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.
Handing Down Malignancy.Children may begin bright and eager to face... Read More
We're all familiar with the over-indulgent parent. But there's another... Read More
The purpose of this article is to address some of... Read More
In dealing with children with autism spectrum disorders, its all... Read More
If there are any parents reading this who are thinking... Read More
Grandparents, what better way to stay close to your grown... Read More
You can learn a lot from children.The best part of... Read More
Sometimes a change of perspective can make a huge difference... Read More
A friend phoned her neighbor, complaining about the wafts of... Read More
Often, the struggle at dinnertime with your picky eater is... Read More
Successful parents have learned to be both firm and kind... Read More
No matter how old your children are, you have an... Read More
When my firstborn arrived into this serene and peaceful household,... Read More
Are men to blame for the divorce problem in this... Read More
There's a phrase that's become popular over the past few... Read More
It can be hard being a parent with a teen... Read More
I will never forget the day that my daughter's sixth... Read More
1. Tell me something you like about yourself? Help your... Read More
What is a parenting problem?Parenting is a tough job, we... Read More
Many research studies have shown the overall effectiveness of stimulant... Read More
Because most teens have not had the experience of getting... Read More
O.K. I've heard it a hundred times from my prison... Read More
Do you want to create a deeper, more loving relationship... Read More
Predicament:My son is 4 1/2 years old. His younger brother... Read More
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is making... Read More
cleaning lady near Lincolnshire ..The teenage years are a crucial time in a child's... Read More
What makes parenting so challenging at times? One widespread research... Read More
The ADD child exhibits a series of behaviors that are... Read More
Well first off, please to don't institute the ? hour... Read More
Have you made your usual New Year resolutions? You know... Read More
Public-school teaching is structured in such a way that it... Read More
1 - Forgive even if you will never be able... Read More
"Home Schooling ? Look Before You Leap"Are you considering home... Read More
John Bishop's Goal Setting for Students.comParents ? Minimize Homework Hassles?It's... Read More
I am a single mother of a 17 year old... Read More
No matter how old your children are, you have an... Read More
Traditionally, babies have been named at a christening/baptism.... Read More
Tripping over the shoes and toys that seem to clutter... Read More
As parents, we love our children and want to do... Read More
It is human nature to feel competitive and envious toward... Read More
Children and teenagers are relentlessly bombarded with merchandise that entices.... Read More
What is the mystery of motherhood? I know that when... Read More
Many young people don't know how to study efficiently and... Read More
What's in a name? Er?well, everything, really! Of course your... Read More
Do you know what these famous people have in common?Alexander... Read More
We adopted our first child when he was three months... Read More
The least flexible character in all of the stories of... Read More
Because most teens have not had the experience of getting... Read More
Minus all meningitis thoughts. The flu symptons were strong. Headache,... Read More
Recently, our family had the opportunity to care for sisters'... Read More
Parenting |