Family Involvement Ideas

[Annalee]

Wow! I'm jealous. I once tried to hold a Halloween party for the families. I spent $400 and countless hours shopping, cooking, and decorating. I had only 1 of about 10 families show up and they dropped their 3 year old off and left for a few hours, and then returned to pick him up. What a slap in the face! I tried to hold a mandatory contract renewal meeting one weekend and every single family backed out at the last minute so I cancelled. I closed and reopened a new daycare a few years later after I moved. I tried testing the waters on parent involvement this time around, so right before Thanksgiving we made a box for a food drive, set it next to the sign in/out sheets, and sent home a newsletter about it. All food donated was to be given to our local elementary school to help their needy. Not one single family out of the 12 kids enrolled donated anything besides mine. Very saddening! An even bigger slap in the face was that half the families returned saying they had never even seen or read the newsletter that I spent hours typing out and placing in each child's cubby regarding our November events. It makes me sad that no one cares enough to be involved in their child's "school" or daily activities. How do you get your parents involved? Any tips for me, pretty please?

Persistence.....I have scheduled meetings where parents do not show up as well, but it has gotten better since I have explained that I have to offer these meetings for my QRIS report card. I explain how the state developed this plan to enhance quality child care. Parents do not HAVE to come but I HAVE to OFFER the meetings. There have been times that I cooked all day only to have a couple parents show up but I really build it up in the next monthly newsletter praising those in attendance. I have even offered $25 gift cards as a door prize. In the end, if I can get them there, I feel parent and provider benefits because it does strengthen relationships. In turn, this is a positive venture for the child/children.

[Annalee]

Persistence.....I have scheduled meetings where parents do not show up as well, but it has gotten better since I have explained that I have to offer these meetings for my QRIS report card. I explain how the state developed this plan to enhance quality child care. Parents do not HAVE to come but I HAVE to OFFER the meetings. There have been times that I cooked all day only to have a couple parents show up but I really build it up in the next monthly newsletter praising those in attendance. I have even offered $25 gift cards as a door prize. In the end, if I can get them there, I feel parent and provider benefits because it does strengthen relationships. In turn, this is a positive venture for the child/children.

BTW....these two meetings are in addition to our normal parties during the day throughout the year at dc where parents are welcome to attend...sometimes they do , sometimes they don't.