What Have You Done Lately to Improve Your Care?

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

Bought something new. Switch philosophy on childcare (from what to what) switched ages. Changed a play area etc.

What improvements are you making/ doing?

I feel some big changes coming my way and I am just curious what others are doing.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I stopped taking younger children and upped the age limit by 6 months (with the exception of a very good friend's child - who knows me and my black and white ways so she won't push the boundaries with policies ). That has helped greatly.

I also bought some new toys from Lakeshore with some of the late fees so WOOHOO! The Number Bots are great and so is the magnetic ramp thing.
Oh, and the little three person rocker from Aldi! That has been a huge hit.

Little things. But, they make me happy.

[Annalee]

I purchased a larger sign for outdoors and re-positioned it in an effort to re-market so to speak. I like to do some kind of "advertising change-up" every year.

[thrivingchildcarecom]

I have started to replace items at least once a month. I looked around one day and realized some of the outdoor ride-ons where super old and looked really worn. I have set myself a monthly budget and I'm trying to make upgrades little by little.

[Blackcat31]

Finished the fence and now have a completely enclosed yard.

Working on redoing the toddler playground and preschool playground areas. Ditching some older Little Tike cars for new ones and adding some other new playground items.

Also finished up some rearranging, sorting and filing stuff inside.

[AmyKidsCo]

I'm going through the NAFCC accreditation self-study. So far I haven't done much besides making lists of things I need to do.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I purchased a larger sign for outdoors and re-positioned it in an effort to re-market so to speak. I like to do some kind of "advertising change-up" every year.

Smart! How big is it now? What a good idea.

I just made little glossy half sheet flyers and will be using those for advertising. It's how I'm changing it up this year. I'm excited.

[Annalee]

Smart! How big is it now? What a good idea.

I just made little glossy half sheet flyers and will be using those for advertising. It's how I'm changing it up this year. I'm excited.

it is 36x36.....It is two sided so all can see from both sides of the highway....the other one I had was 26x36 and had handprints and was very colorful, but the marketing dept at the sign co. I used (they made the first sign for me years ago) told me that to get attention, you need big bold print with no garb on it. So that is what I did.....and have tied helium balloons on it to get extra attention.

[Annalee]

Finished the fence and now have a completely enclosed yard.

Working on redoing the toddler playground and preschool playground areas. Ditching some older Little Tike cars for new ones and adding some other new playground items.

Also finished up some rearranging, sorting and filing stuff inside.

I cleaned out my shelves with all those early childhood books I have never and will never use and donated to a local child care organization to share with providers. I have been in a "chunking" mood with my daycare and my house.

[permanentvacation]

Earlier today, after speaking with my sister and nephew about a child that has caused complete havoc in my daycare for 6 months. I have been keeping her because I need the money so badly. However, she makes every day pure he** here. She was absent for a week last week due to an illness. That week was pure Heaven! So, after speaking with my sister and nephew, I have decided that tomorrow will be her last day here.

My sister and nephew made me realize that my mental and physical health as well as the overall happiness of the children in my daycare are much more important than me needing the income from one child.

To continue providing good quality care, I plan to put the overall health and happiness of the group above my need for having the income from one child that doesn't fit well into my daycare.

I have also decided to stop trying to 'fix' or 'help' families who live differently than I do and raise their children differently than I do or believe is 'right'. Instead of trying to get parents to 'raise their children properly' according to my opinion and beliefs, I am going to simply let them know that due to our differences in parenting styles, my daycare is not a good fit for their child/family.

Yes, it will lower my chances of enrolling children as I will refuse some families, but, the families that I do enroll will truly benefit from me being able to provide a calm, loving environment that enriches the children's lives as well as is enriched by the children who are enrolled.

[Snowmom]

Lessened the amount of hours I'm available.

Told myself that I will never make apologies for upholding my policies. (Meaning NEVER start a sentence with "I'm sorry" when discussing policies or money)

Forgave myself for mistakes I've made.

[sharlan]

I replaced my wooden play structure with a new one.

I bought some new crafts items for the older kids.

I am going to revamp my contract and parents' handbook.

[Thriftylady]

Well our caterpillars to grow into butterflies came today. Does that count? We had two cooking lessons this week instead of one . I guess I haven't done anything "new" I am just always trying change up what I am doing.

[MarinaVanessa]

I had finished making my own curriculum and realized that it was way too jam packed with stuff so I tossed it and decided to start ALL OVER AGAIN with less to do and even more open-play and play-based activities. I plan on having it be progressive and simple so that each daycare kid can do both the same activity but at their own developmental ability and also have some personalized activities just for them to help them improve. I've decided that the bulk of my curriculum will be focused on social-emotional activities (taking turns, waiting for their turn, manners, respect, right and wrong, positive behavior etc).

I just got a new daycare kid a little more than a month ago with an IEP and some behavioral problems who has been keeping me busy and it's clear that the behavior doesn't have anything to do with his special needs, the problems have more to do with the child doing the behavior because it has worked for him to get results. I seem to be getting more and more children like this so it's time to simplify the day and focus on simple activities that reinforce good citizenship.

[Thriftylady]

I had finished making my own curriculum and realized that it was way too jam packed with stuff so I tossed it and decided to start ALL OVER AGAIN with less to do and even more open-play and play-based activities. I plan on having it be progressive and simple so that each daycare kid can do both the same activity but at their own developmental ability and also have some personalized activities just for them to help them improve. I've decided that the bulk of my curriculum will be focused on social-emotional activities (taking turns, waiting for their turn, manners, respect, right and wrong, positive behavior etc).

I just got a new daycare kid a little more than a month ago with an IEP and some behavioral problems who has been keeping me busy and it's clear that the behavior doesn't have anything to do with his special needs, the problems have more to do with the child doing the behavior because it has worked for him to get results. I seem to be getting more and more children like this so it's time to simplify the day and focus on simple activities that reinforce good citizenship.

Is it just me or does it seem parents are getting the attitude of "my child has a diagnosis so I don't really have to do the hard work of parenting"?