Daycare Scrapbook

[MarinaVanessa]

Okay, so I have a DC binder that I currently have my emergency plans and information, course certificates, class completions, grades, etc. in that I use when people come to interview to show my accomplishments in and if parents want to take a peek. I was thinking of doing something more creative and more along the lines of a DC scrapbook instead to show our activities, field trips etc.

I think this will be more appealing to look at than a binder with a bunch of paperwork in it. I could transfer my certificates over to the scrapbook but I was thinking that maybe doing that would take up too many pages that could be used for a better purpose instead. At first it seemed like this was an easy process (i.e. take a bunch of pictures and put them in the scrapbook) but I wanted the scrapbook to have a purpose. I'd really like the scrapbook to be an advertising point for prospective clients with information about us and the daycare and a focus point for parents to be able to look at. Does anyone do this and have really neat ideas? I think I remember reading something about this in a Tom Copeland book ... now I have to go find it.

[SunflowerMama]

I think that would be a cute idea! I'm picture crazy and take so many pictures it's a little nuts. For me that would be hard b/c there would be so many pics to choose from so I do a weekly blog of just photos and I direct people there after an interview. You can also link to it off my website.

So depending on how much time they have they can check out past weeks and see the kind of activities we do.

[MarinaVanessa]

Yes I do that too. I have a website but I don't like to make the photos public so I make that private so that only the parents of current families can view them.

I was thinking about the scrapbook being a tool that I could use so that interviews could see photos while I explain my activities, routine, and benefits. I've been planning it out and I decided to start with pictures showing what we do here going in order just like our routine starting with breakfast and ending with free play. Then I'll have pages with special events, holidays, birthdays, field trips, outings, rainy day activities, computer activites, art projects etc. The last few pages I'll have copies of my child development certificates, workshop certificates and class certificates. Each photo will have a caption that specifically describes the benefit for the children. I'll start working on it and see what else I come up with.

[kendallina]

I think it's a great idea! I also like your idea of starting with the routine and showing pics from each part of the routine. It could also be used as a great educational tool for parents (if you wanted it to) and describe what the children are learning from each activity. Have fun with it!

[MarinaVanessa]

It could also be used as a great educational tool for parents (if you wanted it to) and describe what the children are learning from each activity. Have fun with it!

Yes exactly! I wanted the captions to describe the benefit of the activity for example something like a picture of the kids cleaning up with a caption that reads "Clean-up after activities means cooperation and teaches responsibility" etc.

[DanceMom]

I made a scrapbook that is for when I interview. The families love it - actually "seeing" kids in my care - with smiles on their faces, having fun, doing projects, eating a healthy lunch etc.

[AmandasFCC]

What I've done is all my "credentials", my degree, courses I've taken, etc. are all hung on the wall in the entrance to my playroom. I've made posters up with pictures of the kids doing different activities that I've hung all over the room. I figure that encourages parents to actually COME IN and look around at what I have to offer (most I've found are content to stand at the stairs and say "Looks good, let's get to paperwork").

[Pammie]

I love the scrapbook idea to give your potential clients a better "picture" of what your daycare is like!!

I have a digital picture frame in my living room that I load with pics from daycare and run as a photobook while I'm interviewing. I've had lots of positive comments from parents during/after interviews about how great is is to see all the happy, smiling faces - involved in so many different activities:-)

[MarinaVanessa]

I have a digital picture frame in my living room that I load with pics from daycare and run as a photobook while I'm interviewing. I've had lots of positive comments from parents during/after interviews about how great is is to see all the happy, smiling faces - involved in so many different activities:-)

I have one too!! I also have my certificates, accreditations and class completions in frames for all to see but I have had them up forever and every time that I bring up a class or training that I have taken as in "In (name of class) I learned that ...." and they are ALWAYS surprised that I had taken that class or that the class covered that subject even though I have my certificates and class completions posted. If I put a section in my scrapbook with descriptions of the class/training and things that I learned I think it will be better served that just having my certificate on the wall.

On that same note I have parents that know that we "play" but don't know the benefits of play at daycare. For example, that playing with blocks develops motor-skills, hand-eye coordination, spatial skills, creative problem-solving skills, social skills, language skills, and that it's linked with advanced math skills later in life. They just assume that we play with toys all day but don't understand the full advantages of what we do here and so I'd like to explain that in a fun scrapbook.

[AmandasFCC]

I have one too!! I also have my certificates, accreditations and class completions in frames for all to see but I have had them up forever and every time that I bring up a class or training that I have taken as in "In (name of class) I learned that ...." and they are ALWAYS surprised that I had taken that class or that the class covered that subject even though I have my certificates and class completions posted. If I put a section in my scrapbook with descriptions of the class/training and things that I learned I think it will be better served that just having my certificate on the wall.

On that same note I have parents that know that we "play" but don't know the benefits of play at daycare. For example, that playing with blocks develops motor-skills, hand-eye coordination, spatial skills, creative problem-solving skills, social skills, language skills, and that it's linked with advanced math skills later in life. They just assume that we play with toys all day but don't understand the full advantages of what we do here and so I'd like to explain that in a fun scrapbook.

For the bolded part, I took pictures of the kids doing lots of different activites ... like painting, playing play-dough, building blocks, playing dress up, etc., then made up little 8x10 pages with a picture + a description of what they are learning while doing the activity. I.e., Children playing dress up are ... (picture of child in doctor's costume) ...
 Practicing to understand and master adult roles
 Practicing language and math skills
 Organizing and using ideas
 Learning to cooperate, share, plan, negotiate
 Symbolically using materials in meaningful ways

The parents love them. And I have the benefits of outdoor play on the walls along my stairwell going outside.