Sample Interview Questions
Some questions you may want to ask are:
- What made you decide to provide child care as a business?
- What are your fees and hours?
- What is a typical day in your home like for a child?
- Are there other adults in the home who will be in contact with my child? Who are they, and what type of contact will they have?
- How many children do you care for at one time? Do you accept children on a part time basis as well as full time?
- What experience do you have with children right now? Practical and educational experience combine to create a loving, nurturing, adult.
- Do you care for other children right now? Could I have the names of two families, so that I may speak to them about their experiences while their child or children are in your care?
- Do you have a Criminal Reference Check? If not, would you agree to obtain one as a condition of employment?
- Do you or any member of your family smoke in the family home?
- Do you have a back-up caregiver in case of your illness, or should the family have a back-up who is prepared to step in with very short notice? If you do, would I have the opportunity to meet this person?
- Do you have policies regarding ill children, late pick-up, etc.?
- How do you feel about unscheduled visits to your home if my child is in care here?
- Do you have a method of communicating with the parents? i.e. child's day, upcoming events, vacation schedules, new child in program
- How is discipline handled in your home?
- Will my infant get held when he/she is being fed a bottle?
- Is there lots of room for exploring, jumping, outside play? Is your yard fenced? Do the children go outside each day, weather permitting?
- Can your day be flexible, depending on the weather or the children's needs?
- Do you feel you will stay with this profession for at least a year, or do you plan on looking for work outside the home?
- Are you a member of the Home Child Care Network? If not, would you be interested in becoming a part of their network?