The Director's Planner: Week of January 13, 2025
On messy moments, the 3 C's, and swiping right
This week’s planner is packed with resources for you to dig into. It may be a week heavy on audits, but don’t run away yet! I am well aware that audits can be incredibly boring, especially for all of us neurodivergent minds… But they really are foundational to keeping your center running smoothly. Plus, by tackling them now you set yourself up for less work the rest of the year.
In case you missed it, I launched my Ultimate Childcare Enrollment Workbook last week for Insiders! And yes. I am aware that the title is a bit tacky. But I promise it is worth it. I poured a lot of time into including the best information and creating clean, visually appealing printables for you to use. A Sneak Peek of what is included can be found HERE if you want to take a look. I truly hope you enjoy it!
1 Weekly Focus
Audit Your Website
Monthly Challenge: Enroll ___ families by January 31st.
Last week, we talked about identifying your enrollment goal and getting your team on board. Now, it’s time to review the public face of your center and make sure your first impression is working for you, not against you. After all, your website and social media are often the first places families land (kind of like a a dating app but without the awkward small talk) Let’s make sure they’re swiping right!
💡 Pro Tip for Insiders: Ready to dive into your website? Read more about Website Best Practices for Childcare Centers or grab my Website Audit Checklist for a step-by-step guide to make sure your online presence says, “This is the childcare center you’ve been dreaming of!” rather than, “Did we travel back to 1985?”
2 Thoughts to Consider
I. Your energy sets the tone for your team.
Feeling stressed? Your team picks up on it. Feeling optimistic and focused? That’s contagious, too. Our days rarely go as planned, but it is all part of the job. So how can you show up as the leader your team needs this week?
II. The messy moments are the most relatable.
At any given moment in our centers, there are a million different things happening. Unlike the perfectly crafted reels you binge on a Friday night, a day in a classroom is real—messy, unpredictable, and beautifully authentic. Spilled paint, a crying baby, or a teacher helping a toddler work through their very big feelings are just part of the deal. And guess what? Parents get it. They’re not looking for perfection; they’re looking for warmth, patience, and humanity.
So, the next time a baby starts crying or a teacher needs to redirect a child during a tour or pick-up, don’t rush to steer the family away. Let them see it.
Parents want to know how your team handles the real stuff—the messy, beautiful moments that show kids are loved, supported, and guided every step of the way. Because honestly? That’s way more impressive than a spotless classroom.
3 Action Items
I. Update Staff Emergency Contacts
The new year is the perfect time to ensure all your emergency contacts are up to date. Feeling extra motivated? Take it a step further and update family emergency cards too! A lot can change in a year, and reviewing these annually ensures you’re prepared and have your (gray) ducks in a row if the unexpected happens.
💡 Pro Tip for Insiders: Need a quick printable emergency card to hand out to your team right now? Download a copy HERE!
II. Audit Your CPR & First Aid Certifications
Take a moment this week to review your staff’s CPR and First Aid certifications. The easiest way to do this is to plug staff names and certification/expiration dates into excel. If anyone has a certification expiring this year, add a notice to your calendar 90 days in advance. This gives both of you plenty of time to plan for, and attend, a renewal class!
III. Turn Your Frustrations into Expectations
Last week, I asked you to pinpoint areas of confusion at your center—those recurring frustrations that make you think, “Why does this keep happening?” This week, we’re turning that list into solutions with “The 3 C’s of Clarity”- Categorizing, Clarifying, and Communicating.
If you know what needs to change at your center but aren’t willing to commit the time and energy to make it happen, you give up the right to be frustrated by it. Change takes effort, and if it’s worth fixing, it’s worth your focus.
💡 Pro Tip for Insiders: Curious about how to implement The 3 C’s of Clarity? Head over to this week’s Insider post, where I break down the step-by-step process to categorize, clarify, and communicate your expectations effectively.
💕A small request from me 💕
If you’re loving The Director’s Collective, I would be so grateful if you would share it in your local director’s Facebook groups! Building this community means I can keep creating the content and resources you rely on. And here’s the fun part: refer 5 friends and get 1 month of Insiders benefits free, 10 referrals gets you 3 months, and 25 earns you 6 months. Let’s grow together!
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