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How To Reassure Staff During a Low Enrollment Season

Every year in August as my summer camp comes to an end, many of the school-age children leave the program to go back to school and this usually leaves 16-to-20 slots for me to fill. In fact, this year, I started marketing my program 6-weeks before the camp ended, so that  as the school-age kids were leaving the program….the preschoolers would be coming in.

Several days prior to writing this blog post, I was observing two of my staff members as they talked about how many of the kids had already left the program due to the summer camp ending. One of the teachers looked really concerned. So, I walked over and said to her, “You seem to be worried about the enrollment?” She (sadly) replied, “Yes I am.”

I kindly reminded her that this season is not going to last long and that we will have new students coming soon. Also, I encouraged her  not to worry about her hours being cut or losing her job. After I spoke with her, she smiled and appeared as if two buildings were lifted off her shoulders.

Moreover, since my talk with the teacher who was concerned about low enrollment, I have enrolled six new students and this was the response that I received from that concerned staff member, Wow! You said more children would be coming!

I only have a few more enrollment slots to fill, however, I am so thankful that I did not have to lay off staff due to a sudden shift in enrollment after the summer camp ended. Furthermore, after my brief talk with that teacher, I also realized the importance of having open and supportive communication with your staff during tough seasons.

Furthermore, be careful of  the words that you speak over your childcare business as you build enrollment. Your words are so powerful. So, be sure to stay in a mode of expectation.

I shared my story with you to encourage you to reassure your staff when there is a change in enrollment, especially during low enrollment seasons.

Here’s something to think about: you depend on the money from your business to pay your bills and your staff depends on you to provide them with a  job to pay their bills, so in the event that you foresee or anticipate a shift in enrollment, they should be informed. This will help to minimize unnecessary anxiety or gossip.

Also, be sure that you are not worried and always have confidence that more kids are coming. As you walk in confidence during a Low Enrollment season, you can be assured that your staff will catch that same attitude!

With Enrollment in Mind!

Shiketa

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Category:

Budget, Business Management, Child Care Center, daycare, Enrollment Building

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Men Can Make Great Child Care Business Owners Too!

The first childcare center that my son attended was owned by a man. In fact, the Owner was very active in his facility and I was quite comfortable with him.

Moreover, he was very nurturing with all the kids and the parents seemed to really connect with him. However, I could not help but to notice that his staff was predominantly made up of women and this caused me to wonder why there are so few men working in childcare.

In 2000, My uncle decided to care for children in him and my aunts home and offered to babysit my daughter Chasity; while I operated my home daycare. I was excited that he offered to babysit her. In fact, he was more than a baby sitter, he completed his CDA Credential, we attended childcare classes together and I gained lots of insight from him on how to be more understanding with my toddlers.

My husband is a co-owner of my center and he loves to stop by the center to give the children high fives. Moreover, he provides me with great business advice and the kids usually see him working around the building. Also, the kids do not hesitate to point out any broken items around the building, because they know that he does all the building maintenance.

According to Men in Child Care Network of Ireland, Children grow up in a society that is focusing more than ever on equality issues. However, many of the children in Childcare are left in a situation where they have no contact with men between 8 am and 5 pm. In fact, The Child Care Network  Ireland believes that there are many benefits to children working around men and they are as follows:

  •  Children benefit because men bring new ideas and ways of working into childcare.
  • Fathers benefit because they have someone to relate to and may feel more at home.
  • Staff benefit because more gender balanced staff
  • Teams gives different ways of looking at issues facilitating different approaches
  •  Having men working in childcare shows children that manliness can include caring

Do you have men on your staff?Do you know of any men that own their very own childcare businesses? If so, what are your thoughts about their childcare program?

Be sure to check out my eNewsletter: The Missing Element in Child Care!

With men in childcare in mind,

Shiketa Morgan

Source article: http://www.childcareonline.ie/files/1237391358.pdf

Category:

Child Care Center, daycare, Men in Child Care, Staffing

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