What role should outdoor play and interaction with other toddlers have in a child's playtime experience?

"I think exposing children to nature and teaching them how to play together is so important in a child's development. The more you teach kindness, patience and sharing at a young age, the more easily they will be able to practice those skills as they get older. I like to take kids on nature walks to teach them about trees and plants, educating them about how to be gentle with the earth just as they are gentle with one another."

"I think exposing children to nature and teaching them how to play together is so important in a child's development. The more you teach kindness, patience and sharing at a young age, the more easily they will be able to practice those skills as they get older. I like to take kids on nature walks to teach them about trees and plants, educating them about how to be gentle with the earth just as they are gentle with one another." Before you share your opinion, make sure you are clear on the parent or the child care supervisor's philosophy. They may have a specific routine they follow each day to give the kids exposure to nature and learn about cooperation. You can talk about activities that encourage sharing and learning to play together outside! You can give suggestions for games you think the kids would enjoy, like red light green light, red rover or big booty! There are so many ways to enjoy the outdoors and play together!

Do you have any experience with children with special needs?

Find out if there are any kids in the group with a particular special need. Ask questions to make sure you understand how you can be the most supportive. If you have experience, give an example that shows how you were sensitive to the child's needs and how you worked with the parent to make sure that they were comfortable and engaged in activities. It's important to understand the needs of your children, whether it is a particular dietary restriction or a developmental disability. Share how you are aware that every child is different and you are flexible to meet their needs.

What is your comfort level with cooking and preparing meals for kids?

"I am very comfortable with cooking for other people. I even enjoy preparing meals for my family and friends in my spare time!"

As a nanny or a babysitter, you may be asked to cook or prepare meals for the kids or even for the entire family. If you have experience and you enjoy cooking, tell the interviewer, "I am very comfortable with cooking for other people. I even enjoy preparing meals for my family and friends in my spare time!" Find out what they like to eat and if there are any dietary restrictions or food allergies. If you are new to cooking, explain to the interviewer that even though you are limited in your experience, you are looking forward to learning and you are confident that you will pick it up quickly!

"I am very comfortable making meal preparations for the kids I've baby-sat for. I feel totally comfortable with meal preparation."

If hired here, how does this child care position fit into your career path?

"I want to become a Montessori teacher. My goal is to get a job work with elementary school kids and integrating my experience of teaching yoga with our daily activities."

"I want to become a Montessori teacher. My goal is to get a job work with elementary school kids and integrating my experience of teaching yoga with our daily activities."If you're not quite sure where this job will lead you, that's okay! The interviewer simply wants to hear about your goals. They want to know that you are thinking about the future. Maybe you want to become a teacher. Perhaps you want to be the director of an after-school care program. There are so many options with child care! Take some time to reflect on your goals, thinking about how the skills you will learn in this new job will help you get to the next phase of your career.

"eventually plan to go to school for either early childhood education or to become a K-2 teacher. I think this would be an awesome experience."

"My goal is to get a job working with children to not only help them meet their developmental milestones and growing skills but to also help improve my own experience working with children so one day I could eventually become a fully qualified childcare employee."

Tell me about your experience working with kids.

"I have worked with children of all ages, from newborns to teenagers. When I was twelve I started babysitting, and I always enjoyed playing with the kids. I learned about the importance of routine and was very respectful towards the parents' wishes, making dinner, reading to the kids and getting them to bed on time. I babysat for five years and then became a nanny in college. I also volunteered as a youth leader at my church and worked with the Junior High girls. I enjoy facilitating games and playing with kids of all ages. Now I teach kids yoga!"

"I have worked with children of all ages, from newborns to teenagers. When I was twelve I started babysitting, and I always enjoyed playing with the kids. I learned about the importance of routine and was very respectful towards the parents' wishes, making dinner, reading to the kids and getting them to bed on time. I babysat for five years and then became a nanny in college. I also volunteered as a youth leader at my church and worked with the Junior High girls. I enjoy facilitating games and playing with kids of all ages. Now I teach kids yoga!" Provide a brief overview of your experience to give the interviewer a glimpse of the work you have done with kids. If you have been working in child care for 10 years, summarize your experience and mention a few highlights that are relevant to the position you are interviewing for. If you are limited in your experience, offer a couple of examples from babysitting, substitute teaching, or volunteering.

"My experience working with kids has been great, actually! I love it."

"My experience working with kids so far has been great. I love it. Although it is a challenging job, it also has its benefits. Working with children teaches you patience, and the children can give you a new perspective on life. Sometimes they can also make you great at explaining things."

Are you willing to work evenings, weekends or overnight shifts?

"Yes! I am happy to work whenever you need me!"

Child care positions often require you to work weekends and evenings, especially nanny positions. Make sure you know your availability before you commit to a set schedule! If you have open availability, you can tell the interviewer, "Yes! I am happy to work whenever you need me!" If you have a few things on your schedule and you're not sure how this new job might affect those obligations, tell the interviewer, "I am flexible and happy to work when you need me, but I do have a few other weekly obligations. Which evenings and weekends do you need me? How often will you need me overnight?" It is much better to ask questions up front than to commit yourself and have to flake out later on down the line. Bring your updated calendar or day-planner with you to the interview to show that you are organized and reliable.

"Yes, of course, I'm up for anything."

"Yes, I am happy to work whenever you need me. Could you share with me the shift details and other potential expectations?"

How do you voice your concerns to parents when unexpected issues arise?

"I think it's important for everyone to be on the same page, so I am open and direct in my communication with parents. I share my observations and ask questions to find out if there is something going on at home that could be affecting the child's behavior. I treat my relationship with the parents like we are a team, asking what we can all do together in order to help the child be successful."

"I think it's important for everyone to be on the same page, so I am open and direct in my communication with parents. I share my observations and ask questions to find out if there is something going on at home that could be affecting the child's behavior. I treat my relationship with the parents like we are a team, asking what we can all do together in order to help the child be successful."Dealing with parents can be tricky! It's important for you to communicate any odd behaviors or observations for the child's well-being. Explain how you would discuss these topics with a parent, either through sending an email or speaking to them directly. You want the interviewer to know that you have the child's best interest at heart.

"I am always open with my communication. I think it is important for everyone to be on the same page. I ask parents if anything is going on at home that could cause the child's behavior. I treat my relationship with the parents like we are a team."

How do you feel about supervising over five children at a time?

"I feel great about it! I know it can be a challenge, but I am excited to learn more skills that will help me improve my skills!"

If you have any classroom experience, you know the challenges of supervising large groups of kids! If the job requires you to manage large groups of children, tell the interviewer, "I feel great about it! I know it can be a challenge, but I am excited to learn more skills that will help me improve my skills!" If you're still feeling a little uneasy about it, ask more questions! Find out what the expectations are and if you will have any support from another child care provider.

"I feel great about it, although I know it can be challenging, I am excited to learn more skills while also improving my skills further."

Tell me about your experience with tutoring or assisting with homework.

If you have experience give an example. Maybe you tutored a seven-year-old in basic math. Talk about how you were able to assist them. Share your teaching style and how it has been effective. Parents and child care supervisors want to hear about results. If you have experience in these areas, talk about how you helped the child get an "A" on the test or how you helped them get to a point where they no longer needed your assistance because they understood the material so well.

For children over the ages of five, what are your feelings about outdoor play without direct supervision?

Self-guided play is becoming more and more popular. As kids learn to calm themselves and play nicely with one another, they are more capable of playing on their own. Now, depending on who you are interviewing with, they may not feel comfortable with you letting the kids play on their own at such a young age. However, there are ways you can supervise from afar, like when you are watching kids play on the playground. You can still be present while allowing kids to play on their own. You may want to explain that you feel most comfortable being in the same room while the five-year-olds play. Maybe you aren't involved with the activity, but you are still available in case they need your help.

"As children get older, they learn to calm themselves and can play around other children, so they can be left to play on their own with minimal supervision. I am comfortable letting children over the age of five play on the playground without supervision. However, I would also make sure that I or someone else can see them from afar in case of an emergency."

Describe ways you can turn everyday household activities into a fun activity for children?

"I like to turn chores into fun games by singing a song about it. The "

"I like to turn chores into fun games by singing a song about it. The "Clean Up Song" is a great way to make picking up toys a fun activity. We also sometimes make it a race where I will set the timer and whoever finishes cleaning up the fastest gets a prize. We keep a chore list on the wall and every time the kids complete one, they get a gold start. At the end of the week, if they have completed their chores we get to have a candy or ice cream snack."There are so many ways to make chores fun! Whether you make up a song about it or create a rewards-based system, children will enjoy completing their chores when you turn it into something fun. Share how you motivate kids to do their chores.

What television shows do you feel are appropriate for children of ages 3-5?

Shows like Dora the Explorer, Sesame Street and Thomas the Tank Engine are all shows that would be appropriate for this age group. You also want to stress that you limit TV time as much as you can in order to keep the kids busy with fun activities and playing outdoors. When TV is an option, share that you like to show kids educational shows that will help enhance their learning experience.

How would you react to a toddler who was not responsive when you told them to do something?

Picture yourself driving in the car with two toddlers in the back seat. One of them has been throwing toys at you and the other is screaming that he wants his pacifier. When you told one kid to stop throwing toys, he wouldn't stop and you can't safely find the pacifier without taking your eyes off the road. You may not be able to discipline the one child until you get home, but you can still say something to get their attention. Discipline can be so difficult, especially in situations where you have limited authority or when you're in the middle of doing something important that requires your full attention. Before you threaten to take away a privilege, you may want to try counting to three in a very stern voice, letting the child know what the consequences are if they don't do as you ask. Explain how you would handle the situation based on your experience.

What was your most difficult babysitting experience? How did you overcome it?

"My most difficult babysitting experience was when an 8-year-old thought it would be funny to play with a knife by chasing me around the kitchen. Even thought it was a scary experience at first, I took control of the situation by speaking firmly and threatening to call the child's parents. I could tell the kid had excess energy, so after I grabbed the knife out of his hands, we went outside to ride bikes and play some basketball."

"My most difficult babysitting experience was when an 8-year-old thought it would be funny to play with a knife by chasing me around the kitchen. Even thought it was a scary experience at first, I took control of the situation by speaking firmly and threatening to call the child's parents. I could tell the kid had excess energy, so after I grabbed the knife out of his hands, we went outside to ride bikes and play some basketball."You never know what might happen next when you're babysitting for a new family! It's important to always exercise your control in situations, even when a child is acting out. Demonstrate your ability to stay calm and make rational decisions in difficult circumstances.

"One time when I was babysitting, one of the children became distressed and started throwing blocks at me. I firmly told him that if he didn't stop throwing stuff, I would call his parents, which eventually made him put the blocks down. I could tell that he had a lot of energy left in him, so I took him outside to play games with him."

How have you approached toilet training in the past?

"I would make a habit of asking the child every hour if he needed to use the bathroom. Often times kids get so used to diapers that they forget they have to go until its too late. I would take them to the bathroom to check to see if they needed to pee if they weren't sure. I tried to help them get more comfortable with the idea of sitting on the toilet. I even bribed them with gummy bears so that they knew every time they went to the bathroom, they would get rewarded. This worked extremely well!"

"I would make a habit of asking the child every hour if he needed to use the bathroom. Often times kids get so used to diapers that they forget they have to go until its too late. I would take them to the bathroom to check to see if they needed to pee if they weren't sure. I tried to help them get more comfortable with the idea of sitting on the toilet. I even bribed them with gummy bears so that they knew every time they went to the bathroom, they would get rewarded. This worked extremely well!"If you have experience with potty training, talk about what you have found the most helpful. If you haven't done potty training on your own, talk about kids you worked with who were learning to use the bathroom and how you supported them as they learned.

How would you handle a temper tantrum in a grocery store?

"If a child had a temper tantrum because I told them they couldn't buy something, I would stay firm in my decision and let them cry. It can be difficult, especially when they're not your own children, but sometimes you just have to let them cry it out. If it was really bad, I might try to calm them down by reminding them we only have five minutes before we are on our way home and then they can watch their favorite TV show."

"If a child had a temper tantrum because I told them they couldn't buy something, I would stay firm in my decision and let them cry. It can be difficult, especially when they're not your own children, but sometimes you just have to let them cry it out. If it was really bad, I might try to calm them down by reminding them we only have five minutes before we are on our way home and then they can watch their favorite TV show."Temper tantrums are never easy! Share how you would handle the situation in the most patient and relaxed manner.

"I would try to calm and comfort the kid and maybe let them know if they don't cooperate, they won't be able to play with friends for a few days."

What activities do you typically facilitate when working with toddlers?

"We usually build with blocks and legos. The kids really enjoy arts and crafts, so we will make a different craft each time we meet. We made edible play dough out of peanut butter last week and then we made sculptures out of the dough. We also do a lot of reading out loud."

"We usually build with blocks and legos. The kids really enjoy arts and crafts, so we will make a different craft each time we meet. We made edible play dough out of peanut butter last week and then we made sculptures out of the dough. We also do a lot of reading out loud." Share some activities you like to do with toddlers. Keep the activities age appropriate and relevant to the job. If you are interviewing at a daycare, think of activities you can play in groups, like games and crafts. If you will be doing child care for a family, you may want to ask about the kids first. You can recommend much better activities when you know more about what the kids enjoy.

"Definitely something that will keep them active while also keeping their minds engaged, as well."

"We love to cook together. Last week we made play-dough together and used that to make sculptures. We enjoy building with blocks and reading books together out loud."

Tell me about your experience working with toddlers.

"I have been working with toddlers for the past 10 years. I am comfortable with all ages, from one to three years old and have learned about the developmental stages as well. From teething to potty training, I am good at working with supervisors and parents to help ease the growing pains. I worked as a nanny for all four years of college with two kids, ages one and three. We spent most of our time outside playing games and swinging on the swings. I like to keep out time positive and fun for the kids and I'm always open to trying new activities."

"I have been working with toddlers for the past 10 years. I am comfortable with all ages, from one to three years old and have learned about the developmental stages as well. From teething to potty training, I am good at working with supervisors and parents to help ease the growing pains. I worked as a nanny for all four years of college with two kids, ages one and three. We spent most of our time outside playing games and swinging on the swings. I like to keep out time positive and fun for the kids and I'm always open to trying new activities."Give the interviewer a short summary of your experience. You may want to mention experience with potty training and your discipline style. Also, give at least one example of a time you provided child care for toddlers.

"I have been working with toddlers for the past few months at home. I am most comfortable working with 2-3-year-olds as that is where I have the most experience. We spend most of our time playing outside swinging on the swings, playing games, and reading books. I try to keep them as active as possible, and I'm always open to any new activities they would like to try."

How would you handle a baby would just would not stop crying?

"I would try a few different things. First I would check to see if there was any soothing music I could play for them. Then I would swaddle them and rock them for a while. If that didn't work, I might even try singing to them. Usually rocking them to sleep with the sound of music will help calm them down. I always hold babies close so that they feel secure and safe."

"I would try a few different things. First I would check to see if there was any soothing music I could play for them. Then I would swaddle them and rock them for a while. If that didn't work, I might even try singing to them. Usually rocking them to sleep with the sound of music will help calm them down. I always hold babies close so that they feel secure and safe."If you have experience with babies, you know that sometimes they might start crying and you won't know why! Sometimes you have to simply have patience and let the baby cry, but it always depends on the situation. Share any calming techniques that will help the baby relax. After you share your perspective, ask the interviewer what works best for their child.

How do you think your closest friends would describe you?

You friends have nothing but good things to say about you! They might not know you in the context of work, but they know your personality and your quirks very well. The interviewer wants to see how you would describe yourself. Take a moment to think about how others perceive you in social situations. They might say that you are friendly, outgoing or compassionate. When you are struggling to accomplish a goal, your friends might say that you are motivated and that you persevere through obstacles. If you're not quite sure how you would answer this question, call one of your friends! And keep in mind, there is no wrong way to answer this question. The interviewer simply wants to hear about your qualities and strengths.

What do you like to do in your free time?

The interviewer is asking this question to get to know you better. Try to keep it light! Talk about sports or hobbies you enjoy. If you enjoy volunteering or spending time with kids outside of work, talk about those experiences. It's okay if your hobbies are not relevant to the job, but if you do have some fun activities you can relate to child care work, share them! Plan to share three activities you like to do in your free time so that the interviewer can learn more about you.

"I love to stay as active as possible, I love to dance and listen to music. I also love to look after my niece and nephew, I enjoy playing outside with them and keeping them as active as possible while also preparing their meals and changing their nappies."

What are the most challenging aspects of working in child care?

"It can be difficult to discipline kids sometimes, simply because I am not their parents. I have learned that kids don't always respect authority, so I have been working on asserting my authority and earning their trust. I've learned that by building relationships with the kids, they are more likely to listen and respond to you. Implementing routine, offering rewards, and being consistent about giving them consequences when they have done something wrong has made disciplining kids more effective."

"It can be difficult to discipline kids sometimes, simply because I am not their parents. I have learned that kids don't always respect authority, so I have been working on asserting my authority and earning their trust. I've learned that by building relationships with the kids, they are more likely to listen and respond to you. Implementing routine, offering rewards, and being consistent about giving them consequences when they have done something wrong has made disciplining kids more effective." When you talk about a challenge, share what you are doing to overcome it. The interviewer wants to hear how you are taking initiative to learn from difficult situations or challenging personalities and developing skills that will help you be a better child care worker.

"For me, the most challenging aspect of working with children is temper tantrums. I used to feel as though they came out of nowhere, but with little experience, I have learned some of the early warning signs. If a child starts to raise their voice or show signs of distress, such as throwing a toy, I try to redirect their attention by talking about their feelings, depending on their age. Young children usually need help to calm down, so I gently rub their head or take them into a quiet room away from everyone to help calm them down."

Have you ever had to handle an emergency? If so, what happened and what action did you take?

"I took the two kids I was babysitting to the playground one day and the two-year-old fell from the playscape and landed on her arm. I immediately rushed to comfort her. I checked to make sure she was breathing and conscious, and I made sure she didn't hit her head. She was okay, but her arm did not look right. I called her parents and let them know I was taking her to the emergency room to get an x-ray. When I met the parents at the hospital, they were so grateful for the way I handled the situation. Luckily I haven't had to deal with an emergency since then, but now I know all of the proper procedures to follow if there were a medical emergency in the future."

"I took the two kids I was babysitting to the playground one day and the two-year-old fell from the playscape and landed on her arm. I immediately rushed to comfort her. I checked to make sure she was breathing and conscious, and I made sure she didn't hit her head. She was okay, but her arm did not look right. I called her parents and let them know I was taking her to the emergency room to get an x-ray. When I met the parents at the hospital, they were so grateful for the way I handled the situation. Luckily I haven't had to deal with an emergency since then, but now I know all of the proper procedures to follow if there were a medical emergency in the future." In an emergency situation, the first thing to remember is to stay calm. If you can keep your emotions under control, you will be able to think clearly about the steps you need to take to navigate the situation. If it is a medical emergency, you always want to check to see if they are breathing and conscious. Always call 9-1-1 if the situation is beyond your expertise, like a head injury or a major wound.

"I haven't faced a situation that I would call a major crisis, but I have an example of a time I coped with a challenging situation. At my recent job, I regularly cleaned out the shared refrigerator in the break room. One day, I unknowingly threw out my co-worker's leftovers. The next day, my co-worker discovered her food was missing and immediately accused me. I responded by saying that she could have marked her food, which just made her angrier. I felt a little underappreciated for the work I did to clean the office, while she felt that nobody respected her personal belongings. So, I actively adjusted my attitude to resolve the situation. I listened to my co-worker's point of view without becoming defensive. I also attempted to move the conversation to a more private space to avoid further complications. We discussed the situation with our manager, and we both apologized. I stopped cleaning out items that were not mine to avoid any more complications."

What is the most interesting aspect of working with children?

"I enjoy working with kids because I am always learning. Sometimes I learn through the activities we do, like science experiments or games. They have taught me the importance of patience and self-control. They always keep me on my toes!"

"I enjoy working with kids because I am always learning. Sometimes I learn through the activities we do, like science experiments or games. They have taught me the importance of patience and self-control. They always keep me on my toes!"If you are young at heart and enjoying playing and facilitating fun activities, working in child care could be a great fit for you! Working with kids is a great career for someone who likes to be active and enjoys learning. Share what you find most interesting from your experience working in child care so far.

"I enjoy working with children because I am always learning. I also enjoy helping children learn to develop social skills and become confident learners."

What is your stance on discipline?

"When I'm babysitting, I always ask the family about how they discipline their child before I attempt to lay down the law. I think it's important for children to have consequences, but the severity of those consequences needs to be determined by the parents first. When I'm working in a daycare setting, both the parents and the facility are in agreement about the rules and what will happen if they are not followed. I typically put children in time-out and I'll take away TV time as a consequence of their actions. Taking away a privilege causes them to think about their actions."

"When I'm babysitting, I always ask the family about how they discipline their child before I attempt to lay down the law. I think it's important for children to have consequences, but the severity of those consequences needs to be determined by the parents first. When I'm working in a daycare setting, both the parents and the facility are in agreement about the rules and what will happen if they are not followed. I typically put children in time-out and I'll take away TV time as a consequence of their actions. Taking away a privilege causes them to think about their actions."Explain your experience with disciplining children. Depending on the interview, you will want to focus on a specific age group. If you're interviewing at a daycare, talk about your experience disciplining in a classroom or group setting. Share what you have found most helpful. You can also talk about forms of discipline that you have tried unsuccessfully. If you are interviewing for a nanny position, ask the parents about their stance before you share yours. This will help you to decide which experiences to share that are relevant to their family. You can also ask them how you would like them to implement those consequences when you are in charge.

"When I babysit, I always ask how I should discipline the children in my care because everyone has different opinions about discipline. I think it is important for children to have consequences, but those consequences should always be approved by their parents. I typically take away television as a consequence, and if I had to, I would send them to time-out. However, I don't like that type of consequence. Sometimes, it can make the child feel like they are being neglected or punished."

Child Care Interview Questions

Go Back

1. What role should outdoor play and interaction with other toddlers have in a child's playtime experience?
2. Do you have any experience with children with special needs?
3. What is your comfort level with cooking and preparing meals for kids?
4. If hired here, how does this child care position fit into your career path?
5. Tell me about your experience working with kids.
6. Are you willing to work evenings, weekends or overnight shifts?
7. How do you voice your concerns to parents when unexpected issues arise?
8. How do you feel about supervising over five children at a time?
9. Tell me about your experience with tutoring or assisting with homework.
10. For children over the ages of five, what are your feelings about outdoor play without direct supervision?
11. Describe ways you can turn everyday household activities into a fun activity for children?
12. What television shows do you feel are appropriate for children of ages 3-5?
13. How would you react to a toddler who was not responsive when you told them to do something?
14. What was your most difficult babysitting experience? How did you overcome it?
15. How have you approached toilet training in the past?
16. How would you handle a temper tantrum in a grocery store?
17. What activities do you typically facilitate when working with toddlers?
18. Tell me about your experience working with toddlers.
19. How would you handle a baby would just would not stop crying?
20. How do you think your closest friends would describe you?
21. What do you like to do in your free time?
22. What are the most challenging aspects of working in child care?
23. Have you ever had to handle an emergency? If so, what happened and what action did you take?
24. What is the most interesting aspect of working with children?
25. What is your stance on discipline?

Child Care Interview Questions

1. What role should outdoor play and interaction with other toddlers have in a child's playtime experience?

2. Do you have any experience with children with special needs?

3. What is your comfort level with cooking and preparing meals for kids?

4. If hired here, how does this child care position fit into your career path?

5. Tell me about your experience working with kids.

6. Are you willing to work evenings, weekends or overnight shifts?

7. How do you voice your concerns to parents when unexpected issues arise?

8. How do you feel about supervising over five children at a time?

9. Tell me about your experience with tutoring or assisting with homework.

10. For children over the ages of five, what are your feelings about outdoor play without direct supervision?

11. Describe ways you can turn everyday household activities into a fun activity for children?

12. What television shows do you feel are appropriate for children of ages 3-5?

13. How would you react to a toddler who was not responsive when you told them to do something?

14. What was your most difficult babysitting experience? How did you overcome it?

15. How have you approached toilet training in the past?

16. How would you handle a temper tantrum in a grocery store?

17. What activities do you typically facilitate when working with toddlers?

18. Tell me about your experience working with toddlers.

19. How would you handle a baby would just would not stop crying?

20. How do you think your closest friends would describe you?

21. What do you like to do in your free time?

22. What are the most challenging aspects of working in child care?

23. Have you ever had to handle an emergency? If so, what happened and what action did you take?

24. What is the most interesting aspect of working with children?

25. What is your stance on discipline?