to understand the complete commitment and avoid surprises later.

15. What are your current openings, waitlist rules and withdrawal policies?

Availability can change quickly, particularly by age group. Ask whether the center has an opening for the schedule you need, whether there is a waitlist fee and how families are notified when a place becomes available.

Before paying a deposit, understand whether it is refundable, how much notice is required to withdraw and whether the center may change classroom placement or schedules.

What to observe while you walk through the center

The answers matter, but so does what you see. As you tour, quietly notice whether:

• Teachers are attentive, calm and respectful

• Children appear engaged and comfortable approaching adults

• Rooms are clean, organized and appropriate for the children’s ages

• Toys and materials are accessible and in good condition

• Infants have safe spaces to rest and explore

• Children have room for both active and quiet play

• Staff answer questions openly rather than rushing past them

• The environment feels welcoming to different children and families

No classroom will be silent or perfectly tidy all day. Child care is active work. Look for a setting that feels safe, purposeful and warm—not staged for a photograph.

After the tour: compare centers using the same criteria

Write down your impressions as soon as the tour ends. Record what you liked, what remained unclear and what you need to verify. Review the parent handbook, check the program’s Nebraska licensing information and follow up if an answer was incomplete.

Most importantly, consider how the entire experience felt. Did the staff show interest in your child and family? Could they explain their approach clearly? Did their actions match what they told you?

Ready to learn more about Jambo?

Jambo Daycare serves Omaha families with learning environments for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children. To ask about our programs and current enrollment, contact Jambo Daycare. Bring this checklist—we want families to feel informed and comfortable asking questions about their child’s care.