For parents, choosing a daycare is a daunting decision. Many feel extremely nervous about leaving their baby or toddler in another’s care. How to attract parents to your daycare center? By helping them to ease their fears.
In this article, we’ll take a look at four major parent needs–and how you can meet them. By doing so, you’ll help parents feel comfortable entrusting you with their little ones.
4 Tips For Your Childcare Center
Follow these four tips to provide quality care and ease the fears of any parent
1. Keep your environment safe and clean.
Naturally, safety is the number one concern for most parents. And safety and cleanliness go hand in hand.
To maintain a safe, clean environment is key for how to attract parents to your daycare. In setting up your space, consider the following:
- Keep all doors secure. Ideally, have a code available only to parents and staff. Change it regularly.
- Ensure windows are securely fastened.
- All stairwells should be gated.
- Staff and children should wash hands throughout the day. This is especially true before mealtimes and after diapering/restroom use.
- Disinfect toys daily. Schedule a time so this task isn’t forgotten.
- Have clear routines in case of emergency.
- Store cleaning products and/or medications securely.
- Have a separate area for infants (so they don’t get too much love from over-eager toddlers).
- Each child should have their own crib/cot and own bedding.
- Have clear procedures for allergies.
- Staff should have up-to-date first aid and CPR training.
- Meet minimum guidelines for child-staff ratio. If possible, go above and beyond this standard.
- Routinely walk around your indoor and outdoor space to check for/address any hazards.
2. Make consistent policies.
Clearly outline your policies to protect your business and address parent concerns. Maintaining a regularly updated parent handbook can make your childcare center stand out from others. Before enrolling, have parents review and agree to the policies listed in your handbook.
Parents will love less paper and more convenience. You can provide parent information at enrollment time using TUIO registration features.
Some of these policies will be dictated by your child care license. Parents may not know these so it will be helpful to provide a refresher. If you want to attract parents to your daycare, you can also add your own unique policies. Consider addressing policies about:
- Hours of operation/daily schedule
- Handling difficult children and situations
- Feeding
- Food and nutrition
- Sleeping
- Curriculum (more on this later)
- Safety/cleanliness
- Sick child
- Pick-up (Who can pick up the child? How do you verify identity?)
- Emergencies
- Program closings
- Parent communication
- Fees and payment
- Immunizations
Ideally, your policies should be research-based. You should be able to clearly explain the reasoning behind them. Parents will see that you’ve thoughtfully considered how your center will run. As a result, they’ll feel much more confident entrusting you with what matters most.
3. Attract parents by investing in your staff.
Babies and toddlers need consistent, predictable care. For this reason, parents prefer childcare centers with low turnover.
Invest training and resources in your staff. Treat them as respected, appreciated professionals by:
- Recognizing and rewarding success and hard work
- Providing support and extra help when it’s needed
- Holding a staff appreciation day/week
- Including staff in your vision, goals, policies, etc.
- Building relationships
- Organizing fun activities
Making this extra effort will help you retain high-quality staff. When treated right by their employer, your staff are more likely to be friendly and approachable, which puts parents at ease and help with drawing parents to your daycare and keeping families enrolled in your facility.
4. Develop a curriculum.
Parents want to know that their children aren’t watching TV or sitting around all day. Young children need active play, stimulation, and learning. Think about programming and your daily schedule.
Develop activities that emphasize play and exploration. Document these activities so parents know what their children are doing each day. Provide access to age-appropriate toys and materials. Allow children to spend time outdoors on a daily basis.
Of course, young children shouldn’t be over-programmed. But you should put some thought into how you’ll engage them in appropriate activities each day.
To stand out from the competition, it’s important to provide more than just basic care services. Today’s parents are searching for environments where their children can not only be cared for but also grow, learn, and develop critical skills. A well-structured daycare curriculum and activity ideas that incorporate fun, educational activities offer a unique appeal. Set up different learning zones — such as art corners, science stations, and reading nooks — to encourage children to explore their interests. These areas could include tactile elements like nature tables filled with rocks, leaves, or plants, sparking their curiosity about the world around them.
Creative play is essential for a well-rounded curriculum as well. Group projects — such as building simple structures, painting murals, or working on science experiments — promote collaboration while also teaching problem-solving and critical thinking. Parents will appreciate that your daycare provides meaningful and engaging learning opportunities, offering children an enriching experience that fosters development in cognitive, social, and emotional areas. By blending education with play, you set your daycare apart and offer parents the assurance that their children are gaining valuable experiences beyond basic supervision.
Bonus Tip: Communicate!
To maintain and continue boosting enrollment, communication is key. Parents want to know what their child is up to throughout the day. Establishing an open forum for feedback allows parents to share insights and suggestions, giving you fresh ideas on how to improve your daycare while strengthening child/parent relationships. Encouraging two-way communication helps build trust, as parents feel heard and involved in their child’s development.
At pick-up, mention something specific that each child did or accomplished. For toddlers, keep a folder of any drawings or art projects for parents to review. When parents have concerns, take time to satisfactorily address them.
With our all-in-one system, daycare centers can share information in real time with parents, offering updates, photos, and daily activities. This level of communication fosters a strong connection with families, making parents feel engaged and reassured throughout the day.
Bonus Tip: Develop a Strong Advertising Strategy
To successfully attract parents to your daycare, a well-thought-out advertising plan is crucial. Whether you choose to handle marketing in-house or enlist the help of an agency, having a strategic approach will greatly improve your reach and visibility. Start by considering your advertising budget. Allocating the right resources to childcare marketing strategies helps ensure you can consistently promote your daycare and build brand recognition.
It’s important to explore various types of advertising, such as social media campaigns, Google ads, and local print placements. These strategies help you reach parents where they are, including parenting websites, community forums, or social media platforms. Another great way to build your daycare’s reputation is by sponsoring community events, which allows you to engage with families in your area. Just be sure to carefully plan your sponsorships to maximize the impact.
Social media is a powerful tool for your advertising efforts and can be an effective strategy for how to get more kids in your daycare. Encouraging your staff to share daycare updates and news on their personal accounts extends your reach and brings in potential clients you might not have otherwise connected with. Actively promoting your center through social media not only creates buzz around your daycare but also helps increase visibility, ultimately attracting more families to your program.
Attract Parents to Your Childcare Center: Final Thoughts
The best way how to attract parents to your preschool is simple: Put their minds at ease.
By following these tips, you’ll how to make your daycare stand out. Parents will feel comfortable and confident leaving their children in your care!
Want to learn more about running a successful daycare and how being digital with your registration, payments, and communication will attract and keep parents? Then book a demo today!
