For the most positive daycare experience for your child, partner with your childcare center and make a personal investment beyond the monthly tuition. You can build your partnership with your daycare by volunteering your time, contributing goods or services, or donating money.
If your child is in daycare full-time, he is spending 40 ? 60 hours at your daycare facility with his childcare providers. You owe it to your child to help make the center the best it can be for him.
Beautification Day. Schedule a few hours on a Saturday morning for a group of parents to come into the center and give it a really thorough spring cleaning where you tackle involved chores like painting walls, repairing bookcases, decorating classrooms, scrubbing cubbies.
Fundraising. You can support your center's fundraising efforts by asking for goods, services or monetary donations. Ask friends and family to partake in fundraising auction events with you ? spirited bidding in a live auction is a lively way to spend a Saturday evening with friends while benefiting a good cause.
Participation. Spending an hour or two in the classroom a week reading stories, engaging in dramatic play or just lending a helping hand are all time well spent and greatly appreciated by the daycare center.
If your schedule is too tight to accommodate volunteering at school, think creatively about other ways you can contribute ? do you have a skill, talent or connection that can potential benefit the school in some way. It may be an activity that seems inconsequential in your normal course of business but would be invaluable to your daycare center.
Here are some examples to get you started:
Investment Banking. Most centers have an emergency fund they must keep for unexpected facility maintenance or other unplanned expenses. Suggest the best short term investment vehicles for them.
Tax Accountant. Offer to review their current tax preparation forms or evaluate their tax planning process.
Medical Expertise. Conduct a 30 minute seminar or write a column in the newsletter about common childhood ailments, healthy eating or sleeping practices.
Educational Background. Suggest weekend learning activities or offer to conduct a 30 minute special event for one of the older classrooms.
Music. Entertain the kids with an impromptu concert or offer to entertain at the center's annual fundraising event.
Legal. Offer to review contracts or agreements the school is considering. Offer to review the current application portfolio and identify policies or additional waivers or agreements that should be included.
Sales. Create a bonus plan for the teaching staff that takes into account length of employment and special recognitions.
Marketing. Review the centers brochures, ads and marketing plans. Make recommendations for how to best sell the centers services, help develop creative materials and negotiate print rates with vendors.
Facilities. Offer to inspect the daycare facilities and make maintenance repairs or negotiate with preferred vendors for discounted rates.
About the Author
For more great information about expecting and parenting, visit momrecommended.com, a site for moms by moms. Annie Valle is a freelance writer, web designer and a mom. You'll find product reviews, recipes, baby names, free projects and more, when you visit momrecommended.com.
The initial state of happiness about an own child is... Read More
I remember watching my 18-month-old son eat a big frosted... Read More
Your child's leadership skills begin at the family dinner table.... Read More
I remember when my daughter was born, later my son.... Read More
If your child or teen has been diagnosed with Attention... Read More
Having been a parent educator and a PBS consultant for... Read More
Most research into children's friendships shows that those children who... Read More
The advances in science over the past century have been... Read More
To have reasonable expectations of our children is an important... Read More
Frankly, as a single parent of young children, I struggled.... Read More
How excited do kids get with the start of school... Read More
Here are some tips that I have picked up from... Read More
We were all teens at one time for some many... Read More
Demanding children ? children who have entitlement issues ? seem... Read More
Certainly we all want our children to excel. But it... Read More
Are you a frustrated parent who sometimes finds it is... Read More
In speaking with parents a comment I frequently hear is... Read More
"Now don't you go getting any ideas, Harold.""Don't you get... Read More
You may remember The Red Couch Project, a book by... Read More
You do what you can to keep your little ones... Read More
Once, as a Learning Support Teacher, I made my way... Read More
Lead is one of the most dangerous toxins a person... Read More
"Will my doubts and fears affect my child?" This father... Read More
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the phrase that is... Read More
Individualism is a common thing in today's modern society. Many... Read More
home cleaning services Wilmette ..Did you know that many people retire broke?It's true. After... Read More
Thank you for all that you do in the classroom!... Read More
The hot new reality TV show "Nanny 911" has been... Read More
What do you mean average? Not good? Just doing good... Read More
Every now and then I'll get a story sent to... Read More
1. Encourage Questions.Don't answer every question, instead ask what do... Read More
Looking for an unusual and memorable gift? Why not preserve... Read More
Search for Assurance: The Power of BelongingThe job hunt is... Read More
Some people can concentrate on an assignment, to the exclusion... Read More
Every summer our daughter goes to summer camp. She looks... Read More
Beyond cases reported to authorities, little knowledge exists on the... Read More
For first time parents choosing a swing set or outdoor... Read More
When it comes to the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity... Read More
Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More
1. Diapers (5 -7 is a fairly safe supply)2. Wipes3.... Read More
Can you draw a straight line? Most adults don't consider... Read More
WHEN AN INJURY HAPPENS AT CAMP, HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED... Read More
To the untrained eye, it might look like a piece... Read More
The techniques of managing relationships between parents and their children... Read More
It's hard to explain to the uninitiated the changes that... Read More
Do you have a consistent problem with your child lying... Read More
What one word best sums up summer fun? Water. I... Read More
"I WON'T DO IT!" "YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"Whether parent or... Read More
There is nothing pleasant about failure, at least not at... Read More
Peaceful Parenting? ideas are very different from other kinds of... Read More
Parenting |