Daycare Advice?

M., Depending on the grade school in your area, they might keep a list of daycare providers in the area, give them a call. Word of mouth is really the best at this point. You cannot be advertised with the Day Care Connection until you have your Registration #, but as soon as you get it, give them a call ###-###-####). I called and e-mailed EVERYONE I know when I first started out. I called people I hadn't talked to in a year, just to let them know I was looking for clients.

Good Luck!

M.

Advertising isn't as easy as it used to be. People have started using the online sources more than the newspaper. It used to be that I could place a 28 day ad in the star. It was a little expensive. But I'd get way more calls than I could use and then in the future a lot of the same people would have kept my number and call in from time to time to see if I have openings. I could advertise 4-5 months of the year and keep 2 full shifts going. Since I'm open 24 hours per day, it's pretty important to keep advertising because I have more turnover because of people changing shifts and not really happy with working nights or not making enough days and having to go back to nights etc.

Well now most people use Craigslist and everyone and their sister and the lady down the street is advertising through there. I think it's a lot harder for the parents too. No one knows who those people are on Craigslist. So they have to wade through a lot of people. When I advertised in the star my only competition were those who had the guts to shell out the money for the ads. Anyone can advertise for free.

There are SO many places that want us to pay online to advertise but they bring little or no calls from actual parents. Word of mouth is ok sometimes but usually people ask about services when I don't have openings and when I do no one is asking soon enough to pay the bills on time.

Passing out cards is good when you are out and about. I don't get out a whole lot in the winter months. I just hate the cold.

As for incorporating learning it's pretty easy. Count the socks when they come out of the wash, have the kids help match the sock colors. Always ask them to put away the red car or bring mommy the green hair brush. You get the picture. Turn everything into a conversation. Watch Sesame Street with them and if you have cable, pause and ask them questions so they will learn how to listen and pay attention. Have them learn how to trace. Start with squiggly lines and circles etc. Once they can trace you can pick a couple letters each day and talk about the sound and have them trace them. This can start for some kids as early as just barely 3. Some will resist sit down table work a bit longer.

Use computer a lot too and teach them the mouse as soon as you can trust them to not yank it out of the computer :) Some kids can do this at 2 and a half and others need to be 3 and a half. www.startfall.com is the BEST! But just google interactive preschool and you'll be amazed at the kinds of things that come up.

If you have old magazines or can get them from friends, you can cut out pictures of common objects and then look for big type. Cut that out too and have the kids help make flashcards.

Also join online groups for daycare. Just go to yahoo groups and search up daycare. You'll get lots of ideas about everything there.

Suzi

Try KC Metro Moms, churches, gyms, colleges or even some local coffee shops have postings.

I have been a daycare provider for the last 10 years but only licenced for the last 3. The first thing you want to do is make up a contract. List your price for each age group and let them no that the price could go up after a year. I just raised my prices cause of the cost for everything was going up! Make sure they pay on monday for the whole week. I do this with my parents so that I'm sure to get paid(I have had parents bring them for 2 weeks and say they will pay me then and just end up leavin!! Then your out of that 2 weeks of money) make sure you list your days that your closed and always throw in atleast 7 days of paid vacation. Even if you don't go anywhere you can take a personal day say for dr.or dentist apts and still get paid!! I make sure my parents no atleast 3-4 weeks in advance then post it so they are reminded of it!! If you would like I can send you a copy of my contract. It let's the parents no what to bring or not to bring(don't let chidren start bringing over their toys it just causes major problems) and so on!! You can start getting children by adv.in the local paper,then by word of mouth. I did the catholic advance and put my name out at the local churches and I have a huge waiting list. If your gonna care for babies its hard to do a lot of preschool things, but makin edible playdough and makin mini pizzas for lunch is some of my kids favorites!! During the summer their are girlscouts lookin to get badges and one is a babysitting badge. You might be able to bring a couple of older girls in so they can sing songs and such!! And also they could do crafts with them!! I did this with my troop of girls and was a huge break for me!! And the kids loved it!! The girls know some awsome songs that the kids catch on to quickly. If you need anything else just email ____@____.com I have learned a lot over the years and would love to help

I have done daycare for over 16 yrs. now. I feel very blessed. To advertise, Church and word of mouth were my best of all. I only advertised once when I was moving to new town and was offering night and or weekends.
As for curriculum, I make my own, I think it is easier to do theme and go with what my group is into at the time.
Good Luck.
D. in Kansas