• Will my child be supervised?
• Are children watched at all times, including when they are sleeping?
• Are adults warm and welcoming? Do they pay individual attention to each child?
• Are positive guidance techniques used? Do adults avoid negative punishments?
• Are the caregiver/teacher-to-child ratios appropriate and do they follow the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) guidelines?

Number of Caregivers	Child Care Center	Family Child Care
One caregiver per	4 infants	2 infants
One caregiver per	7 toddlers	4 toddlers
One caregiver per	10 preschoolers	4 preschoolers
One caregiver per	15 school-agers	4 school-agers

• Is this a safe and healthy place for my child?
• Do adults and children wash their hands (after using the bathroom, changing diapers, eating, etc.)?
• Are diaper-changing surfaces cleaned and disinfected after each use?
• Do all of the children enrolled have the required immunizations, or the appropriate immunization exemption paperwork on file?
• Are medicines labeled and locked?
• Do adults keep records of medications?
• Are cleaning supplies and other poisonous materials locked up, out of children’s reach?
• Is there a plan to follow if a child is injured, sick or lost?
• Are first aid kits readily available?
• Is there a plan for responding to disasters (fire, flood, etc.)?
• Has a satisfactory criminal history background check been conducted on each adult present? Was the check based on fingerprints?
• Have all the adults who are left alone with children had background and criminal screenings?
• Is the outdoor play area a safe place for children to play?
• Is it checked each morning for hazards before children use it?
• Is the equipment the right size and type for the age of the children who use it?
• Is the playground area surrounded by a fence at least 4 ft. tall?
• Is the equipment placed on ground cover that will absorb a fall, such as cedar chips, pea gravel, or rubber-like material?
• Is the equipment in good and safe condition?
• Is the number of children per adult in each group limited?

Child Care Center	Family Child Care
8 infants	6 children ages 0–12
14 toddlers	8 children ages 2–12
20 preschoolers
30 school-agers

• Is the program well managed?
• Does the program have the highest level of licensing offered by the state?
• Are there written personnel policies and job descriptions?
• Are parents/families and staff asked to evaluate the program?
• Are staff members evaluated each year; do providers do a self-assessment?
• Is there a written annual training plan for staff professional development?
• Is the program evaluated each year by someone outside the program?
• Is the program accredited by a national organization?
• Does the program work with parents/families?
• Will I be welcome any time my child is in care?
• Is parents’/families’ feedback sought & used in making program improvements?
• Will I be given a copy of the program’s policies and procedures manual?
• Are annual conferences held with parents/families?
• Have the adults been trained to care for children?
• In a center, does the director have a degree and some experience in caring for children?
• Do the teachers have a CDA (Child Development Associate) credential or Associate’s degree and experience in caring for children?
• If a family child care home, has the provider had specific training on children’s development and experience caring for children?
• Is there always someone present who has current CPR and first aid training?
• Are the adults up to date on their initial 20-hour STARS training and do they continue to receive training on caring for children?
• Have the adults been trained on child abuse prevention and how to report suspected cases?
• Will my child be able to grow and learn?
• For older children, are there specific areas for different kinds of play, such as books, blocks, puzzles, art, etc.?
• For infants and toddlers, are there toys that “do something” when the child plays with them?
• Is the play space organized and are materials easy-to-use? Are some materials available at all times?
• Are there daily or weekly activity plans available? Have the adults planned experiences for the children to enjoy? Will the activities help children learn?
• Do the adults talk with the children during the day? Do they engage them in conversations? Ask questions, when appropriate?
• Do the adults read to children at least twice a day or encourage them to read, if they can read?

Printable Version of Checklist