The six questions that matter most.
Ratios, training, the daily routine, updates, sick days and settling in. The full list of 12 is below.
A daycare tour is short, and it's easy to walk out realizing you forgot to ask the thing you cared about most. Bring this list (or print our tour checklist) and you'll leave with real answers, not just a good feeling.
1. Are you licensed, and can I see your licence?
In Alberta, a child care centre caring for more than six children must be licensed under the Early Learning and Child Care Act. A licensed centre will have its licence posted. You can also look up any licensed program, including its capacity and recent inspection results, on Alberta's Childcare Lookup Tool.
2. What are your staff-to-child ratios in my child's room?
Alberta sets maximum ratios by age. For daycares, it's 1 educator to 3 infants under 12 months, 1:4 from 12 to 19 months, 1:6 from 19 months to 3 years, 1:8 for 3-year-olds, and 1:10 for children 4 and older. Ask how the centre covers breaks and sick days so ratios hold all day.
3. Who will care for my child, and how long have they been here?
Ask about educators' certification and first aid training, and how long the team in your child's room has worked together. A steady team matters more than almost anything else for young children.
4. What does a typical day look like?
Look for a predictable rhythm: play, learning time, outdoor time, meals and rest. Children settle faster when they know what comes next.
5. What do the children eat?
Ask whether meals are cooked on site, whether lunch and snacks are included, and how allergies are handled. A posted weekly menu is a good sign.
6. How will I hear about my child's day?
Many centres use an app for photos, meals, naps and notes. Ask how often updates come and how you can reach your child's educator.
7. How much time do children spend outside?
Ask to see the outdoor space. Is it fenced? Is the ground soft enough for falls? What happens in winter?
8. What's your illness policy?
Know when your child would be sent home and when they can return, so you can plan backup care.
9. How do you help new children settle in?
Good centres have a plan for the first weeks: shorter days, a comfort item from home, and extra updates for nervous parents.
10. Can you support my child's needs?
If your child has a diagnosis, a speech delay or other needs, ask whether the centre works with programs like FSCD, GRIT or PUF, and how they adapt the room and routine.
11. What will I actually pay?
Ask whether the centre receives Alberta's affordability funding (which sets a flat parent fee for children up to kindergarten age), and what, if anything, costs extra. Our fees guide explains the rules.
12. Ask yourself: did the children look happy?
The best signal on a tour isn't on any list. Are children engaged and comfortable? Do educators get down to their level? Does the room feel calm and cared for?
Visiting Little Otters? Book a tour and bring every question on this list. Or take the virtual tour first.
