10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Daycare in Regina

Choosing a daycare for your child is one of the most significant decisions a family makes. With your child spending potentially 40 or more hours per week in a care setting, the quality, safety, and culture of that environment matters enormously. Yet many parents report feeling unsure of what to ask when visiting facilities.

This guide provides 10 specific, evidence-informed questions to ask when evaluating daycare options in Regina, SK — along with what to look for in the answers.

1. Is This Facility Licensed by the Province of Saskatchewan?

This is the single most important question. Saskatchewan’s Child Care Act requires facilities operating as group childcare centres to hold a valid provincial license. Licensing means the facility has been inspected and approved by the Ministry of Education, meets regulated staff-to-child ratios, employs staff with required qualifications, and is subject to ongoing compliance oversight.

What to look for: A current license displayed visibly in the facility. You can also verify licensing status directly through the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education.

Unlicensed facilities operate outside this regulatory framework — there are no guaranteed inspections, ratio requirements, or staff qualification standards.

2. Is This Facility Registered as a CWELCC Participant?

Saskatchewan’s participation in the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care agreement has made licensed childcare significantly more affordable. However, the fee reduction only applies at facilities that have registered as CWELCC participants.

What to look for: Confirmation that the facility is a registered CWELCC participant and can provide the current reduced fee schedule. This should be straightforward information that any participating facility is prepared to share.

If a facility cannot clearly confirm CWELCC participation, the standard (unsubsidized) rates apply.

3. What Are Your Staff-to-Child Ratios?

Ratios determine how much individualized attention each child receives. Saskatchewan’s regulated maximum ratios are:

• Infants (0–18 months): 1:3
• Toddlers (18–36 months): 1:5
• Preschool (3–5 years): 1:10
• School-age (5–12 years): 1:15

What to look for: Not just the regulatory maximum, but the actual day-to-day ratio maintained. Some quality facilities operate at lower ratios than the provincial maximum. Also ask how the ratio is maintained when a staff member is absent (breaks, illness, training days) — the answer reveals a great deal about operational quality.

4. What Qualifications Do Your Staff Hold?

Staff qualifications are among the strongest predictors of childcare quality. In Saskatchewan, licensed facilities are required to have qualified ECE staff supervising programs. However, there is variation in the level of qualification across staff members within a facility.

What to look for: The qualification level of staff who work directly with your child’s age group — specifically whether they hold a recognized Early Childhood Education credential. Ask about ongoing professional development: do staff receive regular training in areas like child development, behaviour guidance, or First Aid?

5. What Is Your Curriculum or Program Approach?

Quality licensed programs are not simply supervision environments — they follow intentional curriculum frameworks designed to support child development. Ask what approach or philosophy guides programming.

What to look for: Evidence of intentional, developmentally appropriate programming — whether play-based, emergent, project-based, or a recognized curriculum framework. Red flags include vague answers (“we just play”) or over-emphasis on academic instruction inappropriate for the age group (worksheets and rote learning for toddlers, for example).

6. How Do You Handle Conflict, Challenging Behaviour, and Biting?

Conflict among young children — including biting, pushing, and hitting — is developmentally normal, particularly in the toddler years. The way a facility responds to these situations reveals its approach to child guidance and the values underlying the program.

What to look for: Responses that emphasize understanding the behaviour in developmental context, consistent guidance using language, problem-solving support, and parent communication. Avoid facilities that respond primarily with punitive measures (time-outs as the primary tool, isolation, or dismissive language about “bad behaviour”).

7. How Do You Communicate With Parents?

Parents need timely, accurate information about their child’s day — especially for infants and toddlers who cannot report for themselves. The communication practices of a facility are a practical indicator of its organizational quality.

What to look for: A clear system for daily parent communication — whether an app, written daily sheets, verbal handover at pickup, or a combination. Ask specifically: how will I know what my child ate, when they slept, what they did, and whether anything of concern happened during the day?

8. What Is Your Sick Child Policy?

Understanding the illness policy before enrollment avoids difficult situations later. Most licensed facilities require children to be kept home when symptomatic and have specific protocols for common conditions.

What to look for: A clear, written illness policy that specifies when children should be kept home (fever threshold, specific illness exclusions, required symptom-free period before return). Also ask: what happens if my child becomes ill during the day? How quickly are parents contacted, and what is the process for the child while waiting for pickup?

9. How Do You Manage the Transition Period for New Children?

The first days and weeks at a new daycare are often the most challenging — for children and parents alike. A quality facility has a thoughtful, documented approach to supporting this transition.

What to look for: A gradual settling-in process — often called a “transition period” or “settling-in visits” — where the child begins with short visits that extend progressively over the first week or two. Facilities with no formalized transition process, or that expect children to simply be dropped off for a full day from day one, often see more prolonged adjustment difficulties.

10. What Does a Typical Day Look Like for My Child’s Age Group?

The daily schedule reveals the actual lived experience of children in the facility — something that no marketing material or website will show you fully.

What to look for: A balance of structured and unstructured time, daily outdoor play, opportunities for rest, predictable meal and snack times, and age-appropriate activities. Ask to see the weekly schedule. For toddlers and preschool children, daily outdoor time is a positive indicator. For infants, ask about how individual schedules are accommodated.

One More Thing: Trust Your Instincts

After gathering factual information, the final assessment is often intuitive. When you walk into a facility:

• Do the children appear happy, engaged, and comfortable?
• Do the educators seem genuinely invested in the children — crouching to their level, talking warmly, responding quickly?
• Does the space feel clean, organized, and stimulating?
• Does the director or educator take time to answer your questions thoughtfully?

A facility that passes the factual checklist but doesn’t feel right on a gut level deserves further reflection. Conversely, a warm, engaged environment that ticks all the boxes both factually and intuitively is a strong candidate.

Evaluate Daisy Days Daycare — Visit Us in Regina

Daisy Days Daycare is a fully licensed, CWELCC-approved childcare facility in Regina, SK, operating since 2010. We welcome families to visit, ask questions, and observe our programs before making an enrollment decision.

View our programs to see our age-group offerings, or contact us to schedule a facility visit or check current enrollment availability.

FAQ

Q: How do I verify that a daycare in Saskatchewan is licensed?

A: You can request to see the facility’s current provincial license, which must be displayed on-site. You can also contact the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education to verify a facility’s licensing status.

Q: Should I visit more than one daycare before deciding?

A: Yes. Visiting multiple facilities allows you to compare and trust your comparative judgment rather than making a decision based on a single impression.