I would be totally fine with just the parents for the 1st interview and have done this before....I also always have more than 1 meeting before signing a family and I would require the kids there for every meeting after the first one. At the first meeting I like to discuss my dayhome with the parents and answer any of their questions. I like to chat with them about their children and get an idea about the type of parenting they practice. But I usually only interview once or twice a year. And I am always more concerned with the parents behavior than the kids