The Director's Planner: Week of October 7, 2024

Role play as a prospective parent, re-consider how you listen, and remember the sidewalk salt.

1 weekly challenge, 2 thoughts to consider, and 3 action items written exclusively for Childcare Directors!

1 Weekly Challenge

Take 15 minutes this week to "apply" and go through the enrollment process as if you were a prospective parent.

Start by visiting your website and using your personal email to submit a request for more information. How many steps does it take to complete? What do the follow-up emails look like? Do the emails go to your main inbox or spam folder? If you didn’t work in childcare, would any of the wording be confusing? Are there any obstacles to submitting the application or enrollment forms, such as needing to print them instead of filling them out online?

Once we establish a process, it's easy to set it and forget it. That’s why it’s important to periodically review these steps to ensure everything is still accurate and that the entire experience remains user-friendly for prospective families.

2 Thoughts to Consider

I. "Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply." — Stephen R. Covey

Challenge yourself to listen more actively to both parents and staff. What insights can you gain by focusing on understanding their perspectives? Reflect on recent feedback you received that made you feel defensive. Instead of taking it personally, approach it from a place of understanding. What do you notice? How does this shift your perception?

II. What is one thing you could let go of that would free up time or energy?

Reflect on your daily routines at work and identify tasks that consume a disproportionate amount of time relative to their impact. Are there any activities that consistently drain your energy without yielding meaningful results?

3 Action Items

I. Schedule fall teacher conferences

If you haven't yet planned or communicated details about Parent-Teacher Conferences, this week is an excellent time to pick a date and notify families! Many states require that these conferences be held throughout the year, and it is important to give parents at least a month's notice. This allows them ample time to plan ahead and get the time blocked off on their calendars. Mid-November is an ideal time to host fall conferences before the craziness of holidays begins.

II. Order winter supplies

If your center is located in a state that experiences snow, ensure that you have a working shovel easily accessible and get that sidewalk salt on order because you never know when winter is going to hit! One year, I made the mistake of waiting too long before ordering salt. Minnesota got hit with 16 inches of snow before Halloween and I was stuck driving around trying to find a store with sidewalk salt in stock! And the first snow of the year is not when you want to find yourself driving around… IYKYK.

Another helpful item to have at your center is a supply of windshield snow brushes and scrapers. Keep a few of these conveniently accessible for parents in your entryway or office (while ensuring they are out of reach of young children) for those times when a parent finds themselves without one.

III. Verify the children are being clocked in and out accurately

If you have a digital attendance system, ensure that parents are using it properly to clock their child in [when they actually arrive] and out [when they actually leave.] And if you are still tracking on paper, check in with the teachers to verify!

Why? Because when you have accurate data you can make informed decisions to positively impact your center. From scheduling your staff more efficiently (and saving money) to understanding your enrollment gaps (and making money), this simple trick can make a big difference. If child attendance tracking is something you are struggling with, or if you want to learn more about the benefits, keep your eyes out for a special Insiders post later this week!

And that’s it for this week. It’s as easy as A, B, C, 1, 2, 3!

Not an Insider yet but want to be? Don’t forget that by sharing with others who sign up, you can earn a free subscription! You'll also have my heartfelt gratitude for supporting my work. Thank you!