Opinions On Parents Contributions

[Cradle2crayons]

Boy it was like pulling teeth just to get shot records. And yes, I put a HUGE not on my "parent advisory bulletin board" and told one dad and then the mom acted like she'd never heard of such . It hasn't been suggested to me by the powers that be, but we do weenie roasts and marshmallow roasts in the summer. Also when weather permits, we take the camper to the local campground and haul,the kids there everyday and bring them back for pick up . Call me crazy I swear we have TWO residences in the summer time . But we enjoy ourselves and I raided my dads cane patch and each kid has their own fishing pole and life vest.

[itlw8]

I have had a mom come in and dye easter eggs with us. one went on field trips/ someone coming in to cook something may mean a child tries a new food.

an advisory board could be fore new playground equipment . how to raise money arranging volunteers to assemble it

Maybe it could find donations of supplies like paper from printing companies. It does not have to advise how to run the business. It is a board not administration. Does the PTO tell the school how to run the school? nope.

[Country Kids]

I have had a mom come in and dye easter eggs with us. one went on field trips/ someone coming in to cook something may mean a child tries a new food.

an advisory board could be fore new playground equipment . how to raise money arranging volunteers to assemble it

Maybe it could find donations of supplies like paper from printing companies. It does not have to advise how to run the business. It is a board not administration. Does the PTO tell the school how to run the school? nope.

"Families attend family meetings and/or serve on advisory groups to provide input on program and policy decisions." This is from our guidelines. I already have my program/policies in place-PHB covers all this.

This to me sure sounds to me like they should have a say on how to run it.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

"Families attend family meetings and/or serve on advisory groups to provide input on program and policy decisions." This is from our guidelines. I already have my program/policies in place-PHB covers all this.

This to me sure sounds to me like they should have a say on how to run it.

Providing input and making the final decision are two different things. Providing input can be as simple as suggesting what they would like (which they do ANYWAYS even when we don't ask LOL!).

[Country Kids]

Providing input and making the final decision are two different things. Providing input can be as simple as suggesting what they would like (which they do ANYWAYS even when we don't ask LOL!).

Oh, I know but why open up a whole new can of worms. They are in place for a reason and I really don't want the headache of s suggestion everytime something isn't going someones way. Also, our advisor said, just tell them after they make the suggestion of why its the way it is. Then why let them make the suggestions if you already know your not going to budge and your just going to give the same answer over and over.:confused:

[MarinaVanessa]

I guess I'm the odd man out. I think it's a great thing to have parents involved in filed trips and the like. Parents love it, and kids love it. And with it being volunteer based you know the parents are there because they want to be. I think it is extremely important to have parents involved whether they actually come to your program, or contribute in other ways (providing things on a wish list, volunteer to help prep an art activity at home, etc).

I'm with you on that one. I think it's great to involve parents. You aren't forcing them per say, just offering the opportunity to involve them somehow. If I need something or want to offer my clients the opportunity to help out I put it in our monthly newsletter so that I don't have to specifically offer to a parent and so that they don't feel obligated to do so.

I also don't think I would have a parent board per say, unless I was a large center, and even then I would be hesitant. But I do think a survey couldn't hurt. Yeah, we don't always like to hear the negative complaints from parents, but we are providing a service and they are our customers. It may be hard to receive that feedback but I also think it can be a good thing if done constructively.

Me neither but I think that a lot of people are freaking out over that example because of what it sounds like. I'm sure that in larger daycare's like a center it could work because you have a larger array of families but in small child care homes or even in large daycare homes for that matter it's a lot harder to do and not really worth the time. A parent advisory board is a good idea when you have such a large amount of clients that you can't possibly hear about every family's needs and the board tales care of the "ideas" that the other families may have. When you are smaller like when you do family child care you have a deeper connection and a better opportunity to take the time to communicate needs individually. It has nothing to do with clients controlling your daycare. And in any case, that was just one example of many that one can use to involve parents.

Here are some ways that I have been able to involve my clients:

• Ask for volunteers to come and talk to the kids about the type of work they do (electrician, police officer, fireman, office manager, store manager etc)
• Take supplies home to cut/prepare for me for another day's activities
• Prepare an ethnic meal at home and bring it to daycare if we are learning about that culture
• Come on field trips with us
• Donate supplies/equipment (new or used)
• Parent surveys
• Read a story before they leave to work or before they go home after picking up their child
• Play a musical instrument for the kids
• Show off a hobby that they have (photography, woodworking, gardening etc)

When you involve parents they feel more welcome and the kids ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT when they can say "My mommy helped make this" or "My daddy is going to read us a story". It takes a little bit of time out of their day and doesn't have to mean more than 10 minutes or so (unless they volunteer to do so) and it can really make a "hovering" parent back off. If the opposite happens and a parent uses this opportunity to nit-pick at your program you can simply tell the parent that you are all set for the day and don't need any help but send home things for them to do etc.

IDK but I've had good results with involving parents, maybe it's just the relationship that I have with them and the way that I run my program? :confused:

[Country Kids]

I'm going to really have to think this one through because I just see it being alot of "extra".


If your out there reading this Nan-what do you think about this?

[Cradle2crayons]

[HTML]oh I love love the idea about the parent coming to share about their job. I'm definitely going to do that!!

I'm a previous homeschooling mom and when my daughter was in first grade here at home we did things like that. We had a month of community helpers and it was so much fun. I live very very rural and I had some of the volunteer firefighters drive their fire truck to our house. It was priceless when the kids saw it. It was a great lesson on fire safety they gave the kids too. Then we had a sheriff deputy come and explain what he does every day. We had the local water company send the inspector out and showed the kids how the system here works. We are on a local well but also have our own well at my dads house.

My dads family owns a business and they have farms and gardens etc. when my husband is in the state (he works in la) we take the kids to the farms and gardens etc. we also have chickens and the kids beg for the animal helper job every week .

Homeschooling is a pretty common thing here so there are a lot of support communities and they don't mind involving me. But inviting the parents over to explain what they do is a great idea. I'm so totally going to do that.:hug:

[Unregistered]

My son goes to a large in-home daycare/preschool. They are ALWAYS having events and activities and encourage the parents to come. It seems like multiple times a month! I've gone a few times, but honestly its really hard with work and if I'm taking time off and not getting paid I want to spend it with my kids, not necessarily with their daycare! I appreciate the effort and that the providers are trying to include the parents... but I wish they didn't. You can tell that the kids are out of sorts having the parents there, then either DS could care less that I'm there because he's in the daycare groove and playing with his friends... or he doesn't want me to leave when the event is over and is begging to go with me which just makes me feel awful. On the flip side, I don't want to be "the parent that never shows up."

It seems like the kids (and providers) would be having more fun if the parents weren't there, and the older kids sometimes ask why their parents aren't there but so-and-so's are and it just seems like it isn't a good idea. Or works better for stay at home parents that have chosen to send their kids to daycare. Like I said, as much as I do love and appreciate our daycare provider, if I'm taking time off work, I want it to be quality time with my kids, not an event at their DC.

I have absolutely no problem doing things like sending recipes, or making stuffed easter eggs or valentines or thigns like that to send. Its just hard for my physically being there for a chunk of time in the middle of the day.

[Cradle2crayons]

I can definitely understand where parents would have a hard time getting off work for daycare functions. I don't do that here during hours. We do our weenie and marshmallow roasts on Saturday nights when we do them. I've been know to schedule Sunday lunch a time or two as well. But doing stuff during their work really does interrupt the routine, lead to feelings of parental guilt, and leave those children with parents who can't get off work feeling like crud.

In my case we live so rural and parent drive 45 minutes one way to work, it just isn't a possible thing. However, my parents participate in other things when I ask like wish lists, recipes etc.

[Country Kids]

My son goes to a large in-home daycare/preschool. They are ALWAYS having events and activities and encourage the parents to come. It seems like multiple times a month! I've gone a few times, but honestly its really hard with work and if I'm taking time off and not getting paid I want to spend it with my kids, not necessarily with their daycare! I appreciate the effort and that the providers are trying to include the parents... but I wish they didn't. You can tell that the kids are out of sorts having the parents there, then either DS could care less that I'm there because he's in the daycare groove and playing with his friends... or he doesn't want me to leave when the event is over and is begging to go with me which just makes me feel awful. On the flip side, I don't want to be "the parent that never shows up."

It seems like the kids (and providers) would be having more fun if the parents weren't there, and the older kids sometimes ask why their parents aren't there but so-and-so's are and it just seems like it isn't a good idea. Or works better for stay at home parents that have chosen to send their kids to daycare. Like I said, as much as I do love and appreciate our daycare provider, if I'm taking time off work, I want it to be quality time with my kids, not an event at their DC.

I have absolutely no problem doing things like sending recipes, or making stuffed easter eggs or valentines or thigns like that to send. Its just hard for my physically being there for a chunk of time in the middle of the day.

Thank you for responding from a parents view!

I can see parents having to use personal/vacation days for this and then when we want to take some they will say "oh, used it up coming into the childcare" or something like that. You know it will happen

Also, my parents aren't going to want to stay longer in the pickup time to read or help. Everyone is in the mode to go home and I'm happily letting them go.

Then on the weekends, there are sports, their own family times, other activities. Also, I think your going to not be in business mode on a Sat. night and it might be to personal then business.

[daycaremum]

Ok, so my ECE program tends to bring up over and over again that we should encourage parent involvement. We should, for instance, have activities and ask parents to volunteer their time or talents to come in and help.

We could have a parent board that advises us, or family events, etc.

I have NO problem holding a family event of some sort 2x a year. I have no problem asking a parent who is a woodworker if he could make us some minor thing, or cut the legs down on a table for me, etc.

But, I don't think it's appropriate to ask parents who are PAYING ME FOR SERVICE to come in and volunteer their time for field trips or activities. I also don't have any desire for a parent board to "advise" me.

Does anyone here see it differently?

A suggested activity is to have families bring a favorite recipe...ok with me
Put together a recipe book with the kids...ok with me
Ask the parent to come in and make it with the kids. :confused:

Um...the reason their child is here is because they have to work!

I get the premise is to get parents more involved before the children go to school. But, I don't see myself the same way as school. For the most part, school is free...I'm not.

Your ECE program is teaching you this because you are being trained to work in a "centre" not trained for home daycare. In a centre parent involvement is quite important as many centres are non-profit and have parents and community members sit on their boards.

[Heidi]

Thank you for responding from a parents view!

I can see parents having to use personal/vacation days for this and then when we want to take some they will say "oh, used it up coming into the childcare" or something like that. You know it will happen

Also, my parents aren't going to want to stay longer in the pickup time to read or help. Everyone is in the mode to go home and I'm happily letting them go.

Then on the weekends, there are sports, their own family times, other activities. Also, I think your going to not be in business mode on a Sat. night and it might be to personal then business.

Like I said in my OP, I do like my families involved. But to me, anyway, there is a fine line. Having two events a year...sure, no problem. Having muffins and coffee out in the mornings for them to take to work, yep. Communicating personally with them on a daily basis about their child, you BET! Checking in with them to make sure they are satisfied, absolutely. But, that's where I personally draw the line. I work about 55 hours a week. Spending additional time outside of that to coordinate more events is asking too much for $400-$500 per week.

I still feel like asking too much of the parents in regards to time is expecting too much. It'd be like my bank calling me in to volunteer "teller" for a few hours here and there..... Since I'm an "expert" at that (was a bank teller for years), it doesn't seem unreasonable. I have on rare occasions had parents along on field trips, but I don't make it a practice.

As a matter of fact, I think the only time it's happened is when the parent was off work anyway, and was planning on keeping their child home. I invited them along on the field trip, but then they left with their child right afterwards.

[mamac]

I guess I'm the odd man out. I think it's a great thing to have parents involved in filed trips and the like. Parents love it, and kids love it. And with it being volunteer based you know the parents are there because they want to be. I think it is extremely important to have parents involved whether they actually come to your program, or contribute in other ways (providing things on a wish list, volunteer to help prep an art activity at home, etc).

I'm with you on that one. I think it's great to involve parents. You aren't forcing them per say, just offering the opportunity to involve them somehow. If I need something or want to offer my clients the opportunity to help out I put it in our monthly newsletter so that I don't have to specifically offer to a parent and so that they don't feel obligated to do so.



Me neither but I think that a lot of people are freaking out over that example because of what it sounds like. I'm sure that in larger daycare's like a center it could work because you have a larger array of families but in small child care homes or even in large daycare homes for that matter it's a lot harder to do and not really worth the time. A parent advisory board is a good idea when you have such a large amount of clients that you can't possibly hear about every family's needs and the board tales care of the "ideas" that the other families may have. When you are smaller like when you do family child care you have a deeper connection and a better opportunity to take the time to communicate needs individually. It has nothing to do with clients controlling your daycare. And in any case, that was just one example of many that one can use to involve parents.

Here are some ways that I have been able to involve my clients:

• Ask for volunteers to come and talk to the kids about the type of work they do (electrician, police officer, fireman, office manager, store manager etc)
• Take supplies home to cut/prepare for me for another day's activities
• Prepare an ethnic meal at home and bring it to daycare if we are learning about that culture
• Come on field trips with us
• Donate supplies/equipment (new or used)
• Parent surveys
• Read a story before they leave to work or before they go home after picking up their child
• Play a musical instrument for the kids
• Show off a hobby that they have (photography, woodworking, gardening etc)

When you involve parents they feel more welcome and the kids ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT when they can say "My mommy helped make this" or "My daddy is going to read us a story". It takes a little bit of time out of their day and doesn't have to mean more than 10 minutes or so (unless they volunteer to do so) and it can really make a "hovering" parent back off. If the opposite happens and a parent uses this opportunity to nit-pick at your program you can simply tell the parent that you are all set for the day and don't need any help but send home things for them to do etc.

IDK but I've had good results with involving parents, maybe it's just the relationship that I have with them and the way that I run my program? :confused:

I feel the same way. The whole reason why I decided to start my own dc business is because I wanted to be able to volunteer at my ds's school and be a more active participant in his daily life, whether it is at school or at home. Yes, parents have to work, but the parents that want to participate will try to find a way to do so. I have no problem with giving the parents an opportunity to spend "special" time with their child during the day, even if it's only for a short while. I know my own ds gets SUPER excited when I've volunteered at his school and the smile on his face shows me that I made the right career choice. I think it's a great thing for both kids and their parents. Hopefully I will fill my spots with like-minded parents that also want to be involved in their kids' lives.

[MarinaVanessa]

I have absolutely no problem doing things like sending recipes, or making stuffed easter eggs or valentines or thigns like that to send. Its just hard for my physically being there for a chunk of time in the middle of the day.

This is a GREAT way to participate! I ask of this from my clients also and I make sure when we do the activity that I let the kids know that "Little Johnny's Mommy helped us make these so that we could use them today! Isn't that special!" Even that makes the child feel proud and gives him/her the spotlight.

I for one completely understand how hard it is to take time off of work (I am the daycare provider after all ) which is why I don't mind that most of my clients can't personally come to help us out, parent involvement has a lot to do with making connections with parents and how special the child feels to have their family life in their daycare life. Believe me, sending recipes, making Easter baskets and Valentines etc. specially for your child's daycare is more than enough involvement on your part.