Picking a daycare is one of the first big decisions you make for your child, and it can feel like a lot. You are trusting someone else with the most important person in your life for up to 50 hours a week. The good news is that you do not need to be an early childhood expert to make a great choice. You just need to know what to look for and which questions to ask.
This guide walks Casa Grande families through the process step by step. It covers how to check a center's license, the 12 questions worth asking on every tour, and the small details that tell you more than any brochure. Whether you live near downtown, out toward Arizona City, or commute from Eloy, Coolidge or Maricopa, the same checklist applies.
Start With Licensing and Inspection History
Every child care center in Arizona must be licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). A license means the center has met state rules for staffing, background checks, health practices, building safety and teacher training. It is the floor, not the ceiling, but it is the place to start.
Before you schedule a single tour, look up each center on AZ Care Check, the free state database run by ADHS. You can search by name or address and see a facility's license status, inspection reports and any enforcement actions. Read the reports rather than just the headline. A minor paperwork note is very different from a repeated supervision issue.
Centers are also required to make their inspection reports available to parents on request. A good center will hand them over without hesitation. Nanny's Daycare & Preschool is licensed by ADHS under license number CDC-15619, and you can read more on our licensing and accreditations page.
12 Questions to Ask on Every Daycare Tour
Bring this list with you, or print our daycare tour checklist so you can take notes side by side. Ask every center the same questions so you can compare fairly afterward.
1. What are your teacher-to-child ratios for my child's age?
Ratios matter more than almost anything else, especially for babies and toddlers. Fewer children per teacher means more one-on-one attention, faster responses to cries, and safer supervision. At Nanny's we staff our rooms at or better than Arizona requirements: 1 teacher for every 5 infants, 1 for every 6 toddlers, 1 for every 8 twos, 1 for every 13 threes and 1 for every 15 Pre-K children. Ask how ratios are kept during naps, lunch breaks and the end of the day, when many centers are stretched thin.
2. How long have your teachers been here?
Teacher turnover is hard on young children, who bond with the adults who care for them. Ask how long the lead teacher in your child's room has been at the center and what training staff complete each year. Consistent, familiar faces are a strong sign of a healthy workplace and a happy classroom.
3. How do you screen staff?
Arizona requires fingerprint clearance cards for child care staff. Ask whether every adult in the building, including cooks, drivers and volunteers, has cleared a background check before working around children.
4. Who can enter the building, and how?
Look for controlled entry, a sign-in process for visitors, and a clear policy for who can pick up your child. Ask what happens if someone not on your authorized list shows up. Our health and safety page explains the controlled access entry, security cameras and visitor procedures we use at our Cottonwood Lane center.
5. What does a typical day look like?
Young children thrive on routine. Ask to see the daily schedule for your child's room. You want to hear about a healthy balance of active play, quiet time, meals, outdoor time, rest and learning activities that fit the age group. A schedule posted on the wall that matches what you see happening in the room is a great sign.
6. What curriculum do you use?
Even infants benefit from an intentional approach to learning. Ask how the center builds language, early math, social skills and motor skills at each age. Look for hands-on, play-based learning rather than worksheets for toddlers. You can read about our approach on the curriculum page.
7. What meals and snacks do you provide?
Find out whether meals are included or packed from home, how menus are planned, and how allergies are handled. At Nanny's, breakfast, lunch and two snacks are included every day, prepared fresh and planned to meet USDA nutrition guidelines. Our meals and nutrition page has the details.
8. How do you handle illness and medication?
Ask about the sick policy, how long a child must be fever free before returning, and how medication is stored and given. Clear, written policies protect every child in the room, including yours.
9. How do you guide behavior?
Good answers focus on redirection, modeling and teaching children how to solve problems. Be cautious if you hear words like punishment or long time-outs for toddlers.
10. How will you keep me updated?
Ask how teachers share news about naps, meals, diapers, milestones and any concerns. Many families love daily photos and quick notes. Also ask whether parents can visit during the day. We keep an open door for our families.
11. What are your hours, closures and costs?
Confirm the hours fit your commute, especially if you drive to Phoenix or Tucson. Ask about holiday closures, late pickup fees, registration fees and how tuition is billed. Nanny's is open Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, which works well for early shifts and longer drives.
12. Do you accept DES child care assistance?
Many Pinal County families qualify for child care assistance through the Arizona Department of Economic Security. If cost is a concern, ask whether the center accepts DES and whether staff can help with paperwork. We do both, and our financial assistance page explains other options like dependent care FSAs and sibling discounts.
What to Watch For While You Tour
Answers are only half the story. Pay attention to what you see and hear while you walk through the building.
- Teachers on the floor. Are they sitting with children, talking and playing, or standing back and watching the clock?
- Happy noise. A good classroom is rarely silent. You want to hear busy, engaged children, not constant crying or yelling.
- Clean but lived in. Look for clean floors, bathrooms and diapering areas, plus artwork on the walls that shows real children spend time there.
- Safe sleep for babies. Infants should sleep on their backs in cribs with nothing else in them.
- Shade and water outside. In Casa Grande, the playground setup matters most of the year. Look for shade structures and easy access to water.
- How your child reacts. If you bring your little one, notice how teachers greet them. Warm, patient staff are worth more than any feature list.
Red Flags That Should Give You Pause
- The center hesitates to show you inspection reports or a specific classroom.
- Staff cannot tell you the ratio for your child's room.
- Doors are propped open or no one asks who you are when you walk in.
- Several different teachers have cycled through the same room in a short time.
- Parents are discouraged from dropping in.
Compare Your Options, Then Trust Your Gut
After your tours, sit down with your notes the same day while the details are fresh. Compare licensing history, ratios, hours, cost and how each place felt. Then trust your instincts. The right daycare is the one where you can picture your child laughing, learning and feeling safe, and where you can drive to work without that knot in your stomach.
When you are ready to move forward, our how to enroll page walks through each step, and the first day checklist helps you pack and prepare.
See Nanny's Daycare & Preschool for Yourself
We care for children from 6 weeks to 12 years old at 306 E Cottonwood Ln in Casa Grande, with programs for infants, toddlers, twos, threes, Pre-K and school-age children. Bring this list of questions and ask us anything. Schedule a tour online or call (520) 421-1501. We would love to meet your family.
Written by the teaching team at Nanny's Daycare & Preschool, a licensed child care center (ADHS license CDC-15619) at 306 E Cottonwood Ln, Casa Grande, AZ 85122. This article is general information and not medical advice.
