You walk into a preschool, and the walls are covered in colorful artwork, a giggle floats down the hallway, and everything smells faintly of fresh crayons and snack time. It feels lovely, but a warm first impression alone cannot tell you whether this is truly the right home away from home for your child.
That is where thoughtful exploration comes in. Knowing the right questions to ask during a preschool tour lets you look past the bright bulletin boards and see the true heart of a program. A tour gives you a rare window into daily life, and the best way to make the most of it is to come prepared, curious, and ready to evaluate what to look for before signing an enrollment agreement.
At Buttons 'n Bows, we have welcomed families through our doors for over 40 years, and we genuinely love it when parents arrive with a specific list of inquiries. It tells us you care deeply, and it gives us the chance to show you who we really are.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- Six meaningful questions that reveal a school's true character.
- What to listen for in each answer to compare schools fairly.
- How to trust both the objective facts and your own parental instincts when choosing.
Why a Preschool Tour Checklist Matters Before Choosing a School
A tour can pass in a blur. One moment you are shaking hands with the director, and the next you are back in your car trying to remember whether the classrooms felt calm or chaotic. When you visit several schools in a short window, the operational details blend together quickly.
That is exactly why utilizing a simple preschool tour checklist is so helpful. Writing down your targets ahead of time keeps you focused on what actually matters to your family, rather than getting swept up in the prettiest decor. It also gives you a fair way to evaluate each facility afterward, since you will have asked everyone the same core questions.
Think of your list as a quiet companion. It does not need to be long or formal. A handful of strong queries, paired with careful observation, will teach you more than an hour of small talk ever could.
The 6 Questions to Ask During a Preschool Tour in Utah
Below are the six questions we believe matter most for families choosing a preschool across our communities. For each one, we have shared what a thoughtful, developmentally sound answer sounds like, so you know what to listen for as you visit different programs.
1. What Does a Typical Day Look Like Here?
This is one of the gentlest ways to open a conversation, and it tells you an enormous amount. When you ask about the daily rhythm, you learn how the school balances structured learning with free play, when children eat and rest, and how much time they spend moving their bodies and exploring outdoors.
Listen for a clear, comfortable answer. A strong program can walk you through the morning arrival, circle time, hands-on activities, outdoor play, meals, and rest without hesitation. Routines give young children a sense of safety, so a predictable yet flexible schedule is a strong sign.
At our centers, we follow an intentional, play-based curriculum with clear developmental purposes, which means children build critical thinking, problem-solving, and social-emotional skills through hands-on experiences rather than long stretches of worksheets. If you ask about a typical day, you should hear warmth and specifics, not a vague shrug.
2. What Are Your Teachers' Qualifications and Training?
Even the most beautiful classroom is only as good as the adults inside it. These are the people who will comfort your child after a stumble, celebrate a first attempt at scissors, and notice when your little one is having a hard morning.
Ask what education and training the teachers have, and ask how the school supports them over time. A strong answer includes background in early childhood education, ongoing professional development, and clear safety training. You want to hear that teachers are prepared not only to teach, but also to respond calmly when a child needs help.
At Buttons 'n Bows, each of our teachers is comprehensively trained in CPR and first aid, along with developmentally appropriate practices for young children. When you ask this question, notice whether the school speaks about its teachers with genuine pride. The way a director talks about staff often reveals how well those educators are supported behind the scenes.
3. How Do You Keep Children Safe Throughout the Day?
Safety is the question that lives quietly in the back of every parent's mind, so it deserves a place near the top of your checklist. It covers much more than locked doors; it includes supervision ratios, secure pickup procedures, daily health practices, and how the team manages emergencies.
Look and listen at the same time here. Ask about entry procedures, how the school verifies who is authorized to pick up a child, and what happens during a medical situation. As you walk through the building, notice whether teachers are thoughtfully positioned throughout the play spaces and whether the physical environment is clean and meticulously maintained.
4. How Do You Handle Discipline and Big Feelings?
Three-year-olds and four-year-olds are learning how to share, wait, and manage frustration for the very first time, so social conflict is a natural part of the day. How a school guides children through those vulnerable moments says a great deal about its foundational values.
Listen for words like redirection, guidance, and social-emotional learning rather than language that sounds punitive or exclusionary. A nurturing program helps children name their feelings and find cooperative choices, treating each behavioral stumble as a chance to grow. You want to picture your child being met with patience, not shame.
This is also a lovely moment to ask how teachers support morning separation anxiety. A caring answer will include gentle transition strategies, comfort objects, and steady communication with home. When children feel emotionally safe, they are free to be curious and confident.
5. How Will You Communicate With Me?
You will not be in the classroom, so consistent communication becomes your window into your child's world. Strong updates turn a preschool from a place where you drop off your child into a true partner in raising them.
Ask how and how often you will hear from the school. Some programs share daily digital logs, photos, or app updates, while others rely on verbal conversations at pickup and scheduled parent-teacher conferences. There is no single right answer, but there should be a clear, consistent system that fits how you like to stay informed.
We believe parents are absolute partners in the learning process, so we keep our families connected through daily communication updates and interactive events throughout the year.
6. What Makes Your Program Feel Like a Second Home?
This final question is a little softer, and that is the point. After checking off the practical, structural details, you want to understand the true spirit of the place. What makes this school special, and why do families choose to stay for years?
Listen for an answer that reflects genuine care rather than a rehearsed sales pitch. You might hear about a close-knit community culture, a home-like setting, or the way teachers truly know each child's unique personality. The best answers feel deeply personal.
Our centers are intentionally designed to feel warm, safe, and welcoming. Our Holladay location sits in a cozy, beautifully converted residence that fosters a family-like atmosphere, while our Cottonwood Heights center offers its own vibrant sense of community. Because each location has its own distinct character, we invite you to visit and feel the difference in person.
What to Look for in a Preschool Beyond the Questions
Some of the most honest answers are the ones you observe rather than hear. As you walk through each classroom space, let your senses do a little quiet detective work alongside your questions:
- Eye-Level Interactions: Notice whether teachers kneel to speak with little ones at eye level or if they manage the room from a distance.
- Child-Led Art: Peek at the artwork displayed on the walls. When it looks joyfully imperfect and clearly child-made, you know genuine creativity is welcome there.
- Genuine Engagement: Watch whether the children look interested and active, and check if the rooms feel orderly without feeling rigid.
Pay attention to your own comfort, too. Do the staff members greet your child directly, and not just you? Does the director answer your questions with patience and confidence? A wonderful preschool will never make you feel like you are asking too much. We welcome every inquiry because we know that handing over your little one is a tremendous act of trust.
Trust the Facts, Then Trust Your Heart
When the tour ends, and you step back outside, pause for a moment before you drive away. Ask yourself how the visit felt inside. Could you picture your child laughing, learning, and napping happily in that space?
The structural questions above give you the essential facts, and those facts matter enormously. Yet the final decision often comes down to a quiet feeling of relief. A sense that this is the place. Give yourself permission to weigh both. Choosing a preschool is a heart-and-head decision, and the right school will satisfy both.
Come Find Your Child's Second Home at Buttons 'n Bows
We would love for you to bring these six questions straight to us. For more than 40 years, we have poured our hearts into creating joyful, nurturing spaces where children are seen, supported, and inspired. Our play-based approach turns everyday moments into meaningful discoveries; our educators are fully certified in CPR and first aid; and our family events keep parents woven into the fun all year long.
With two convenient Utah locations in Holladay and Cottonwood Heights, we offer warm, home-like environments designed to support your child through every stage of early childhood development.
Ask the hard questions. Look into the corners. Trust your instincts. When you are ready to see whether our classrooms are the right fit for your family, click here to schedule a tour at Buttons 'n Bows Preschool and let us answer every single question on your list in person!
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start touring preschools?
It helps to start early, since spots can fill quickly. Beginning your search a few months before you hope to enroll gives you ample time to visit several schools, ask your questions, and make a thoughtful choice without feeling rushed.
How many preschools should I tour before deciding?
There is no magic number, but visiting two or three programs usually gives you enough data to compare. Asking each school the same core questions from your checklist makes it much easier to weigh your options side by side afterward.
Can I tour Buttons 'n Bows before enrolling?
Yes, and we warmly encourage it! We love meeting new families, showing you around our learning spaces, and answering your questions in person. You can reach out to our team at any time to arrange an individual visit at either location.
What ages does Buttons 'n Bows serve?
We offer programs tailored for different stages of early childhood, from our youngest little ones through the pre-kindergarten years and beyond. Because age groups and room openings vary by location, we recommend checking availability at the center you are considering.
