Welcoming Families: New and Returning

How do you make families and children feel welcome in your center? This is the perfect time to take stock of what you do now and what you’ll add to make this year even better.

Families crave communication! They want to feel up-to-date and in the loop. Just like you – they don’t like surprises. Think about the content, method, timing and frequency of your communication with families. Then, ask each family which method they prefer. Use that one!

Greet every person – child and adult – who walks into your center or classroom. Every person, every time: by name. My name is not “Bella’s mom”. Make sure you and your staff knows each adult’s name and greets them accordingly. This is an easy - and often overlooked -way to show you value each person.

Provide a directory with photos. Families want to connect with one another – but hardly ever know how to do that. A family directory facilitates play dates, birthday parties, babysitting co-ops and a sense of community. Get permission to include photos and remember to include a ‘do not share this information’ statement in your publication.

If you want to know how you are doing, you can use an assessment tool developed by the American Business Collaboration, which will help you understand and respond to family needs. You can read the instructions, offer it in English or Spanish, and score it to gain important insight into your program.

Keep smiling and keep your door open!

I need to hire! Experience, credentials - what should I look for?

I bet you are trying to hire a teacher right now. And if not, you are lucky. But you’ve been there, right? Who is going to make the biggest positive impact in your center? According to the journal Early Education and Development, a teacher’s education and credential level predict classroom quality. Also interesting, though not surprising, is that the director’s credential level forecasts classroom excellence. What’s your strategy for excellence?

Funding Opportunity in Virginia

Accessing money to implement or expand programs in your center is a challenge. Right now, you can get ready to apply for three years of funding through VTSF. The application is due in October but it will take a while, so we recommend starting early. You can use the funds to implement any of the VTSF approved programs that make sense for your community. Many of you are using Al’s Pals: Kids Making Healthy Choices already. It is a program for kids as young as 3 which develops pro-social skills, self-control, problem-solving abilities and an understanding that they are not to use tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. If you are thinking about it, sign up for the September 10 mandatory meeting of organizations applying for funds. Hope to see you there

Changes in Maryland

Maryland's Office of Child Care completed a review of family child care and child care center regulations late in 2007. As promised, the full text of the proposed family child care regulations were published in the Maryland Register on August 1. Look for the proposed child care center licensing text on August 15. Both regulations are scheduled to go into effect on October 20, 2008