A kindergarten tour usually looks like this: a beautifully decorated space, smiling teachers, children playing in the corner. Parents nod along, ask two or three questions about pricing and working hours — and make their decision based on first impressions.
The problem is that first impressions can be deceiving. The color of the walls and the decorations tell you nothing about what happens when a child cries during adaptation, who covers for a teacher when they’re sick, or how the kindergarten resolves conflicts between children.
These 15 questions are what you should really be asking.
About the Teachers and the Team
1. How many children are in a group, and how many teachers work with that group?
This may be the most important question of all. The child-to-teacher ratio directly determines how much attention your child can receive. For nursery age (up to 3 years), the recommended maximum is 5–6 children per teacher. For preschool age — up to 10–12. If they tell you one teacher looks after 15 children — that’s a clear red flag.
2. What is the staff turnover rate — do the same people stay longer than a year?
Children build attachments to their teachers. Frequent staff changes directly undermine a child’s sense of security, especially in younger children. If the kindergarten replaces half its team every year — ask why.
3. What is the teachers’ education and experience?
Formal education matters, but experience working with children of different temperaments says far more. Also ask whether the teachers attend additional training and professional development.
4. Who covers for a teacher when they’re sick or on leave?
In smaller kindergartens, this is a practical question many parents forget to ask. A substitute the child doesn’t know can be stressful — especially for younger children or those still in the adaptation period.
About the Program and Daily Schedule
5. What does a typical day look like?
Ask for a specific answer, not a general one. What time is breakfast, when is free play, when are organized activities, when do children go outside, when are lunch and nap time? A structured, predictable day gives children a sense of security — a chaotic schedule is stressful.
6. How much time do children spend outdoors each day?
Physical activity and fresh air are not a luxury — they are a developmental need. If the answer is “it depends on the weather” and that means children stay inside at the first sign of a cloud — that’s not a good sign.
7. What is the kindergarten’s philosophy on free play versus organized activities?
Both approaches have their place. The question is whether the kindergarten understands why it does what it does — or simply “does it that way.” A kindergarten with a clear pedagogical concept (Montessori, Reggio Emilia, a traditional preschool program) will be able to explain its choices.
8. Is there an English language program — and how is it delivered?
There’s a big difference between a kindergarten where children learn English through songs, play, and everyday communication with a teacher — and one where the child sits at a table once a week repeating words. Ask whether English is integrated into the day or is a separate activity.
About the Space and Safety
9. What does the outdoor play area look like, and how safe is it?
The yard or terrace, fencing, the surface beneath play equipment — these are not details, they are basic safety. Also ask who supervises the children outdoors and how many adults are present.
10. What are the procedures in case of injury or sudden illness?
A serious kindergarten has a clear protocol: who calls the parent, at what point, and what is done in the meantime. If you get a vague answer — that tells you something about the organization.
11. Who is allowed to pick up the child, and how does the kindergarten control this?
Pick-up security procedures are something many parents don’t ask about — but should. Does the kindergarten know who is authorized to collect the child? What happens if someone unfamiliar to the staff shows up?
About Adaptation and Communication
12. What does the adaptation process look like at your kindergarten?
Good adaptation is gradual — first shorter stays with a parent, then without the parent, then full days. A kindergarten that says “they cry for the first three days, then they stop” doesn’t understand what adaptation is. Ask how long it lasts, who is involved, and whether it is tailored to each child’s needs.
13. How do teachers communicate with parents?
Daily updates, an app, informal chats at pick-up, formal parent meetings — all of these models exist. Ask what the kindergarten offers and how well informed you’ll be about what happens during the day.
About Food and Everyday Needs
14. Who prepares the food, and is the menu available to parents?
Does the kindergarten have its own kitchen, or is food delivered? Is the menu varied? Can meals be adapted for children with allergies or special dietary requirements? These are practical questions that directly affect your child’s daily life.
15. What is the kindergarten’s policy when a child is sick?
Every serious kindergarten has a clear answer: a child with a fever or a contagious illness stays home, and this applies to all children equally. A kindergarten that doesn’t have this rule — or doesn’t enforce it consistently — will expose your child to unnecessary infections.
Bonus: The Question Many Parents Forget to Ask
“Can we visit the kindergarten during a regular working day — unannounced?”
The answer to this question tells you a lot. A kindergarten with nothing to hide will say yes. A kindergarten that hesitates or insists you schedule a visit in advance — it’s worth asking yourself why.
What to Do With the Answers You Get
No kindergarten will have a perfect answer to every question. What you should pay attention to is:
- Does the person answering actually know what they’re talking about — or are they telling you what you want to hear?
- Do the answers sound concrete — or general and vague?
- Do you feel welcome to ask — or are they making you feel like you’re asking too many questions?
The kindergarten where your child will spend a large part of their early childhood deserves a thorough check. Parents who ask questions aren’t a nuisance — they’re responsible.