You’re visiting daycares in Coquitlam, touring rooms, smiling at staff, and still not sure how to compare them. The problem is that every centre looks fine on the surface and sounds similar on their website. The right questions — asked directly — separate programs that are genuinely built for your child from those that are competently administered but not exceptional. Here are 10 questions that give you real signal, plus what strong and weak answers look like.
Question 1: What Is Your Current Caregiver-to-Child Ratio in My Child’s Room?
What a strong answer sounds like: “In the infant room we maintain 1:3 — below the regulated maximum of 1:4.” A centre that quotes the regulation maximum as their actual ratio is telling you they staff to compliance, not to quality.
Why it matters: Ratio is the single most reliable proxy for individualized care. A caregiver managing 4 infants cannot respond as consistently or warmly as one managing 3. In a Coquitlam licensed group care setting, the regulated maximum for infants under 12 months is 1:4 and for toddlers under 36 months is 1:4. Ask what they actually run — not what they’re allowed to run.
Question 2: What Credentials Does the Lead Educator in My Child’s Room Hold?
What a strong answer sounds like: “Our infant room lead holds an ECE Level 3 diploma with an Infant/Toddler Certificate from Douglas College.”
Why it matters: BC licensing requires that licensed group care facilities employ at least one certified ECE. It does not require that all caregivers are ECE-certified, and it does not specify that the primary room educator holds an Infant/Toddler Certificate. The Infant/Toddler Certificate is a specialized qualification — ask for it specifically.
Question 3: What Happens When a Caregiver Is Sick?
What a strong answer sounds like: “We have a relief staff list and a backup staffing protocol. Parents are never called to pick up early because of staff illness.”
Why it matters: This is the question that separates well-managed facilities from under-resourced ones. A centre without backup staffing will call you when someone is sick. For a working parent, unexpected daycare closure is a career event, not an inconvenience. Ask this before Day 1.
Question 4: How Do You Communicate With Parents During the Day?
What a strong answer sounds like: “We use an app that sends daily updates including feeding times, nap duration, diaper changes, activities, and photos. You’ll hear from us every day.”
Why it matters: For an infant under 12 months, parents have zero information about how their child is doing unless the centre actively communicates it. “Call if you’re worried” is not a communication system — it puts the burden on the parent and provides nothing proactively.
Question 5: Walk Me Through a Typical Day for My Child’s Age Group
What a strong answer sounds like: Specific — timed activities, named routines, named educators, description of how individual schedules are accommodated within the group structure.
What a weak answer sounds like: “We do arts and crafts, outdoor play, and group activities.” This tells you nothing about whether the programme is developmentally designed for your child’s specific age.
Question 6: How Do You Handle Emotional Outbursts and Tantrums?
What a strong answer sounds like: “We use co-regulation. We stay calm, get down to the child’s level, name the emotion, and offer comfort. We never use time-outs for toddlers.”
Why it matters: Children under 3 years old cannot regulate emotions independently. The brain regions responsible for emotional regulation are not yet developed. Any discipline approach that isolates, ignores, or punishes emotional outbursts in children under 3 is developmentally inappropriate. This is a non-negotiable for quality toddler care.
Question 7: Do Children Go Outside Every Day?
What a strong answer sounds like: “Yes — daily outdoor time is part of our programme regardless of season. We have appropriate outdoor clothing and gear.”
Why it matters: BC’s Early Learning Framework identifies outdoor and nature-based play as essential, not optional. A centre that only goes outside in good weather is skipping a core developmental component. Coquitlam gets rain — ask specifically how they handle outdoor time in wet weather.
Question 8: Can I Verify Your Licence Through the Province of BC?
What a strong answer sounds like: “Yes — here’s our licence number and the facility type. You can look us up on the BC childcare licensing portal.”
Why it matters: A licensed facility has no reason to hesitate on this question. Any evasiveness about licence verification — “we’re in the process of renewing” or “we’re licensed through a different category” — is a warning signal. Verify independently before enrolling.
Question 9: Do You Accept the BC Affordable Child Care Benefit?
What a strong answer sounds like: “Yes. We’re licensed group care — all eligible families can apply for the ACCB and the benefit is applied directly to your monthly invoice.”
Why it matters: For families who qualify, the BC Childcare Subsidy can reduce monthly daycare fees by hundreds of dollars. All licensed group care centres in Coquitlam are eligible care types under the program. A centre that says they “don’t do the subsidy” may have an administrative or licensing issue worth investigating before you enroll.
Question 10: What Is Your Current Waitlist for My Child’s Age, and When Is Your Next Expected Opening?
What a strong answer sounds like: “We currently have a 4-month waitlist for the infant room. Our next opening is expected in October when a child ages out of the group. Would you like to be added?”
Why it matters: This is the question parents ask last but should ask first. Coquitlam infant and toddler daycare waitlists run 6–18 months at established centres. Knowing the realistic timeline upfront lets you plan properly — and join multiple waitlists simultaneously rather than waiting for one response.
“The parents who tour our centre and ask all these questions — especially the ones about staffing backup and how we handle tantrums — are the families who end up being the most satisfied. They know what they chose and why. The ones who enroll based on proximity and price alone are sometimes surprised by what licensed group care for infants and toddlers actually looks like day-to-day. These questions close that gap.”
— Zoe Harrington, RECE, Director, Smiling Kids Childcare Centre Ltd
Frequently Asked Questions — Enrolling in Coquitlam Daycare
What documents do I need to enroll my child in daycare in Coquitlam?
Most licensed daycares in Coquitlam require a completed enrollment application, your child’s BC Services Card or birth certificate, immunization records, emergency contact information, and health and allergy information. Some facilities also request a physician’s letter for any chronic health conditions. Ask the specific centre for their enrollment package — requirements vary slightly between facilities.
How long does the enrollment process take at a Coquitlam licensed daycare?
Once a spot is confirmed, enrollment paperwork typically takes 1–2 weeks to complete. After that, most licensed centres schedule a pre-enrollment visit and a graduated start (short first days that build to full days over 1–2 weeks). Factor 3–4 weeks from confirmed spot to full enrollment when planning your return-to-work timeline.
Can I tour a Coquitlam daycare without committing to a waitlist?
Yes — most licensed daycares in Coquitlam will schedule a tour with no commitment. A tour is the only way to accurately assess whether a centre’s physical environment, staff, and programme match what their website describes. Always tour before joining a waitlist. A spot on a waitlist you haven’t visited is not a useful position.
To book a tour at Smiling Kids Childcare Centre in Coquitlam — licensed infant and toddler care at 1380 Coast Meridian Road and 1467 Hockaday Street — call 604-600-4393. We’ll answer all 10 of these questions on the tour.
Ask These Questions at Smiling Kids
We welcome every question on this list. Smiling Kids Childcare Centre is a BC-licensed infant and toddler daycare in Coquitlam. Tour our infant daycare (6–18 months) or toddler daycare (18 months–3 years) programme. We serve families from Burke Mountain, Westwood Plateau, and Port Coquitlam. Book a visit — 604-600-4393.
