Torn Between Advancing to 4 STARS or Staying

[Josiegirl]

I met with my mentor yesterday to help me with my annual renewal. I assumed we had to have an assessment from the state to earn the 4th level but she looked and said I could choose to do 3 family events instead(working on a different arena). Then I could apply for my 4th star in 3 months or so. I am very tempted(she makes it sound so easy). I could really use the extra money, plus higher subsidy pay.

Eek, those types of things drive me insane with paranoia. But she said, well Halloween is coming, you could do a party and invite parents. Then Christmas brings opportunities for a cookie decorating party and Santa. Ok, 2 down, what would be good ideas for a 3rd? She suggested if I had someone come in and speak to the group about something, plus invite parents to that. Our local community is small, choices are not huge. When she did it, she had someone come in to give a talk about the heart, they did a group craft and she read a book to them.

I need ideas, and encouragement to get out of my comfort zone and just do this!! Please?

[childcaremom]

Maybe a get together at the beginning of the year? Fall themed party? Help-rake-my-leaves party? haha Just joking. Sort of.

If you were to bring someone in....
Dental hygienist?

Vet? Pets and kids type thing? you could lead that into a class pet.

Librarian? Sign everyone up for library cards? Maybe even meet at the library then it's out of your house.

Have a yoga or zumba teacher teach everyone a class. Healthy living?

Cooking class? Good nutrition. Our grocery stores offer classes geared towards children.

[laundrymom]

Police or firemen?
Have them out to visit the kids. Or a local farmer. Or an us borne book rep or just a fall party.

[CalCare]

To make it a "family" thing and not a kid's curriculum type of thing, I would think about how parent education or parent involvement can be planned. So, with that in mind, my thoughts are bit on community visitors, but actual family involvement. Ideas:

Family Fun Day - put out some hands on activities, write or type out what each activity develops (ex: Mom and Dad, playdough helps develop fine motor, blah blah blah) or what if you have each child pick their favorite activity from your place, then do those write ups at each activity and prop it up in a frame or tape it to the table or something so it'd be like "Mom, Dad and Friends, Playdough's my favorite. It helps me develop blah blah blah! -Johnny" That would be cute. Then just have a 2 hour gathering where families anf kids check it all out. Have a fee basic cheap drinks and snacks and call it "Our favorite ways to Learn"
Orrrr
"Art Walk" hang up their art all over. Do a 2 hour thing, have snacks and drinks. When I say that, I guess I'd mean water in pitchers with ice to be festive but cheap and no messes and maybe little cut celery and carrots and popcorn! Pretty cheap and still shows healthy choices and easy to vacuum.
Or...
Potluck at park. Make sign up sheets. Don't pay for anything! Make the sheet specify: water, main dish, apps, dessert: 3 of each or something. Add "Potluck picnic, bring something to share and enough for your family to enjoy!" Or something so they don't think k you will be feeding them...
Just some thoughts

[Cat Herder]

3 family events instead
I need ideas, and encouragement to get out of my comfort zone and just do this!! Please?

I had to do them, too, but I went smaller.

1. Family first aid/cpr class (2 hours on a Saturday afternoon, kids welcome). Pizza, fruit/veggie tray, lemonade, water bottles.

2. Coffee or Tea with Me (Opened an hour early, had muffins, bagels and fruit, posted photos and kids art, let kids show them their favorite "stuff")

3. "Take a hike" - Had parents meet me at my favorite trail at 6am. hiked 1 hour, met back at my house for drop off and sack adult breakfasts to go (tangerine, baby bell, water and nutri-grain bar).

[Miss A]

With Thanksgiving coming up you could do some sort of food drive or pack meal boxes for families in need in your community or for the local food pantry. Make a Saturday morning out if it and pack the boxes with your DC families, and then deliver them.

[CalCare]

At one place I worked, I organized a beach clean up once on the weekend That way: parents drive and are in charge of their children, clean the beach(!), costs nothing - no snacks just have them all bring their own water bottles. I took a pic and wrote a press release on it and it was published (free advertising). Also have them bring trash bags, rubber gloves. Coastal clean up day is this month!!

[Josiegirl]

You are all so brilliant! I wish I could borrow your creativity all the time.
Trouble with me is my non-committal ways and my fear of failing

Ok, Halloween works. Something easy, cheap.....

Christmas works. Cookie decorating and Santa, maybe a book swap.

And I'm thinking of sending home a newsletter including asking the dcps to help with donating new toys, or 'coins for kids' or something along that line; the fire department collects new toys and $ to distribute to local children and families at Christmas time. Then we could all meet at the FD on a designated day soon after Thanksgiving to deliver, maybe even call the local paper to do a little write-up and picture.

Boom. Done. Heehee sort of.

Two more questions, if I may?
1)Is it better to do these at the end of a work day, such as 3-5 or on a Saturday?
2) Do I only invite current clients or those sometime dcfs too, as in 'they came for the summer but attend after school programs now so won't see them very often'?
My home isn't very big.

I don't know what I'd do without you all!!! :hug: