Cook-out for DC Families....No One Signed Up! :(

[Christina72684]

We decided since we're celebrating 2 years of being open this summer that we would start having an annual cook-out for our daycare families in order to thank them for being with us and give them a chance to really meet one another. We've had this scheduled for 2 months, put it in 2 newsletters, and had a reminder on the door since July 1st. With that reminder we had a sign-up sheet for families to either bring a side dish or dessert. As of yesterday, NO ONE had signed up. We reminded parents at pick up on different occasions and they always acted like they were kind of interested and would get back to us.

If my daughter attended a daycare that I didn't own, I would love the opportunity to hang out with the daycare provider, her workers, the kids my daughter plays with every day, and their families. Guess I'm the only one

[MsLaura529]

I'm sorry, that's a bummer. When my kids were in daycare, their provider and her mom and sister (all three were providers) would throw a "Farm Party" every June. We would be at her mom's house (she lives on a couple acres) and they would have BBQ food, bounce houses, and a mobile petting farm with pony rides. Between the three home daycares, there would be about 20-30 families (even past dc families would come)!

I have hopes of doing this one day, and totally get your frustration. You're not the only one who feels that way. It is a busy time of year for people, though, so maybe they have other things that are getting in the way?

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I wouldn't attend a party with the daycare my child attends, if I sent them to a daycare either. I might attend a very brief thing like "Tea for Mommy" or something in the morning for 30 minutes or less but that's about it. They may just prefer to spend their time with their child alone, away from the "daycare people" which is fine. It's understandable since the kids are with us so much!

That was very thoughtful of you, though, and I'm sure they appreciate the effort!

[Michael]

I would still have the cook-out and make it a family event. If anyone signs up then all the better. Give out a few details on what you will be doing and what will be served. Continue it each year and it will become something everyone will look forward to.

[Lyss]

We decided since we're celebrating 2 years of being open this summer that we would start having an annual cook-out for our daycare families in order to thank them for being with us and give them a chance to really meet one another. We've had this scheduled for 2 months, put it in 2 newsletters, and had a reminder on the door since July 1st. With that reminder we had a sign-up sheet for families to either bring a side dish or dessert. As of yesterday, NO ONE had signed up. We reminded parents at pick up on different occasions and they always acted like they were kind of interested and would get back to us.

If my daughter attended a daycare that I didn't own, I would love the opportunity to hang out with the daycare provider, her workers, the kids my daughter plays with every day, and their families. Guess I'm the only one

Are you sure they aren't coming at all or maybe just don't want to sign up to bring anything? With my group of DCPs I know if I put up a sign up sheet only one DCM would bring something, the rest I wouldn't expect anything from and would be totally would be flabbergasted if they signed up to bring something! :: Plus I don't know if my DCPs want to hang out with the other parents, they have very different parenting ideas ::

Honestly I don't know if I'd attend if my DD was in daycare, I know I would want to but I doubt I'd actually do it But we're out and about people, we usually have things going on during the weekend and plus I try to avoid people I see all week on the weekends :: I do think its a great idea and many parents would love the opportunity to visit!

Congrats on your 2 year anniversary BTW! happyfacehappyface

[cheerfuldom]

I am sorry no one came. The first couple of years I did stuff, there was little interest but now I am 6 years down the road and have a decent turn out for our yearly Easter Egg Hunt and also the summer BBQ

[preschoolteacher]

I think it's great you offered it--a really nice idea! I think I'd probably attend something like that if my son was in daycare. People get SO busy in the summer though... and maybe you have a group of families that tend to be private and don't want to socialize right now? I'd try again next year... And I agree, you should still do it as a family event and try not to feel bad!! It might just be the group you have, and if you threw it again next year with different families, there'd be a different turn out.

[originalkat]

I try to plan family stuff right before pick-up time so they just come and participate for a bit and then leave. I don't think anyone would come if I made an event on a weekend. Next time think about having the grill cookin at 5pm and have them bring sides in the morning when they drop off and have it all set up in the evening. They can come and chit chat, watch the kids play outside for a bit, eat a hot dog and take off. Celebration BBQ without making a extra trip.

[My3cents]

I would still have the cook-out and make it a family event. If anyone signs up then all the better. Give out a few details on what you will be doing and what will be served. Continue it each year and it will become something everyone will look forward to.

continue on.........

make sure they know bringing something is optional- That might be a deal buster for some-

I agree with Michael I would still carry on with this even if just my family was in attendance. It will catch on eventually.

So cool of you to do this. I do something similar at Christmas for my parents-

[Starburst]

This may sound bad but it may be because they see it as only a celebration for the daycare and not their kids. Sometimes people are more interested in their own little family circle than others on the outside of their immediate family. At the daycare I used to work at we had a big graduation/end of the school year celebration every year in June (on a Friday at 6 pm) at a church down her street where the kids would dress up in theme costumes, sing and dance, and all the daycare kids would get a special gift (like a little trophy or medallion), the preschoolers would also officially graduate from her preschool program and the DCP would make important announcements about upcoming events in the daycare then everyone would eat after. The parents were always volunteering for helping to bring food/cook, set up decorations, work soundboards, take pictures/videos, and clean up. She also has a large group of about 20 kids enrolled in her program total (including full-time/part-time/drop-ins) and many of the kids were related (lots of siblings and cousins).

One time it was the provider's daughter's baby shower/25th birthday party (it was at a park on a Saturday afternoon last summer) and most of the DC families did come but some did flaked out or decided not to come last minute. It could also be that if you didn't have many DCF for very long that they don't understand how important this is to you or how big of an accomplishment it is. Sometimes after you been in business for a while and have built a bigger cliental (usually due to word of mouth advertising) they start to understand how much you really care about what you do and realize what a good job you do, because you have a more established reputation. Sometimes if you have a small group some people may think it will be awkward with such as small group of people, especially if they don't know the other parents well or if they don't like some of the parents/families and are afraid of running into them, so it may not just be you.