You want to provide the best possible service to families who entrust you with their children. How can you make your daycare stand out from the rest? Learn the 10 best tips for making your childcare centres in mt roskill stand out from your competitors.
What Makes A Childcare Center Stand Out?
A great childcare program is made up of three key elements. Consider the “Three E’s”.
- Engagement: This is the way you engage with your clients, whether they are children or staff. It also includes parents and the general public.
- Environment: How would you describe the indoor and outdoor environments? Are families welcomed, inspired, and taken care of? The atmosphere in your childcare center can tell you a lot.
- Experience: Each experience that a child has in your facility is important to a parent. Your daily activities, your discipline approach, and the learning outcomes you achieve all show what you can offer in comparison to other local childcare providers.
In a 2019 survey on arrangements for early childhood care, parents’ top priorities in choosing a childcare facility (in order) were:
- Reliability
- Flexible care times
- Staff qualifications
- Program Activities
- Learn more about the opportunities available
Parents aren’t only interested in knowing what makes you different when they are looking for high-quality childcare. Parents want to know how important it is and why you will be to their child’s development. How to be clear?
1. Prioritise your relationships.
You have a business with a social and relationship-based core. You probably got into childcare due to your compassionate personality and desire to help children in your community. To truly differentiate yourself from other childcare providers, your staff must be able to connect on a professional and personal level with the families.
What do your employees wear? Does your staff reflect the attitude and actions that you wish to be represented by your program? What is the parent-teacher relationship like? A lack of relationships in your business can lead to mediocre customer service. Healthy relationships are important for all parties involved, and they will set the foundation for a positive customer experience.
2. Prioritize your childcare facility.
State licensing inspectors are also interested in the physical condition of your childcare facility. You could lose your business if you neglect the cleanliness of your childcare center or run a class that is too large.
Equipment for indoor and outdoor use should be functional, clean, and safe. Toys and materials that are age-appropriate should be used so that families and inspectors may see how children interact. Create a task for each month to clean and decorate your classroom. Displaying student progress and keeping things fun on bulletin boards in the classroom will keep it educational.
You need useful equipment, but not too much. Also, you want a stimulating environment for learning (but without being too distracting). Consider moving your business to a larger facility if you want to grow. This will allow you to maintain the correct staff-student ratios.
3. Share your philosophy.
What is your mission? Why is childcare important to YOU? What are you hoping to offer families who sign up for your program? What have you learned about child development from your education or experience?
Explain your philosophy of learning to parents on your website or in employee training. People do not make childcare decisions only based on the tangibles offered. They also base their decisions on emotions and beliefs. You might be the only daycare that matches a parent’s expectations. Share it.
4. Invest in branding and web design.
Branding and a website that people can browse will help you attract new families. By using the best childcare website practices, such as optimization and marketing, customers can find you when searching for childcare near them.
5. Use your passion for childcare to educate other people.
You can find leadership positions outside your business if you enjoy education and networking. You can become a thought leader and expert by serving your community.
Consider what topics in childcare you are passionate about. You could teach a parenting class on how to get stubborn sleepers to take naps. Have you got any recommendations for the local school district? You’ve always wanted to create a group of single mothers.
You can show your commitment to the well-being of children by providing free resources. It can help you build trust in your community and bring new customers to your business.
6. Offer multiple pricing packages.
Parents today live a life that is not conventional. Many parents no longer have a standard 9-to-5 work schedule. Parents are looking for childcare options that fit their lifestyles.
Offer multiple programs and price packages to make your childcare center stand out. You can, for example:
- Full-time childcare (5 full days per week)
- Part-time childcare (two to three partial days per week)
- Flexible childcare (1-3 full or partial days per week)
Some childcare providers negotiate with parents on pricing or scheduling. Consider parent billing and tuition options that are best for you and your family.
7. Host fundraising events.
Plan seasonal events for your childcare center. You can bring families together by hosting holiday parties, barbecues, and fundraising events. This also helps kids to feel connected and excited, which is essential for social-emotional learning.
You can do more than other childcare centers, which might only supervise children until their parents pick them up.
8. Contribute to employee development.
Each of your employees is unique. Your employees may work for your company permanently or only temporarily while they complete their higher education. Whatever the situation, invest in team development.
Without your employees, you wouldn’t have a business. The camaraderie of your employees is crucial to the success and communication of your childcare facility. It is important that your team maintains a balance between fun, maturity, and problem-solving.
While the development of your employees might not be apparent to parents who are looking for childcare, it will be evident in all that you do to run your childcare business.
9. Create enrichment programs.
Do you offer services that other childcare centers don’t? Consider what makes your program unique.
You could have a bilingual staff or offer a program that is multilingual to promote cultural diversity. You could have a garden in your class where the students can learn how to grow vegetables. Are you good at introducing STEM to kids? Be sure to highlight enrichment opportunities at your daycare. Consider creating enrichment activities if you don’t already have any.
10. Improve the parent experience with technology.
One of the best ways for childcare providers to differentiate themselves from their competition is by offering parents a way to communicate with them. They can also receive text and photo updates from the childcare provider.
With childcare software, parents don’t have to miss out on any of their children’s milestones. This is a great option for families who are looking for quality childcare.
