Setting Up Social Events With DCFs

[spud912]

I've always wanted to do some kind of get-together with daycare parents, but the longer I'm in this business, the less desire I have to do it. Plus, daycare can be hard on my children so anytime off or away from the daycare families is good for them and ultimately for me too. I already see these children 50 hours a week....I don't necessarily want anymore time with them unless I'm getting compensated for it .

In fact, it's getting to the point where I'm going to stop going to daycare kid birthdays. My daycare families don't really go out of their way for me or members of my family, so I am leaning towards making everything much more business-oriented.

[Josiegirl]

Ok, I have to admit, if it wasn't a possible STARS requirement, I probably wouldn't even be entertaining the thought. Plus I was thinking if I did a picnic or pizza day this summer, it'd be a great way to get my backyard transformed quicker. But then, I'm wondering if I'm assuming they'd want to spend their weekend off to come here any more than I'd want to spend it with them.

The families are all pretty nice, I just really enjoy my kid-free time. I actually invited one of my dcgs here yesterday though and we had some fun together. The family is wonderful and I do a little extra for them sometimes.

[Starburst]

Ok, I have to admit, if it wasn't a possible STARS requirement, I probably wouldn't even be entertaining the thought. Plus I was thinking if I did a picnic or pizza day this summer, it'd be a great way to get my backyard transformed quicker. But then, I'm wondering if I'm assuming they'd want to spend their weekend off to come here any more than I'd want to spend it with them.

I think that is why we here a lot of people on here saying they don't always get 4s, or 7s, or whatever their local STARS/QIRS/FCCERS/ECEERS grading is (I'm mostly familiar with ECEERS/FCCERS). And why many don't try to get accredited even though they have overall quality programs; because they choose not to have any out of daycare events for the parents or family involvement activities. Which if that's what you want is fine, some licensing just wants to make sure that parents have the opportunity to be involved in their children's early education; but some parents just see daycare as a place where you just drop your kid of so you can go to work and don't really care much about socializing with the provider or other parents outside of pick-up/drop-off (just as most providers want it to be, but not always the case).

ETA: I remember this lady from iownadaycare.com (I only watch the videos for ideas, I never really buy anything- I do the same thing for startapreschool.com). In one video she said when she was starting out she hosted weekend birthday parties for the daycare kids in her backyard (no extra charge) because chances are that not only would her current daycare parents be there but the birthday family would often invite non-daycare families to the parties, so that could also double as an advertisement strategy as well as an event for daycare families.

Another Idea: You can also maybe try an Open House/ Back To (Pre)School Night type thing where the parents can look around at the children's art work, talk a little, and you can share pictures of the children that you have been taking. You can probably organize a game (scavenger hunt, bingo, headbandz, charades, etc.) maybe even give out prizes, and/or you can probably teach the children a song/dance (or even a little skit) and have them preform it for their parents at the end (if you have a big enough backyard or living space). It can either be a pot luck or you can just have pizza, finger foods, and coffee. Probably only about 1.5 hours to 2 hours.

If you assess the children in your care (especially if you do preschool) you can probably also set up a parent/provider conference, not much of a 'socializing' even but could help break the ice and may work towards 'parent involvement' requirements (depending on your program's/state's system).

[Christina72684]

We'll have been opened 3 years in July and we've had 3 very successful Halloween parties. The first year was the best because the weather was nice, but the last two had to be inside. All the kids came from both daycares, all dressed up in costume. Some got ready here and some went home first. We've even had a couple of parents dress up. It's a couple of hours and parents all bring in cookies, candy, drinks, etc and we buy pizza. It's an easy way to see the kids dressed up. Everything's so hectic getting games ready, food ready, etc that I don't have a lot of time to socialize.

We tried to throw a Summer Bash last summer but no one was interested for some reason. I didn't have the best group of kids/families then, so we'll try again this summer.

We also go to the Zoo and a Pumpkin farm each year and several parents volunteer for that, so we get to know them then too. It's a little less intimidating so you might start with field trips before doing a party.

[mountainside13]

That's one of my fears too. I have had friends who I'm no longer friend with and I think eventually it got to the point where I don't try to form anything more than an acquaintanceship with people because I figure that if they do get to know me that they won't like me anymore and will just wind up leaving anyway (maybe we should start an introvert group, ).

I have thought of some daycare family gathering ideas (voluntary; some depend on your age groups):
Graduation, Grade Promotion, or End of The School Year Celebration (especially if you offer preschool, private kinder, BS/AS care, or have homeschoolers)
Family Talent Show
Puppet Show
Poetry Slam Night (or Story telling night)
Short Play (or Skits)
Movie Night
Game Night
BBQ Party
Bond Fire
Easter Egg Hunt (maybe the day before Easter or that Friday after closing)
Halloween Party
Christmas Party (a few days before Christmas)
New Years Party (kid friendly)

This sounds exactly like me!! I agree with pp, I know mine is a fear of abandonment and self esteem issues due to my past. I'm working on it.

[Blackcat31]

I'm a very outgoing person, but I have no desire to entertain my daycare parents. They are not my friends. We have a friend-LY relationship, but that's it for the most part. In the nearly 30 years I've done this, I have become "real" friends with only 2 or 3 parents.

The manager of the local store doesn't have me over to dinner because I shop there. The school principal doesn't feel he needs to ask me over because my daughter is in his school. We say hello and exchange pleasantries. Same with me and my daycare parents.

I save my backyard BBQ's for people I actually want to hang with!

This is just my opinion BTW. Kudos to those who do the entertaining thing with clients and enjoy it. It's just not my cup 'o tea.

This ^^ is my answer too.

Ok, I have to admit, if it wasn't a possible STARS requirement, I probably wouldn't even be entertaining the thought.

I am not sure of your state requirements but I am a 4 star program (max in my state) and I still met the parent-program requirements without having to plan outside events such as BBQ's or Mother's Day breakfasts etc....

There are a lot of ways to meet that portion of the QRIS requirements without having to give your personal time or work outside of your normal care giving hours.

[Country Kids]

For our STARS program for our state we have to have social events for parents also.

Still working on one part of the STARS program so I havent reached the STAR for that requirement yet.

[cheerfuldom]

I am confused....are you trying to have a party in order to ask the dads to help you revamp your backyard? I dont know that that is going to go over very well....I think it would be better to do a party without any expectation of return from the parents.

If you need help with the backyard, I would ask each Dad separately although again, as a professional, I can imagine they may be offended to feel you are trying to get labor or materials for free. I know I would be miffed for someone to expect me to offer free daycare services just because I happen to provide daycare.

Maybe I am misunderstanding the situation?

[Meeko]

I am confused....are you trying to have a party in order to ask the dads to help you revamp your backyard? I dont know that that is going to go over very well....I think it would be better to do a party without any expectation of return from the parents.

If you need help with the backyard, I would ask each Dad separately although again, as a professional, I can imagine they may be offended to feel you are trying to get labor or materials for free. I know I would be miffed for someone to expect me to offer free daycare services just because I happen to provide daycare.

Maybe I am misunderstanding the situation?

If this is the case, maybe ask if they are interested in bartering. When I had a separate daycare house, a DCD did a lot of landscaping work for me, fixed my shed door, re-built some steps etc. He was a single dad who was struggling and so it helped him not to have to pay for daycare and I got great work done.

A DCM is a photographer. She's well known around here and I could never afford her regular prices. But she did some family pics for half price and I "paid" the rest in daycare. If it works mutually, it's great.

That may be better than offering a BBQ etc. Money talks better than anything, so bartering services may work...and it feels more "equal" to those involved.

[Josiegirl]

I am confused....are you trying to have a party in order to ask the dads to help you revamp your backyard? I dont know that that is going to go over very well....I think it would be better to do a party without any expectation of return from the parents.

If you need help with the backyard, I would ask each Dad separately although again, as a professional, I can imagine they may be offended to feel you are trying to get labor or materials for free. I know I would be miffed for someone to expect me to offer free daycare services just because I happen to provide daycare.

Maybe I am misunderstanding the situation?

Yeh, I didn't get into that part of it very well did I? Guess I wasn't thinking how that must've sounded. Sorry. In a newsletter last fall I told them my plans to convert the play yard this year and I asked all of them if they had access to natural items and I gave a sample list, please to let me know, I'm willing to pay and everything. Many spoke up and said oh yeh, we'd love to help!. One of the dcfs ended up giving me a nice gift certificate for Christmas with a note saying 'for your new play area'. Then he told me how some of the other parents would be able to help(He's friends with a couple and kinda knows what they have access to, being in construction type work and such). I also asked my resource person at the childcare agency for ideas and she's the one that mentioned having a big get together with the dcfs, offering a picnic or something and working all together.
Hope I explained it a little more clearly?

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

I used to coordinate an every-other-month dinner meeting at a fast-food joint with playtubes close to my house when my own kids were younger. The DCPs really enjoyed it and it was another great thing that set my program apart from others.

The cons were:
1)OMG I cannot believe how DCG/DCB is behaving and I am having such a hard time keeping my mouth shut!
2)As if I didn't spend enough time on my job without adding this. Oy.
3)Did I just overhear you comparing your rates and did I just overhear you debating if you should enroll at a "real" preschool or stay at my daycare?!?!

Yeah, after half a dozen or so of those I decided I didn't really need to get my families together. I just quit doing them, and no one asked about them. I think they were secretly relieved to not have the "obligation" anymore, too!