Communication is one of the most important things you need when running a daycare, especially during COVID-19. A successful daycare must unify communications between staff, preschoolers, and parents without compromising on visibility and accessibility. Still, this is easier said than done, right? With dedicated apps for childcare, it’s easier than you think.
Here’s what you need to know about communication, your daycare, and how you can start improving the processes that drive communication at your facility.
Parents will always want to know what’s happening with their children at your facility. They’re leaving their child (or children) in your hands, and want what’s best for their kids.
Effective communication can help your facility overcome one of the biggest pain points—parent communications. But what does effective communication with parents look like? When communicating with parents, we recommend that you:
The way you present essential information goes a long way to creating a connected experience for staff, children, and parents.
The best way to streamline communications is to make them as accessible as possible. Here are a few ways you can ensure vital information is being shared with the right people.
Electronic communication may seem like a vague term. After all, it can include messages, emails, and other digital methods. Many daycares use automated emails to remind parents about important updates, news, and other initiatives.
Another great way to communicate with parents is through a specialized app for childcare. When you use an app for childcare, you can send videos and photos throughout the day to parents, send automated in-app messages, streamline invoicing and billing, and improve communication visibility for everyone involved.
Handbooks are great for when parents are first joining your daycare. This outlines everything parents need to know about your daycare. For parents, this handbook will include information about:
Handbooks are a great way to start communication with your parents and provide them with everything they need to know when starting their kid in daycare. You can even digitize your handbook, making it downloadable through your app for childcare.
No childcare facility can escape in person communications and phone calls. However, with COVID-19, this isn’t as easy as it used to be. And while phone calls are great for immediate information, most parents don’t want to disturb staff while they’re busy in the classroom.
That’s why virtual meetings are a suitable alternative, but with unstable internet connections and glitches, it can be difficult. It’s important to have a reliable electronic communication solution in place should parents need to get in touch with your staff.
Communication is important for any childcare facility, but especially with your students. This is even more true today when it comes to ensuring a safe environment.
Children communicate much differently than adults do. They want to know they’re being heard when they communicate. If they feel ignored, they can start to become anxious and frustrated, which can lead to outbursts and tantrums. On top of that, it can lead to frustrated parents and staff. This is why communicating properly with children is crucial.
The best way that you can communicate with the children at your daycare is in person. But it can be hard to effectively communicate with them, as it may feel like you are ordering them around all day.
So, what can you do? The focus should be on talking with them, not at them, and ensuring they feel heard and listened to. When speaking with your students, try to be at eye-level with them and keep the conversations exciting and engaging.
Another way to communicate with children at daycare is through audio and visual cues. For example, 5 minutes before quiet time you can dim the lights, which lets them know it’s time to start settling down. Or, you could play the “Clean-Up Song,” when playtime is over, which is another way to let them know what’s going to happen.
Establishing routine is essential. Simple activities communicate expectations and are an effective form of communication that makes listening fun.
The day-to-day communications between your staff are what drive your childcare facility forward. Whether it’s operational discussions, team bonding, or small updates—your staff need the right processes and platform to stay connected and up to date.
Having regular staff meetings can help ensure that your whole team is on the same page. You can do these before your day starts with your staff or at the end of the day. If you want to bring your teams together, you could host a virtual meeting to ensure the safety of everyone.
With COVID-19 still a major challenge, it can be hard to keep up with steady meetings and communicate like we used to. Communicating through emails is a great way to inform your staff about updates, but it’s easy for important details to get missed.
Another way to communicate with your staff electronically is through an app for childcare. These apps streamline communication, operational tasks, and make essential information visible and accessible. And with a dedicated newsfeed, your staff always know what’s going on in the classroom.
Communication isn’t just important—it’s essential today. From communication with parents, kids, and staff, there are a lot of things you need to stay on top of as a childcare provider. After all, you can’t afford to let a miscommunication impact your business, especially during a global pandemic.
Start communicating through an app for childcare and get your staff and parents on the same page, while keeping the focus on the children you care for.
Are you interested in seeing how our app for childcare can transform the way you communicate and run your childcare facility? Book your demo today and see why childcare providers love KinderPass.
