The Director's Planner: Week of September 9, 2024

1 weekly challenge, 2 tips & tricks, and 3 action items written exclusively for Childcare Directors.

Welcome to all our new subscribers this week! As a special welcome, all free subscribers have been upgraded to the Insiders subscription for the month of September, giving you access to all content and a glimpse into what The Director’s Collective is all about. Below is this week’s newsletter, designed to inspire and keep you on track with actionable items and relevant resources. Enjoy!

1 Weekly Challenge

This week's challenge is all about YOU. As childcare directors, it's essential to prioritize self-care, especially when your focus is always on caring for others. Your challenge is to:

• Identify one self-care activity you can easily fit into your day

• Jot it down on a post-it note

• Stick the post-it somewhere you can see it

• Commit to doing it for the next week (and beyond!)

It could be something as simple as taking a 20-minute walk over your lunch break or turning off work email notifications after hours. If you need more inspiration, listen to last week’s podcast, 7 Practical Self-Care Tips for Childcare Directors, for additional ideas to incorporate self-care into your routine!

Have self-care ideas that weren’t mentioned here? I would love if you would share them in the comments of this post so others can see!

2 Tips & Tricks

I. Check the Box + Bottle
When checking allergy medication (or any medication you keep on site), make sure to verify the expiration date on both the box and the medication bottle/EpiPen itself. Parents may occasionally put items in the wrong box, leading to discrepancies between the packaging and the actual medication. Ask me how I know this…

II. Consider adjusting how you approach “end-of-the-day” staffing
We all know that managing staffing patterns on a daily basis can be exhausting, especially in the afternoons. Whether you need to let employees go early because they are no longer needed in ratio, or you are begging someone to stay late when you had 3 other staff call out, it is a constant balancing act. If you are in this position, I encourage you to introduce daily sign-up sheets to allow staff the ability to add their name to a list if they would like to leave early or are available to stay late. You can use my templates to print the Early Exit List (for staff who would like to leave early if possible) and my Stay & Play List (for staff who are available to stay late if needed.) It’s an easy way to meet staff preferences, improve teamwork, reduce daily interruptions and boost profitability—20 minutes at a time!

Insiders can access an overview of my process HERE as well as printable templates and a pre-written explanation to share with your team HERE.

3 Action Items

I. Verify all allergy action plans and medication
Sticking with the theme of allergies, now is a great time to review allergy information for each classroom. Start by checking your state’s licensing website to ensure you’re using the most current version of the allergy action plan, if a standardized form is provided. Next, confirm that each child has an up-to-date allergy action plan and that their medication is not expired. And finally, when their folders and classroom information are up to date, I recommend keeping a master binder of all allergy action plans in your office and another in the kitchen, to ensure easy access across the school.

II. Create a [free] Chat GPT Account
I have some FUN things in store for you over the next couple of months, and a lot of it involves my good friend and website, Chat GPT. If you haven’t heard, Chat GPT is an advanced AI designed to understand and generate human-like text, which I know can sound overwhelming. Simply put, it’s like a website that can understand what you need and deliver (incredible) content back to you without you needing to use any code or additional professionals. I promise that once you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it.

I’m going to show you how to use Chat GPT to check your emails for grammar mistakes, draft a letter to a difficult parent, help you write staff reviews, and help you plan for an upcoming event. But for today, let’s start with the basics: creating your account.

III. Join your local Buy Nothing Group
If you’re not familiar with the Buy Nothing Project, it’s a community initiative that encourages local connections through giving rather than selling. You can post a #give to offer items you no longer need and a #ask to see if anyone nearby has what you’re looking for. However, it’s not just about exchanging items—people also ask for help with tasks or projects, making it a versatile resource for various needs.

For a childcare director, this can be especially valuable. You might find gently used educational materials, office supplies, or spare winter clothes for families who can’t afford it. Things like this can enhance your center without breaking the budget. Just be sure to check that any items you receive meet licensing standards and safety regulations.

Using this group not only allows you to save money, but to build positive connections within your community. Follow THIS LINK to find the group that is closest to you and make this your first stop whether you are looking for something new or just a helping hand.

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