Inspirational and Empowering Child Care Business Owners To Build Successful Child Care Businesses

Inspiration To Start a Garden

03 12 12

I believe that children should be in an environment that is filled with natures beauty!

A week prior to writing this blog post, I post the following status on the Child Care Business Owner Facebook page: Every Child Care Business Needs a Garden. Do you have a garden?

Cheryl Frankowski  Owner of  Bizzy Bee’s Family Child Care replied to the post and I invited Cheryl to submit photos of her garden. Check out the photos of Cheryl’s indoor and outdoors garden at her home daycare.

Cheryl Frankowski wrote:

“Oh my butterflies – how inspirational this little project has been! Short story – took a garden with kids class, a friend brought milkweed and the rest is history. I planted milkweed about 4 years ago and finally found monarch caterpillars this past summer. We hatched 6 over all – 1 male, 5 females. The last one died coming out of its chrysalis. We pick a stem off and bring them in the house to watch. They eat and eat and eat!! and they poop. a lot. They are in the kitchen window by the sink so dish washing is a lot more enjoyable! These are random pictures from last year.

The one up side down is going into his J and will soon go into his chrysalis. Very fascinating to observe the whole cycle. Truly I feel like I have witnessed a gift from God. The black chrysalis – about a day before they hatch, their jade green chrysalis turns transparent and the black is the butterfly. Up close you can see the orange as well. The butterfly has just come out and his wings are still crinkly. He will pump all the bodily fluid into his wings to straighten them out.

The last pic is of a chrysalis that was on the ceiling. The caterpillars wander around til they find their place. And once they have attached their button you have to let them finish out where they are or it will kill them to move it.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheryl Frankowski wrote:

Pumpkin – we grow pumpkins every year – some with more success than others! It is so much fun to literally see the growth day to day and watch the color changes. The kids each plant one in a container that we can see the roots growing, and then they take them home to transplant.
Tomatoes – a perennial favorite – one little boy will just pick them off and eat them! It is always a great surprise to life a bunch of branches and leaves and see that peek of bright red!
One of our garden areas – about 14′ x 4′ We usually plant tomatoes, cucumbers, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cilantro jalapeno, green peppers, and our little herb garden at the far end with parsley, chives, basil, mint, thyme, oregano and sage. The kids like to go and rub the leaves and then smell their fingers!
Are you inspired to create an indoor/ outdoor garden? Don’t know where to start? Need some inspiration? Check out this video.

Category:

Gardening

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Mastering Your Money in Your Child Care Business

03 08 12

I was inspired to write this blog post after processing my monthly payroll and paying the bills in my childcare business. As I wrote checks to pay my business bills, I realized the importance of cash flow. In fact, when you have cash in your business, you are able to buy the things that your business needs and pay your business debts.

Several weeks prior to paying my bills, I realized that I did not finish processing my food program claim, because I was so focused on getting my center re-accredited.

When I realized that I had not finished processing my food program claim, it was too late to receive my payment in the month of February.  Unfortunately, I discovered that my payment was going to be late and this was going to cause a delay in my accounts payable.

Several weeks later,  I received that my food program payment and I was so glad that I had funds to pay bills. Furthermore, I realized that when there is a cash flow problem, this will cause you to be late paying your bills and it also prevents you from buying what you need for your business.

To assure that you have a constant cash flow in your childcare business I want to suggest the following to you:

  1. Create a monthly budget for your business
  2. Only buy what you need for your business
  3. Never stop marketing your business
  4. When you are not able to pay your bills, make payment arrangements with your creditors to protect your credit.
  5. Be diligent about collecting payments from parents. I suggest collecting payments 2-4 weeks in advance.
  6. Process Subsidized Childcare Payments & Food program claims by the due dates
  7. Always be on the look out for business grants
  8. When parents do not pay on time, charge a late fee.

This is just a small list of ways to master your money, because after all…your money is the lifeline of your business. Moreover, when there is no money; there is no Cash flow!

With Your Business in Mind,

Shiketa

 

Category:

Accounting, Budget, Business Management, Child Care Center, Home Daycare

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