Daycare Make Over

'Tis the season for new and fresh. It is this time of year that providers everywhere, on every forum, start to chat about boredom and an incredible impatience to try something new or give up daycare all together. Who can blame them? If you live in North America chances are you have been cooped up inside for the better part of most days for months on end. The crying is intensified in your tiny space, the poop odor is stronger than ever and the walls feel like they are closing in around you. You ache for spring if merely only for the distraction of sitting on park benches and seeing anything but the four walls you have come to know so well.

Whenever I start to feel burned out or disenchanted I ask myself what I can change to give myself a new vantage point. And the easiest, most cost effective and fastest way to do this is to complete a daycare makeover.

There are a number of aspects to the daycare makeover and it is really up to the individual provider how many things she wishes to change. My first choice is always the daycare space. Now, for those of you who are blessed with a separate daycare room(s) this is really an easy feat. Rearranging furniture, a few new toys and some new wall art are interesting ways to make your daycare space fresh and new. If you have the time and money you could also throw a fresh new colour on the walls over a weekend.

It always amazes me how the children react to a new daycare space. It is as if they too are inspired once again and the days following the makeover are fun and lighthearted as they rediscover the space and all its contents. I believe that the children also become as bored as their provider over the long, cold, winter months. Old toys come alive again in their new location and the few additions provide hours of uninterrupted play.

If you do not have a dedicated daycare space a little organization can go a long way. The biggest complaint of daycare providers who share their living space with their daily charges is that they can not get away from the daycare at the end of the day. Investigate and invest in a few living room pieces that can double as storage containers that, once closed, will keep hidden their daycare contents. Ikea has some fantastic options in this regard. Simply replacing plastic toy bins with wicker bins adds a more homey feel rather than a daycare feel to your living room.

Once you have completed your room makeover it is time to reflect on other areas of your business that might require a change. Is your contract comprehensive? Do you have any families causing you grief on a regular basis? If this is true for you then it is time to decide to make a change. Enforce your policies and demand what is due based on the terms of the contract. Perhaps a termination is in order. Whatever it is that needs to change to make you happy is waiting for action.

I challenge everyone to take a few minutes this weekend to complete their daycare makeover. If you are not ready to get to work then at least take a few minutes to reflect on those changes you do need to make. Decide today what is not working for you. What is it that would make all the difference in the world to your attitude and enjoyment every day? Find those answers and make changes based on some honest truth and reflection.

Let's move into Spring not only as a season but with some spring in our steps too. Let's set up our environments and our minds in a practical, manageable fashion. Let's start with the boss and work our way down. If the boss isn't happy then really, no one is happy. Be happy. Do whatever it takes. You might be surprised by the families and things that come your way when you make yourself open to receive them.





For concerns, advice or suggestions I welcome your email at judytrickett@yahoo.ca