Computer Program To Organize What Kids Are Attending?

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  • InTheNest
    Daycare.com Member
    • Oct 2013
    • 6

    Computer Program To Organize What Kids Are Attending?

    I feel like running a daycare is sometimes like playing Tetris! I have some kids that are part time, or have odd hours, and I'm trying to find a calendar or a scheduling app so I can see what kids I have, when. It will also help me to make sure that I keep within my ratio. Summer is coming, and between vacations, teacher's kids, and an influx of school agers, I am looking for an easy way of keeping track. Right now, I use an excel work sheet with all of the kids names in and boxes highlighted, but I'd like something a little more user friendly that is easy to edit. Anyone have an idea for me? Thanks in advance!
  • daycarediva
    Daycare.com Member
    • Jul 2012
    • 11698

    #2
    I am old fashioned paper and pencil kind of girl. I use a calendar I printed with numbers on each day 1-8 (registered for that many kids). I write in who is coming on which day, and parents can 'pick up' days I have open by writing their child in, filling out my form and paying for the day in advance. Easy for me.

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    • Cat Herder
      Advanced Daycare.com Member
      • Dec 2010
      • 13744

      #3


      I love this website in a, most likely, unhealthy way.

      The above product will help you, specifically. The below product is my family time management lifeline.

      https://www.ataglance.com/ataglance/...28PM53%29/PM53 lovethis
      - Unless otherwise stated, all my posts are personal opinion and worth what you paid for them.

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      • Ariana
        Advanced Daycare.com Member
        • Jun 2011
        • 8969

        #4
        I have only part time kids but I need to manage days and ages. I have a MOM calendar for my fridge where I write the first initial of each child who will be coming. Most of the kids are on a set schedule but two change each week (plus some like to pick up days or switch days and
        I offer a different day for a holiday usually) I then bought a cool weekly (mon-sun) dry erase calendar with a cork board portion at the dollar store that I hang on my pantry door. I write out the kids names on this and anything else going on that week that I need to keep track of.

        I have tried apps but I am just not wired that way. I need to see it in front of my face so that kind of technology just doesn't end up getting used.

        Comment

        • Ariana
          Advanced Daycare.com Member
          • Jun 2011
          • 8969

          #5
          Do you have an apple OS? I sometimes use my calendar on my phone and ipad to organize things too. I like it because you can set it to alert you if needed. This is how my husband organizes all of his work meetings and home obligations.

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          • Mike
            starting daycare someday
            • Jan 2014
            • 2507

            #6
            Originally posted by Ariana
            I have tried apps but I am just not wired that way. I need to see it in front of my face so that kind of technology just doesn't end up getting used.
            I'm very technical and computer savvy, but for scheduling, I still prefer the old fashioned way. It's nice to see the whole thing in front of you. Computer screens just aren't big enough. ::
            Children are little angels, even when they are little devils.
            They are also our future.

            Comment

            • grandmom
              Daycare.com Member
              • Mar 2010
              • 766

              #7
              I use an Excel spreadsheeet.

              Column headings are time, in 30 minute increments

              1st column down is numbers 1-10 (my license capacity)- repeated 5 times for Monday through Friday so that I never go over capacity.

              2nd column is child's name

              Then I color in the rest of the columns to indicate age of child

              So if a 2 year old attends from 7:30-5 M, W, F, his name is on a line for each of those days, and then filled in with the color for his age bracket across the sheet from 7:30-5.

              At a glance I can see if I have an opening, and can count colors to see what age brackets are available.

              I update the form every couple of months, or when a child is added or deleted.

              Comment

              • Cat Herder
                Advanced Daycare.com Member
                • Dec 2010
                • 13744

                #8


                Sorry, left out the online one...
                - Unless otherwise stated, all my posts are personal opinion and worth what you paid for them.

                Comment

                • Ariana
                  Advanced Daycare.com Member
                  • Jun 2011
                  • 8969

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Mike
                  I'm very technical and computer savvy, but for scheduling, I still prefer the old fashioned way. It's nice to see the whole thing in front of you. Computer screens just aren't big enough. ::
                  This is exactly it! I need it out or I don't think about it. I also have the worlds worst memory ::

                  Comment

                  • hgonzalez
                    Daycare.com Member
                    • Dec 2012
                    • 189

                    #10
                    I need this too!! I have a parent who keeps changing her needs and it is an 'under 2 yr old' so if he is here it changes my entire capacity and ratios.

                    I am currently using a chart I created, where I list each child's name and all of the days of the week. I put an 'x' if they are scheduled to be here and then have the totals at the bottom.

                    I am also hoping to add 2 kids before Fall, so this makes it even more fun to keep track of my openings!

                    What a pain!

                    Comment

                    • InTheNest
                      Daycare.com Member
                      • Oct 2013
                      • 6

                      #11
                      I use an excel sheet right now that's divided up by the 1/4 hr with all the kids names in and their times highlighted for each each day. I guess I'm looking for a scheduler that I can input names, plug in the times, and have it highlight for me, allowing me to select days and make changes that I will print out and hang up so everyone on staff can see who is here and when. It seems so easy...I wish I knew more about computers and how I could make a program!

                      Comment

                      • MarinaVanessa
                        Family Childcare Home
                        • Jan 2010
                        • 7211

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Cat Herder
                        http://www.bookfresh.com/

                        Sorry, left out the online one...
                        See ... this right here is what I need too but not for $30/month. Why don't they have something like this for less? I'd love something like this even without the capability to have clients sign themselves up etc.

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