Administration | The Child Care Business Owner Institute

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How to Plan a Fall Open House

Holding an annual Open House is a great way to invite the parents to tour your program/classrooms; open up your program to the community and introduce a back to school theme!

So let’s start planning for a fun, exciting, enriching and informational open house.

1.Get Organized/De-clutter

Several weeks before the open house, start to De-clutter classrooms and office space. This includes, dusting, removing items that does not need to be seen by visitors. When families tour a childcare program, they look at every detail. Be sure to post Lesson Plans!

2.Create a Festive Flyer

Using Microsoft word or office publisher, create a flyer that announces your open house including the date, location of your program, time, activities and events. This will also be a great to time promote enrollment specials, such as: Free registration or 50% the first week. Invite parents to help plan the open house and volunteer to help serve food or issue information about the program.

3. Signs/Banners

Creating a banner to place inside and/or outside your home or center draws attention to the event and compels parents and kids to come to the Open House. Yard signs also catch the eyes of traffic driving by your business. Hanging colorful Balloons on the fence surrounding your playground or signs draws attention to the Open House event.*Check with your local municipality regarding signs.

4. Open House Activities

The night before open house add pencils, back packs with school supplies, toy school buses, books about school and back- to- school bulletin boards to the environment. This will create a Back to school environment. When the children arrive, invite them to find all the new back to school items. *Here is a link to back to school Coloring pages to enhance the back to school theme.

5. Give-a-ways

To liven up your open house, give away prizes every 15-20 minutes of the Open House! Some of the prizes could include: toys for the kids, books, tuition coupons for parents and donations made by local businesses in the community. * 30-60 days before the Open House, invite other businesses in the community to donate give-a-ways for the families.

6.Information for Parents

Open house is the perfect time to show parents every aspect of your program, from daily schedules, toys in the play areas. Having a self guided tour check list for parents is a sure way to get the parents to view all areas of your program. Be sure to issue parents any new policies, parent handbooks, calendars, enrollment forms (for new families) and fundraising information. ** This is also a great time to incorporate new Tuition Policies!

7. Serve light refreshments

Refreshment ideas include: Lemonade and cookies or Cake and Fruit Juice. You will also need plenty of plates, napkins and cups to serve the refreshments to the families.

Have a Great Open House!

Shiketa Morgan

Download a Sample Open House Check List

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Administration, Enrollment Building, Events

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Celebrating 11 Years As a Center Owner

on April 1, 2003 I opened my first Child Care Center and on April 4, 2014, I celebrated 11 years of being a Center Owner.

This has been an amazing Journey; full of good times and many challenges.

However, I know that it all has worked together for my good and has helped me to build a Successful Child Care Business.

In fact, my Journey as a Center Owner inspired me to start a blog about the business of Child Care, because it is such a specialized business and there is so much to learn.

Today I want to share with you 11 ways to build a Successful Child Care Business!

After reading my success tips, you will find a video below of my 11 year balloon release.

I look forward to doing this every year and this year, I had 11 preschoolers to hold 11 balloons and then release them into the sky. (see the video below)

1. Get a Mentor. Having a mentor provides you with the support that you need to succeed.

2. Read More. This is a sure way to increase your knowledge in the business of Childcare.

3. Discover the Art of Connecting With parents. I have discovered that when you have a healthy relationship with parents, they stay with you for a very long time. The average family stays with me for at least 5-7 years.

4. Connect with Business Owners who are seeking to improve their program. Some business owners are comfortable with always being on the same level, however, if you want to be successful or to build a program that parents love, you must continuously seek to improve your Child Care Business.

5. Hire staff members that fit your culture. My turnover has been very high because honestly, I have very high standards and I find that there is a circulation of teachers that only want a job. However, I want dedicated and committed early childhood professionals on my team that are willing to do what it takes to provide quality care. Furthermore, I have found that my best employees have stayed with me for an average of (4-7 years) and I am so grateful for their service.

6. Be willing to do whatever it takes. Most of the time, I am fully staffed and I able to work part-time at my center, however, if a teacher has an emergency or if we are short-staffed, I will cook,drive the van or even teach. As a former family home child care provider, I have learned how to wear many hats and it has empowered me to be a successful center owner.

7. Develop the Leader Within You. I learned this principle the hard way! Leadership is all about personal development and on my Journey as a Center Owner, I discovered that leadership is a vital part of your business success. To develop the leader within, be sure to follow one of my mentors and the Leadership Guru, John Maxwell’s Blog.

8. Become a Master at Marketing your Business. I have found that marketing is everything in Business. If you don’t have any customers, you don’t have a Business. Download my Marketing 101 Kit today for only $11.00 below!! (for a limited time only)

9. Become a Master of Your Money. Money is the life line of your Business, and it is vital that you develop the art of managing your money. You can Start by writing a monthly budget and only buying items that are on your budget. Get money management tips here—> click here

10. Develop a Healthy Living Plan. On my journey as a Child Care Business Owner, I have had my share of health problems ranging from; weight gain, to high blood pressure, to high cholesterol, back problems to anxiety. I know that sounds horrible, however, as I discovered the importance of relaxing, eating healthy and learning how to let go of what frustrates me, I am a healthier woman today! Check out my 21-days to a Healthier You eCourse, click here.

11. Choose To Build a Quality Program! Parents want quality child care and their kids to be in a safe environment. Don’t focus too much on buying expensive toys and equipment, however, Focus on quality care.

My mentor told me this years ago: “Its not what you have, its how you use what you have!” I shared quality care principles on my most recent Teleseminar and you can get the download links for only $11 below (for a limited time only)

Well, there you have it!! My 11 ways to Building a Successful Child Care Business. I hope that my Journey has been an inspiration to you.~Shiketa

Be sure to watch my 11 year balloon release video below.