Opinions On Parents Contributions

[Play Care]

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.

Yes! Last year my younger daughter was in Kindergarten and there were several middle of the day events. I only made one and she was devastated I couldn't do the others. She brought it up for months afterwards (just that she was sad about it) I am fortunate to work at home, but I am working.

[Willow]

Ewww.

No way.


Too many cooks in the kitchen never ends well.

[Starburst]

My ECE classes stress the important of family involvement too. I know how it can be an incontinence to have the parents there over your shoulder. I am a mothers helper and the last few days the mom was at the hospital having her second baby and her older one had acted up a few times but his grandma was there too (she can't move around too much) and every time he started to cry because he didn't get his way she would start asking from the other room "Why you crying? What's wrong?" and times I was afraid to try to limit distractions (like toys at the table) or take his toys away so he could eat because I was afraid he would cry and she would tell his parents I was being mean to him. She once even accused me of not properly cooking a yam because if had been out for hours and started to drying out and getting hard (he doesn't sit down for more than a few seconds to eat) and she said "I hope he doesn't get a tummy ache, because it wasn't cooked properly". Some parents think it is easier for you when they are around but its actually harder because both parties are afraid to discipline the child in front of the other but you know that if you don't that child (or the other children) will act worse. Also some parents may try to discipline other daycare kids and that could cause issues. But there are other ways to let the parent be involved in their child's education without them having to volunteer in class (stuff that can be done after hours).

Our QRIS "coach" suggested things like:

• An invite them for a "breakfast with DCK" before they need to go to work
• Invite them to share a tradition from their culture, home or lifestyle
• Ask them to share what they do at work in person, in writing, in photos or in video form
• Do a monthly or bi-monthly parent meeting
• Have a Family get-together (invite one entire family at a time over for dinner with your family AFTER hours)
• Do a "meet and greet" twice a year so ALL families get a chance to know one another
• Ask them to bring in family photos and then do a bulletin board where you high-light one family each week/month
• Ask them to volunteer for a field trip with you
• Do parent-teacher conferences atleast 4 times per year

1. *Parent/Provider Conferences Because I plan on doing observations (with a DRDP) and a preschool I planned on having parent-teacher conferences at the beginning of the school year and towards the end to discuss where the child is at the beginning of the year and the progress they have made at the end of the year- I only plan on doing that for preschoolers and younger (may only do for full time or kids who show up at least 2 or 3 times a week). It could also help identify any delay the child may be having even after DAP curriculum. I would let the parent know in between if there are any concerns or that they can talk to me if they have any concerns.
   
2. Graduation/Summer/End of the school Year Celebrations. At the FCC I worked at once a year there would be a graduation/end of the school year/beginning of summer celebration where there is a theme and the kids/teachers dress up and dance to songs at a church a few blocks over. Some of the parents volunteer to help decorate/set up before and clean up after, transport kids or decorations/props from DC to church (most of the parents were close friends), donate some items or services (like taking pictures of grads or video tape), help kids get ready between songs, or bring food/beverages. All the parents would try their best to help out. I would love to be able to do this but it may take years to build up that kind of enrollment and get that great of parents.
   
3. Career, Culture, or Talent Day/Night (Show And Tell for adults) I have thought about maybe having like a career day where parents can come (on days off or around their pick up/drop of time) during preschool time and talk about their job and what they do and how they like their job/why its important. And I have thought that I could do the same when it comes to some cultural/ family traditions or any special talents/skills they have with the children but that can be tricky because some parents may take offence to that BUT I would let all the parent's know it is part of teaching them about diversity/tolerance- not trying to impose any religious/cultural views; I would also make sure that I see an outline of what they plan to show/teach the kids as well. They could also just make a short video or a mini book that talks about their job or we could read about their job and use pictures of them in a work uniform and make a book about them. Or they could have it at night and that way other parents can get to know about them too.
   
4. Annual Appreciation Dinner Party/Potluck/ BBQ. I also thought about doing like an annual dinner or a BBQ/potluck for daycare families but that could be expensive and there is a chance that no one will show up. At the FCC I mentioned last summer the providers daughter was pregnant (they officially announced it at the last graduation) so on the daughter's birthday (exactly a month before the baby was born) they rented an area in a recreational park and invited not only their friends and family but also the daycare families, most of them showed up but because it was in the later afternoon on a Saturday and they all had young kids, most of them either just dropped off a gift and left or left after eating (the party started at 1 she didn't start to open presents until around 5 or 6).
   
5. Open house I thought about maybe doing an open house so that parents could mingle and get to know each other. But some parents may value their privacy more than others and some parents may just find it silly. I also thought of doing it for only inquiring families (kind of like an orientation meeting or group tour) but it would be difficult to set up a day for all pending families to be available and if there isn't enough flexibility it could lead to the loss of some potential clients.
   
6. Newsletters/FB/bulletin board You can also send newsletters/bulletin board (maybe even a private Facebook page) to keep the parents up-to-date on what their children are doing, upcoming events/holiday parties/ birthdays.
   
7. Donation Box/Share Box You can have a donation box. Let them know if you are looking for donations for projects (such as orphaned socks or TP/PT rolls) or you can let them know if there is any days that you will need a volunteer or a day that they can sit in and observe for an hour to know what their child's routines are like. They don't have to stay all day. They could just stop by to read a book at circle time. Just let them know that they cannot stay too long because of licensing regulations (might need to see what your state rules say).
   
8. Suggestion Box You can have a suggestion box where parents can anonymously suggest things that they think will help their children learn or help the daycare improve in some way. Though you may need to make it clear that the suggestions should be about how to improve the quality of the program for the children- NOT the price or policies/house rules! Everything that follows that criteria in the suggestion box will be considered but it does not necessarily mean it will be enforced if it proves to be too difficult for the provider, the children, or all other parties involved or if it is in anyway illegal, goes against state FCC regulations, or can offend others.
   
9. Theme Night/Movie Night/ Poetry Slam I know many people here have "date night" specials. Maybe have like a theme night or a movie/book night where everyone comes over (can be in their PJs) and watch movies or read books. You can either make popcorn/order pizza or request that it is a pot luck and parents bring any food they want to share; If you provider food you can probably charge but that might turn off some parents from attending when it is supposed to be about community. If you have a projector and a big screen you could have an outside movie theater in your yard and everyone can sit on blankets or in tents. My college's preschool program has a movie night once every month or two (it's indoors but they have a big projector screen in one of the rooms). They could also make their own story/poem or pick a story from their family/culture or just something they created.
   
10. Talent Show You could have a talent night once or twice a year where everyone can come over and sing/dance/act/ cook or show off any talent they have (you and the parents can participate too); they could also just sit back and watch but I would make sure you have at least 2 or 3 acts to keep it interesting. If you want you could have a vote (but if you participate you wouldn't be eligible to win). Or you could have a recital of songs you teach the kids every couple of months (can have a theme like nursery rhymes, America, or seasons/holidays) or you can read a story to the kids for a few weeks and have a play where they act it out (depending on the ages and the story).
    
11. Coupon Cubby/ Library You can also have like a "coupon cubby" or "Coupon Library" where parents can drop off ads/coupons and you can teach kids how to use scissors/ stay in the lines, organizing/sorting, as well as ways to save money. You can also have a folder to put all the cut out coupons and parents can pick out which coupons they want (I got that idea after an "Extreme Couponers" marathon ). The best part is that you can get first dibs on the coupons and if you see something you know a particular family may want you can save it for them (you can have a 'coupon watcher' list for each family).
    
12. Holiday Community if you and your daycare families share similar beliefs/celebrations you can have a holiday party outside of daycare hours where you invite daycare families. Maybe you can set up a trick or treating group where the parents who cannot or don't want to go out trick or treating (if they want to go to a party or stay home and have a haunted house/pass out candy) can set up for their kids to go with another DCK's family (or you can volunteer to be the 'trick or treat' chaperone) maybe you can have an Easter egg hunt at your house or set up for a community egg hunt with other providers at a park. Maybe around Christmas you can have a mini Christmas play or a tree/house decorating party (can help people who are not physically able to) or volunteer at a hospital/nursing home singing Christmas carols to the elderly/ill or help decorate for elderly/ill (they get very depressed around holidays).
    
13. Dinner Guests You can set up a dinner guest event where the parents get to meet each other by going over to each other's houses for dinner/desert/ coffee (completely voluntary of course, not required) or you can once in a while invite DC parents over for dinner (you can invite only one family at a time, a few families at a time, or all the families {you will probably need coupons in this case}).

All these may not be directly in daycare but they do teach the kids about community and socializing with friends out of regular settings. Also if you teach the children manners it is a great way for them to practice it in real life situations.

[Meeko]

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!).

Too many parents would expect their "suggestions" to become policy and take offense if the provider says no. Asking them gives the impression that they have a say in how things are run.

[Willow]

Too many parents would expect their "suggestions" to become policy and take offense if the provider says no. Asking them gives the impression that they have a say in how things are run.

EXACTLY.



On the flip side of that, as a parent, I'd feel pretty peeved if I was asked to participate in a round table type discussion where my opinions were not really going to matter in the end. What a complete waste of the time I could be spending at home with my family.

[Country Kids]

Too many parents would expect their "suggestions" to become policy and take offense if the provider says no. Asking them gives the impression that they have a say in how things are run.

Exactly!!!!!

This is what I keep saying /thinking! Especially for a FCC in a home. I can see them not doing this in a center/headstart/school but when you only have 3-7 families I can see how they might want to have a big say in it.

[Blackcat31]

Exactly!!!!!

This is what I keep saying /thinking! Especially for a FCC in a home. I can see them not doing this in a center/headstart/school but when you only have 3-7 families I can see how they might want to have a big say in it.

CK~~~ THIS is exactly why I said in many other threads that the whole LONG-TERM point of the QRIS is to eliminate family child care as we know it.

Ideally, the government would like to see college degreed people teaching the children in an environment that is like a school setting.

Universal preschool, QRIS, unions, new standards, etc etc etc.....

Seems to me there will be no place left for the stay at home mom's who want to watch a few kids and make a few dollars while doing so.

Child care will become the next big over regulated, under valued career choice out there..... and definitely one the home family child care provider can no longer compete in.

[Country Kids]

EXACTLY.



On the flip side of that, as a parent, I'd feel pretty peeved if I was asked to participate in a round table type discussion where my opinions were not really going to matter in the end. What a complete waste of the time I could be spending at home with my family.

I was already told when this comes up-after taking the suggestions/opinions-to let the parents know why my policies are in place.

Seriously, if I'm going to do that why oh why go through all of this in the first place?:confused:

[Willow]

I was already told when this comes up-after taking the suggestions/opinions-to let the parents know why my policies are in place.

Seriously, if I'm going to do that why oh why go through all of this in the first place?:confused:

So they're anticipating parents will be like what the heck, but they still want you to do it anyway?? That's ridiculous!

[Country Kids]

::

So they're anticipating parents will be like what the heck, but they still want you to do it anyway?? That's ridiculous!

I guess, all I know its going to be a lllloooonnnggg process to get this done!

[Willow]

:confused:

::

I guess, all I know its going to be a lllloooonnnggg process to get this done!

I don't know, I'm not sure I'd be up for doin all that pointless joop jumpin....maybe if there was some sort of wine inventive.....?

You should ask, just in case there is!!!


(I will keep my fingers crossed for you!)

[Bookworm]

I have no problem asking parents for things pertaining to curriculum. I also encourage parents to come to all parties and field trips. Those who can, do. Toae who can't , don't. I take a lot of pics for the ones who can't. 98% of the parents are chomping at the bit to volunteer for anything. I happily accept their help. Where I do have a problem, it's "Curriculum Fees". Each year, the parents of DCK age 2-5, have to pay a "Curriculum Fee". This is supposed to pay for supplies for the year. We never see a dime of that money and end up buying everything ourselves. All requests to end "Curriculum Fees" are met with deaf ears.

[clep]

I encourage parent involvement often.

• I will create a little project for them to take home and do with the child and return.
• They come on field trips, but the trip destinations, dates and times are sent out three months in advance so they can take time off of work and decide what they want to go to. It is not mandatory at all, but I have at least one parent attend each field trip.
• We have evening events such as our Christmas concerts.
• They help out ensuring their child has a specific item for the show and share theme every week.
• Parents send snacks and treats for our parties

That is about it and all is volunteer, not required. Parents are going to have a ton of pressure soon enough when their child get's in school. I don't think they need it right now.