For the most positive daycare experience for your child, partner with your childcare center and make a personal investment beyond the monthly tuition. You can build your partnership with your daycare by volunteering your time, contributing goods or services, or donating money.
If your child is in daycare full-time, he is spending 40 ? 60 hours at your daycare facility with his childcare providers. You owe it to your child to help make the center the best it can be for him.
Beautification Day. Schedule a few hours on a Saturday morning for a group of parents to come into the center and give it a really thorough spring cleaning where you tackle involved chores like painting walls, repairing bookcases, decorating classrooms, scrubbing cubbies.
Fundraising. You can support your center's fundraising efforts by asking for goods, services or monetary donations. Ask friends and family to partake in fundraising auction events with you ? spirited bidding in a live auction is a lively way to spend a Saturday evening with friends while benefiting a good cause.
Participation. Spending an hour or two in the classroom a week reading stories, engaging in dramatic play or just lending a helping hand are all time well spent and greatly appreciated by the daycare center.
If your schedule is too tight to accommodate volunteering at school, think creatively about other ways you can contribute ? do you have a skill, talent or connection that can potential benefit the school in some way. It may be an activity that seems inconsequential in your normal course of business but would be invaluable to your daycare center.
Here are some examples to get you started:
Investment Banking. Most centers have an emergency fund they must keep for unexpected facility maintenance or other unplanned expenses. Suggest the best short term investment vehicles for them.
Tax Accountant. Offer to review their current tax preparation forms or evaluate their tax planning process.
Medical Expertise. Conduct a 30 minute seminar or write a column in the newsletter about common childhood ailments, healthy eating or sleeping practices.
Educational Background. Suggest weekend learning activities or offer to conduct a 30 minute special event for one of the older classrooms.
Music. Entertain the kids with an impromptu concert or offer to entertain at the center's annual fundraising event.
Legal. Offer to review contracts or agreements the school is considering. Offer to review the current application portfolio and identify policies or additional waivers or agreements that should be included.
Sales. Create a bonus plan for the teaching staff that takes into account length of employment and special recognitions.
Marketing. Review the centers brochures, ads and marketing plans. Make recommendations for how to best sell the centers services, help develop creative materials and negotiate print rates with vendors.
Facilities. Offer to inspect the daycare facilities and make maintenance repairs or negotiate with preferred vendors for discounted rates.
About the Author
For more great information about expecting and parenting, visit momrecommended.com, a site for moms by moms. Annie Valle is a freelance writer, web designer and a mom. You'll find product reviews, recipes, baby names, free projects and more, when you visit momrecommended.com.
This is the third and final article in a series... Read More
Along with eating healthier we need to be more active.... Read More
WHEN AN INJURY HAPPENS AT CAMP, HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED... Read More
Is there a difference between lazy and unmotivated? Why do... Read More
AD/HD (attention deficit disorder) is one of the most common... Read More
For any of you Moms out there that are doing... Read More
The great thing about children is they absorb knowledge like... Read More
Having been a parent educator and a PBS consultant for... Read More
When my oldest boy was really young, he tickled my... Read More
Did you know that the number of twin births have... Read More
Parents of hyperactive children know the "Would you please just... Read More
As parents and teachers, sometimes we want to praise, at... Read More
So, the thing is? I am feeling a little guilty.I... Read More
Your daughter tells you that Uncle Charley has touched her... Read More
It's been raining for a week and the kids and... Read More
As a parent, you can learn a lot about your... Read More
This may come as a surprise.But despite all the advances... Read More
There is a front line and a back end to... Read More
Is your weekly shopping trip with the kids an absolute... Read More
"Before every action, ask yourself: Will this bring more monkeys... Read More
We know that you want your little guy or gal... Read More
1. STOP focusing on what you are going to make... Read More
Nail biting in all its various forms is problematic... Read More
Perhaps I could make a lot of money by founding... Read More
Those of you that have children know what an excursion... Read More
cleaning lady near Lincolnshire ..Isn't it ironic that a country whose constitution allows for... Read More
Many parenting books advise against eating out with young children.... Read More
When a parent is deployed with the military it can... Read More
The wonderful adaptability of children in dealing with the challenges... Read More
How excited do kids get with the start of school... Read More
Just a couple of years ago Annie helped her parents... Read More
I will never forget the day that my daughter's sixth... Read More
Children explore the world around them and learn through pretend... Read More
Ah, there is nothing like being an expectant mom. Along... Read More
The older my daughter gets the more it's sinking in... Read More
Until about the age of six, children do not generally... Read More
We take it for granted that children know how money... Read More
I am writing this from the beautiful mountains of Western... Read More
Bearers of life, wipers of noses, givers of unconditional love... Read More
There are many parenting styles. Yours may be very different... Read More
The teenage years are a crucial time in a child's... Read More
Why are more people, especially parents not outraged?I call it... Read More
Q. My teenage son is turning 16 early next year... Read More
The law of -ing.The law of -ing refers to a... Read More
Studies have shown that:1 out of 4 children were sent... Read More
As a parent, you probably know that the birthday party... Read More
I love Google and Yahoo. With Google and Yahoo I... Read More
Something eerily familiar happened in KwaZulu-Natal's Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park in Africa... Read More
How would you like to have more time? Of course... Read More
Predicament:My son is 4 1/2 years old. His younger brother... Read More
Parenting |