The Director's Planner: Week of September 16, 2024
National Working Parents Day, the power of staff recognition, and mums.
1 weekly challenge, 2 tips & tricks, and 3 action items written exclusively for Childcare Directors!
1 Weekly Challenge
Recognition is a big deal, so this week, your challenge is to set aside 20-30 minutes to write personal cards or notes to five of your rockstar team members. You know, the ones who rarely call out, always jump in to help in other classrooms, or show up every single day with a smile on their faces.
It’s easy to get caught up dealing with the tough stuff and forget about those who truly keep the place running smoothly. And while cash or gift cards are great, a heartfelt note can make just as big of an impact. Its even better news that employees who have been recognized are 63% more likely to stay at their current job for the next 3-6 months! Sometimes, all it takes is a few kind words to remind them how much they mean to you, the kids, and the families they care for every day.
2 Tips & Tricks
I. Color-Code Your Calendar
Use color-coding in your calendar for different types of activities (e.g., meetings, deadlines, events). This visual aid can help you quickly identify and prioritize tasks.
II. Checklists are your friend!
Remember, you can’t be everywhere at once. When it's time for you to head home or finally take that well-deserved vacation, the best directors have systems in place that keep things running smoothly without them being there.
That’s why I’ve created Opener and Closer checklists to help you get started. Each checklist comes with a pre-filled version full of ideas for tasks you can assign to your openers and closers, plus blank copies if you’d rather customize your own.
3 Action Items
I. Celebrate National “Working Parents” Day TODAY
Today, September 16th, is National Working Parents Day! Take this opportunity to acknowledge the incredible effort parents put into balancing work and family life.
If you don’t have something planned, make it easy! Hang up the printable sign included in my September Newsletter Toolkit and send out the below message.
“Today, on National Working Parents Day, we celebrate you—the parents who juggle work and family like true superheroes. We’re proud to be part of your community, providing a space where your children are cared for, nurtured, and growing while you’re out doing amazing things for your family. Thank you for letting us join you on this amazing journey!”
II. Pick up some fall flowers
Cooler temperatures and falling leaves are just around the corner for most of us. And curb appeal is key—not only for attracting prospective families, but for making your current families feel proud about where they drop off their children each day. This week, take some time to tidy up those summer vegetable gardens or remove any fading annual flowers, and swap out the front pots with some vibrant fall mums. I always love supporting my local flower shops, but if you are on a budget, Costco usually has great deals! And of course it’s a nice excuse to spend a little time outside.
III. Conduct your monthly fire/tornado drill
Yes, it is already that time again. Don’t forget to conduct your monthly fire/tornado drill this month! If you missed it, Insiders have access to my printable tracker as well as some best practices for running fire drills in childcare centers.
And that’s it for this week.
It’s as easy as A, B, C, 1, 2, 3!
