13 Questions to Ask on a Daycare Tour in Thousand Oaks

1. Who will care for my child each day?

Ask to meet the teacher who’ll be with your child most days. Find out how many children are with each teacher, what experience the teachers have with your child’s age, and who steps in when someone is away.

At Lovely Bees, we have one teacher for every three to four children. I’ve worked with children for over 20 years and am trained in first aid and CPR. All our teachers complete fingerprinting and background checks. Meet our teachers.

2. Can you show me where my child will play outside?

Our backyard and outdoor activity room give children space to move, make a mess, and explore. On a tour, we can show you where children draw on the chalk wall, explore at the water table, and practice balancing. Ask what outdoor time looks like on a typical day and where younger children play.

Researchers tracked children’s movement at five child care centers and found that preschoolers spent a larger share of their time moving at moderate or vigorous intensity outdoors than indoors. Ask how often children get outdoor time and what they can do there. Read the study on outdoor activity in child care.

3. How do you handle hitting, biting, or a fight over a toy?

Ask the teacher to walk you through a real example. If two toddlers reach for the same toy and one bites, how does the teacher stop the behavior and comfort the child who was hurt? What can the other child practice next time, like asking for a turn or getting help? Ask how and when families hear about what happened.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children recommends responding promptly, setting a clear limit in a calm voice, and comforting the child who was hurt. A randomized Head Start study also found that preschoolers who took part in a program teaching social and emotional skills were better at recognizing emotions and were rated as more socially skilled. NAEYC guidance on biting · Read the Head Start study.

4. How will I know how my child’s day went?

We share daily updates about meals, rest, and how your child is doing. We also share photos each day in a private group for enrolled families, so you can see what the children played with, made, and explored. If you’re worried about a hard drop-off, ask us how we help children settle and when you can expect an update.

In an Early Head Start study, parents who reported better relationships with their child’s provider also reported less parenting stress. A good question to ask is how you and your child’s teacher can stay in touch when something changes at home or at daycare. Read the study on family and provider relationships.

5. Can I stop by and see my child during the day?

Yes. We have an open-door policy. Parents receive the entry code and are welcome to stop by during daycare hours to see their child play and spend time in the space.

6. What happens if my child gets sick or hurt during the day?

On your tour, we’ll walk you through when we call, when your child may need to go home, and who we’ll contact if we can’t reach you. It’s also a good time to ask who’s authorized to pick up your child and when your child can return after an illness.

7. What if my child doesn’t like what’s served?

We serve homemade meals on a regular schedule, including soup and foods like homemade yogurt or kefir. We get to know what each child likes. If we’re serving fruit and your child prefers apples to pears, we can offer apples when we have them. Children also get chances to try unfamiliar foods at their own pace.

In a randomized study, 3- and 4-year-olds ate more of a vegetable they initially disliked after repeated chances to taste it. A new food can take time to become familiar. Read the study on food acceptance.

8. How do you handle food allergies? Can we bring a specific milk or food?

Lovely Bees is nut-free. Please tell us about any food allergies before your child starts so we can talk through ingredients, how we prevent cross-contact, and what to do if your child has a reaction. If your child drinks a particular milk or needs food from home, talk with us about what we can accommodate and how to bring it in.

9. What if my child naps longer or wakes up early?

After lunch, we dim the room and help children settle into naps or quiet rest. They change into pajamas or other comfortable sleepwear and take off their shoes. If a child wakes early and is still sleepy, we help them settle again. If they’re wide awake, we can offer quiet, supervised play while the others rest. We follow age-appropriate sleep practices and keep sleep logs for children under two. California’s safe sleep guidance for child care.

In a small study of 16-month-olds, children who napped after learning new words were better able to recognize that those words also applied to similar objects. Read the toddler nap study.

10. Will you help with potty learning?

Yes. When your child is ready and you’re ready to start at home, we’ll agree on a routine together. Tell us what words you use, when you usually offer the potty, and what’s been working. We’ll offer regular chances to try and handle accidents calmly.

In a study that followed young children over time, signs of toilet readiness appeared at different ages. You can ask the teacher what they’re seeing at daycare and compare it with what you see at home. Read the study on toilet learning readiness.

11. Will my child hear Russian stories and songs?

Yes, we read Russian fairy tales. Children hear English, Russian, and Ukrainian through stories, songs, and everyday conversation. For families who speak Russian at home, daycare gives children another place to hear and use it.

A study of toddlers growing up with English and Spanish found that how much they heard of each language was related to their vocabulary and grammar in that language. That’s one reason we make language part of the day, from reading together to talking at lunch. Read the study on early bilingual development.

12. Which days is daycare closed?

Our child care agreement lists the federal holidays we observe, plus the Friday after Thanksgiving. These are paid closures, so regular tuition still applies.

• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Presidents’ Day
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Columbus Day
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Friday after Thanksgiving
• Christmas Day

See the child care agreement for the current closure policy. On your tour, ask us to go over the upcoming dates and how we notify families about other closures.

13. What will we pay before the first day, and how does the waitlist work?

Ask for a written breakdown of weekly tuition, enrollment fees, and any deposits, including what’s due up front and what gets credited toward care.

At Lovely Bees, the waitlist reservation deposit equals two weeks of tuition for your requested schedule. If your child enrolls, the deposit becomes a tuition credit under your care agreement. If we can’t offer a suitable opening during the agreed window, you can receive a refund or agree with us to extend the window. Before paying, ask what counts as a suitable opening, how long you have to respond, and what happens if your plans change. View Lovely Bees tuition and fees.