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Child Care Center Checklist

General Questions

Question

Notes

Is the program licensed?

Does the program provide safe and reliable transportation? If

so, are drivers licensed and insured? Are children properly

restrained in the appropriate car safety seat that is

appropriate for their weight and age?

Are there clear check-in and check-out procedures?

Health and Nutrition Questions

Question

Notes

Does the child care program have records proving that the

other children enrolled are up to date on all of the required

immunizations?

Is handwashing a regular part of the program’s practices for

both staff and children, especially before eating and after

using the bathroom?

If the program serves food, does it meet nutritional

standards?

How does the program handle if a child has food allergies or

dietary restrictions?

Questions for Infants and Toddlers

Are infants fed on demand?

Is breastmilk stored appropriately?

Is there a place where mothers can comfortably breastfeed

their child?

How are new foods introduced to toddlers?

Is the place where diapers are changed clean?

Do caregivers always keep a hand on the child while

diapering?

Do caregivers remove the soiled diaper without dirtying any

surface not already in contact with stool or urine?

Do caregivers clean and sanitize the surface after finishing the

changing process? Hands should be scrubbed with soap and

warm running water for at least 20 seconds and then rinsed

and dried. The water faucet should be turned off with a paper

towel.

Supervision and Safety Questions

Question

Notes

Adult to Child Ratio and Group Size

How many children are cared for in the classroom?

How many caregivers are in the classroom?

Does the center follow best practices regarding ratio and

group size? Or, does the center follow the state licensing

standards for ratio and group size?

Best practice recommendations:

 0-12 months: 3-4 children per caregiver, max group

size of 8 children

 13-23 months: 4 children per caregiver, max group size

of 8 children

 2-year-olds: 4-6 children per caregiver, max group size

of 12 children

 3-year-olds: 7-9 children per caregiver, max group size

of 18 children

 4- to 5-year-olds: 8-10 children per caregiver, max

group size of 12 children

 6- to 8-year-olds: 10 children per caregiver, max group

size of 20 children

 9- to 12-year-olds: 12 children per caregiver, max

group size of 24 children

Supervision of Children

Are children supervised at all times, both indoors and

outdoors, and even when they are sleeping?

Can caregivers be seen by others at all times so that a child is

never alone with one caregiver?

Have all caregivers undergone comprehensive background

checks?

Have the caregivers been trained on how to prevent,

recognize, and report signs of child abuse?

Questions for Infants and Toddlers: Safe Sleep Practices

Are all infants put to sleep on their backs?

Do the infant sleep spaces consist of a firm sleep surface, such

as a mattress in a crib, covered by a fitted sheet with no other

bedding?

Are the infant sleep spaces kept free of soft objects, toys, crib

bumpers, and loose bedding?

Are all child care staff, volunteers, and substitutes trained on

safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death

Syndrome (SIDS)?

Do all infants have their own designated sleep space that is

the same every day?

During rest time, can caregivers see and hear infants and

toddlers at all times?

Does caregivers regularly check on infants and toddlers when

they are sleeping?

Are safe sleep infant practices posted in the infant sleeping

area as a reminder to all staff, volunteers, and substitutes?

If infants can roll over, is there a sign posted by their bed

indicating that the child can roll?

Safety

Is the indoor and outdoor environment clear of safety hazards,

such as cleaning supplies and tripping hazards?

Has the building been inspected for radon, lead, and asbestos?

Are toys clean, safe, and within reach of children?

Questions for Infants and Toddlers

Are caregivers trained in infant CPR and is their certification

current?

Are infants and toddlers within sight and sound at all times?

Are outlets covered/protected?

Emergency Plans and Drills

Does the program have a plan in place in case of a disaster,

like a fire, tornado, flood, blizzard, earthquake or active

shooter?

Does the program practice drills once every month?

Does the program have an emergency plan in case a child is

injured, sick, or lost?

Does the child care program have information about who to

contact in an emergency?

First Aid and Medication

Have caregivers been trained on CPR and First Aid and are

those certifications current?

Does the program have first aid kits?

Are medications kept out of the reach of children?

Are the caregivers trained and the medications labeled to

make sure the right child receives the right amount of

medication?

Indoor Environment Questions

Question Notes

Is there enough room in the environment for children and

caregivers to move around?

Are there different areas for resting, quiet play, and active

play?

Is the atmosphere pleasant?

Is the environment clean?

Are there enough toys and learning materials for the number

of children?

Do the classroom materials change based on what children are

interested in?

Does the program use TV, computers, or other types of

technology with the children? If so, how often are these

materials used?

Outdoor Environment Questions

Question Notes

Is there a space for outdoor play?

Is the outdoor play area fenced in?

Is the outdoor play area regularly inspected?

Is the outdoor area clean?

Is the equipment the right size and type for the age of children

who use it?

Are children taken outside on a regular basis?

Do caregivers actively supervise (play with) children outdoors?

Caregiver-Child Interaction Questions

Question Notes

Are children comforted when needed?

Do caregivers and children enjoy being together?

Are children warmly greeted when they arrive?

Do caregivers talk to children and seem genuinely interested

in what the children are doing?

Do caregivers get down on children’s level and speak with

them?

How do caregivers help children solve their own problems?

How do caregivers react to children’s behavior?

How do caregivers encourage peer interactions?

Program Structure Questions

Question

Notes

Is there a daily balance of play time, story time, activity time,

and nap time?

Do children play for a significant part of their day?

Do children get to choose who they want to play with?

Do caregivers play with children to help facilitate their

learning?

Parent Partnership Questions

Question

Notes

Do caregivers share and talk to parents about their child’s

daily activities, either at drop off or pick up?

Does the program incorporate technology as a communication

tool? If so, is information shared with parents on how to

access it and how the information is kept secured?

Are parents encouraged to visit at any time?

Are there ways for parents to be involved in the program?

How are parent ideas incorporated into the program?

Are there regular opportunities (at least twice per year) where

parents can meet with the staff and share their child’s

strengths and hear how their child is developing skills?

How often do caregivers share observations and ongoing

assessment information with parents?

How do caregivers work with parents to incorporate the

family’s culture and values into the classroom?

How are transitions from classroom to classroom handled?

What type of support does the program offer to both the

parents and the child during this time?

Staff Qualifications Questions

Question

Notes

Does the lead caregiver/teacher have a bachelor’s degree in a

child-related field?

Has the teacher worked in child care for at least one year?

Does the teacher plan lessons and experiences for the children

that help them learn and grow?

Does the director have a bachelor’s degree in a child-related

field?

Has the director worked in child care for at least two years?

Does the director understand what children need to learn and

grow?

Are both the teachers and director involved in ongoing

training or continuing education programs?

Child Care Policies and Procedures

Question Notes

Does the program provide a written contract before you enroll

your child?

Does the program provide a copy of the parent handbook

prior to enrollment?

Does the program clearly outline the cost of care, field trip or

special program fees, and any other fees?

Does the program have a policy regarding drop-off and pick-up

times, including who can pick up your child? Are there fees for

late pick-up?

Does the program have a policy for times when it may close,

such as for certain holidays, inclement weather, or in case of

emergencies?

Does the program have a policy regarding when your child and

other children should stay home because of illness?

Does the program have a policy regarding termination of your

child care agreement?

Does the program have a written policy for when the provider

is allowed to give medications?

Does the program have a written supervision policy or plan

that ensures children are supervised at all times?

Does the program provide a written guidance and discipline

policy?

Does the program follow a certain teaching philosophy or use

a curriculum?

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