Last week, a family came to tour our childcare center with their two-year-old son.
We walked through the classrooms, talked about meals, daily routines, outdoor play, and our preschool program. Mom had questions about safety. Dad wanted to know how children get ready for Pre-K.
As we were walking toward the door, Dad stopped and asked one more question.
“Who will greet my son in the morning?”
I don’t hear that question very often.
Most parents ask about tuition, class size, or the curriculum. Those things matter, of course. But for a young child, the day begins long before circle time. It begins with the person opening the classroom door.
When the same familiar adult smiles, says a child’s name, notices that they’re feeling a little shy today, or gives them an extra minute before saying goodbye to Mom or Dad, mornings usually become much easier. That’s something you can’t always see on a website.
If you’re touring daycare or preschool programs in Fairfax, here are a few questions that can tell you a lot about a school:
- Who greets children each morning?
- What happens if my child’s regular teacher is out?
- How do you help a child who isn’t ready to join the group yet?
- How do parents hear about their child’s day?
- If I have a question after pickup, who can I contact?
For more practical tips on comparing childcare programs, read our guide on “How to Choose a Daycare in Fairfax, VA”.
There’s one more thing I always suggest. For a few minutes, stop looking at the classrooms. Watch the children instead.
Do they naturally walk over to their teachers? Do they bring them a drawing or ask for help without hesitation?
Young children don’t know how to pretend they’re comfortable. If they feel safe, you’ll usually notice it.
If you’re visiting several daycare centers in Fairfax, you’ll probably compare schedules, tuition, and programs. Those are all part of the decision.
But when you get home, ask yourself one simple question:
Where could I picture my child walking through the door with confidence?
Sometimes that’s the answer parents remember long after they’ve forgotten everything else from the tour.
If you’re still deciding when to start daycare or preschool, you may also enjoy our previous article, “Best Age to Start Preschool in Virginia”, where we talk about how children’s needs change as they grow.