![\"preschool](\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/gautam-arora-OVDtgUhUPBY-unsplash-800x600.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen parents are informed about what kind of experiences their child is having during the day in your program, they are much more likely to: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Keep their child enrolled<\/li>
- Consider enrolling subsequent children<\/li>
- Refer other families<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATING WITH PARENTS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Attracting more families to your program starts with how you treat the clients you already have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Word of mouth travels fast when a family has found a program that is run by a provider who is passionate about their work and offers an excellent experience for their child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"row](\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/mike-fox-467487-unsplash-800x561.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nYour current clients must understand the value that comes with the services they have agreed to pay for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS IN CHILD CARE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Child care providers who are compassionate and work hard to create a positive experience for each child need to make sure they are talking to their clients about child development and the activities they do to support early learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t assume your clients know what goes on in your program each day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Providers must connect the dots for their clients<\/strong> through photos, written text or general conversations<\/strong>. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Effectively communicating with parents about projects, activities and milestones is the best way to help clients see the value. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s Why: <\/strong>Many parents don’t have a background in child development and may not understand why there is a block center in the room or why their child is offered a chance to scoop and dump water into a sensory table repeatedly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"wooden](\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/alphabet-blocks-blur-591652.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nIn fact, some parents assume that zero learning happened<\/strong> if they don’t find a worksheet in their child’s backpack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you aren’t able to convey WHY the activities you choose are important, then you’ll lose traction in the game of early childhood.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
COMMON COMPLAINTS MADE TO CHILD CARE LICENSING<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Here are some real complaints shared by parents via child care licensing surveys in my area:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- “I wish I knew what they ate for food that day.”<\/li>
- “I have never once received an art project or see the kids doing art projects.”<\/li>
- “We have a pre-k child…would appreciate him to have more structure and teaching versus free play.”<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
None of the complaints listed above are difficult to resolve. At the root of each complaint is a lack of communication.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
TIPS ON HOW TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITH PARENTS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
SHOOT:<\/strong> Keep a camera nearby and shoot photos of moments when the kids in your group are engaged in an activity. Shoot 1-5 photos per day. This will create a story about the magic that is happening in your program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"young](\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/kelly-sikkema-yXpA_eCbtzI-unsplash-800x552.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSHARE*:<\/strong> Pick your favorite way to share these photos with your clients. This may include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Individual texts throughout the day.<\/li>
- Send out an email during nap time.<\/li>
- Start a private shutterfly album for your group.<\/li>
- Create a private Instagram or Facebook Page.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
[*IMPORTANT NOTE ON SHARING CONTENT: <\/strong>Be sure to follow your county’s confidentiality rules when it comes to taking and\/or sharing photos or content with other people or on social networking sites. Parents typically need to outline when, where and how you can use a photo of their child. Having their consent in written form is best. If you’re not sure how to do this, the best thing to do is consult your licensor.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nINFORM<\/strong>: It’s time to communicate! Use an excited tone as you share observations about the energy or emotions of the day. Explain the reason for each activity to help parents understand why you chose a certain project or activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"shoot](\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Social-Media-Day-800x800.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nTALKING TO PARENTS ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES YOU OFFER<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
After preparing a week full of dental health activities that took a lot of time, thought and effort, who would you prefer to be in charge of your marketing? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You or the child?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let’s use Dental Health Week as an example. Let’s pretend you thoughtfully set up a dramatic play area, fine motor activities, real life care taking skills practice, and some pre-literacy activities in an effort to teach kids about the importance of taking care of their teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"dental](\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/adel-dental-health-month-collage-2.2016-800x1079.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHERE’S WHAT A CHILD MIGHT SAY WHEN ASKED ABOUT HIS\/HER DAY: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hi mom!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guess what? We played outside and we had cheese & crackers for snack.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The end. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What?! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That’s it?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After all of the work you put in to a comprehensive unit on dental health? Cheese and crackers and outside time is what the child chooses to tell his mother about?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HERE IS WHAT EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS SOUNDS LIKE:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hello parents!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
We had so much fun learning about how to take care of our teeth this week! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our dramatic play<\/strong> area was set up as a dentist office which helped the kids process their emotions<\/strong> about going to the dentist as they role played with one another. We also were able to practice turn taking<\/strong> as ‘being the dentist’ was a popular choice! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our magnet board was a place to help with name recognition<\/strong> as each friend had a tooth with their name on it. A few of us counted the letters in each friends’ name. Ask your child how many letters are in his\/her name!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lastly, we had an opportunity to practice teeth brushing! Scrubbing plaque (dry erase marker) off of a full set of teeth (laminated mouths) requires some heavy duty fine motor<\/strong> work which will strengthen our finger muscles for writing one day! Ask your child if it’s better to brush up and down or in small circles!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sincerely,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
___________<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WHY MARKETING THROUGH COMMUNICATING IS SO BENEFICIAL<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When a parent is equipped with information about their child’s day, the parent is able to foster a much deeper conversation with their child and can ask meaningful questions that allows the child further their cognitive development through recall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"young](\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/back-view-backpack-boy-207697-1.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"featured](\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/FEATURED-IMAGE_-scissor-skills-for-preschoolers-800x800.png\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/FEATURED-IMAGE_-GLUE-STICKS-800x800.png\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"hands](\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/FEATURED-IMAGE_-BROWN-BAG-MATH-ACTIVITY-800x800.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n