Software Developer Needs Ideas For Daycare Software

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Checkin is a nice simply solution, but like the website says it is free while it last. They are obviously planning something for the future for pay. The system may be in development. I am considering doing something like this to help gain support for my product, and get users to provide feedback. The only problem with Checkin is that it is only one solution, and my software will be a complete solution.

It's free to all who registered to use it from the time it was free. In the future, people will have to pay to register to use it.

I get Minute Menu Kids Pro free through my food program and use it for everything (including invoicing my parents since it is linked to childcarepay.com and receiving tuition through it) and use checkinkids.com as an easy way to check everyone in and out. Only those that are authorized to pick up each child are put into checkinkids.com. If someone comes to pick up that was not included on the child's information sheet then they will be unable to log into the system since their phone number and name is not attached to the child.

[Patches]

What do you mean by anecdotal?

Like observations or stories about the child that help illustrate a milestone being reached or a new skill in a cerrtain area of development.

[MarinaVanessa]

One question I have on the checkin checkout solution is I thought states required paper based signin and signout solutions. Even though a username pin feature will be used in this application do states require physical signatures?

I'm in CA and I am not REQUIRED to keep any type of physical sign-in/out sheet or have signatures. It's recommended however because of IRS issues (in case we get audited and need to prove our attendance records). A printable sign-in/out record like BlackCat suggested that the parent's could then sign at the bottom would be just as good in my opinion.

As for the part about you not wanting to copy another program, no one ever mentioned that ... MMK is simply extremely popular because it offers all of those features. If you are offering a program for FCC I think that it needs to meet or beat MMK to be successful because we are looking for an all-in-one solution ... not several programs to use at once (another reason why I stopped using checkinkids and went back to using paper sign-in sheets). ALl of the providers in my area that I know use MMK because of all of the options and how easy it is to just print off the end of year reports and either do your taxes yourselves or just hand them to your tax preparer. It's saves us time and money in the long run.

I always recommend MMK to the members of our child care association (I'm the Vice President), new providers, veteran providers etc. because it does almost everything you need and it's all in one.

[JFC_Designs]

When I code the accounting section it will require a lot of help by providers. Not being a provider myself it would be impossible otherwise.

So it looks like I need to rethink my current system. What main categories would you call choose to start out? I wasn't thinking about all this when I started so now I need to add it.

[LaLa1923]

To those seeking a unique pin per parent solution for checkin ability please note I have already developed a beta stage feature for this in the program. Where my program may be different than others is the fact that everyone has a user account and profile. The entire program is based off this. You have users who are providers. Then you have users who are family members and family contacts. Each has his/her own username and data is tracked for each user. Family members can be children, parents, grandparents, etc. The benefit of this type of system is the fact families do have multiple people picking up a child on different weeks. I have this same situation in my own home.

One question I have on the checkin checkout solution is I thought states required paper based signin and signout solutions. Even though a username pin feature will be used in this application do states require physical signatures?

Here in MD it can all be electronic.

[LaLa1923]

I use checkinkids.com on an iPad for my clients. It is FREE and they check in with their phone number. You tell it what your closing time is and in red letters it will tell them how much is owed in late fees.
Yes, it is a pain if you have different times for different clients (Ex: Johnny is here from 7:00-4:00 and Sally is here from 8:00-5:00) but if you don't operate on contracted hours for each family then it would work well for you. I operate 8-5 and don't deviate from that.

BUT there's no "master" functions. We were outside the other day and I didn't have my tablet with me to check them out. I also couldn't check them out with the time they showed up. It would also be nice if I could give them a pin and not have to use their entire phone number.

[DaisyMamma]

Please keep us posted on your progress.

[MarinaVanessa]

When I code the accounting section it will require a lot of help by providers. Not being a provider myself it would be impossible otherwise.

So it looks like I need to rethink my current system. What main categories would you call choose to start out? I wasn't thinking about all this when I started so now I need to add it.

I think for your accounting section a good thing to do would be to get a better understanding of how we as family child care providers do our accounting. We can almost literally deduct at least a portion (what is called our time/space%) of anything that we buy for our household that is shared with DC (toys, toilet paper, pots/pans, dishes, cleaning supplies, office supplies, alarm systems etc). That's why having the ability to enter our expenses and categorize them and then be able to mark it as either time/space% or 100% business is really important.

If you read Tom Copeland's book called Family Child Care Record Keeping Guide you can get a better understanding of how it all works. Typing it all on here is possible but will be really time consuming. If your accounting part of the program could then automatically input the accounting information (income & expenses) into tax documents (schedule C, W-10 etc.) that would be a necessity to me.

I'll try to type up a list of how I categorize my accounting information for you (i'll have to look at my records) and post them later.

[JFC_Designs]

Thanks for your help on the accounting section. You don't have to post a list right now. I will probably look into guides for help in that area as you suggested. Right now I am working a lot of hours. Not only am I a developer but I am on the transplant team in my city. So between all this work and managing my family (married with 3 kids - 2,6,8 years) I am running out of development time every week. My goal is to shift more time away from the hospital to my business, because the hospital is limited income for me. A person can only work so many hours. I really like coding and providing solutions for people who need them. It is like making a product and getting the pleasure of watching it benefit people's lives. My business website is http://www.jfc-designs.com, but I am thinking of changing the name to Trinity Groupware on down the road. Everyone thanks again and please keep posting your ideas. I will use this thread as a reference point throughout the development cycle.

[babysdays]

Baby's Days will be being released into the USA this year, currently a very successful system across Europe and Asia and a system like this is past due in the USA.

There is no other system available anywhere in the USA like this and it will be sure to revolutionize the US market with regards to childcare settings.

If you're interested to see what it has to offer take a look at:

More information regarding the release of the system to the USA will be announced soon.

Thank you

[lisawatsonis]

Mac Friendly

I think MarinaVanessa is spot on with her evaluation of common needs that all daycares need. I started typing a response only to see that she said it already and with great detail. What MM cannot offer is all of it's greatness to mac users. So if you offered everything MV mentioned and it was compatible with my computer and iPhone you would be inundated with new customers.

[Childminder]

Here in MI we are required to keep accurate daily attendance records, but signatures are not required (for homes at least, centers may be different).

If you live in MI and have state subsidy children you are required to have a signature.

I would love to have a sign in/out program but can not find the elements needed in any one program. I have checked into MMK, Childcare Cake, Sage and just about every other one out there. Either they are not affordable or do not accomplish what is needed. If a parent could check in using their smart phone or at a kiosk(computer) as they enter that would be ideal for my needs.

MMk is great for most of my needs but is lacking in some areas. I used MMK when it was CKKids and it was so much more user friendly then. I can not count the meals in as easy as before and menu planning is difficult, especially since infant and child menus are no longer done together and neither are meal counts.

OP I realize that is is not what you want and probably feel like you have bitten of more than you wished for.

[ross32]

Software that does WHAT exactly?

Track attendance?
Billing and invoices?
Child Documentation?
Meals and meal counts?
Daily kid reports?
Immunization records?
Enrollment?
Daily lesson plans?

Similar to Baby Connect, Minute Menu Kids, Sandbox Child Care software, Child Care Office Pro, EZ Care Pro?

You will find all there here at http://www.fetchflow.com/invoice-templates for free. Just need to design your free invoice template using your business logo and every thing is set. Even you can download it in any format.