Best Behavior Management Strategies for Daycare Teachers

by Ben Keeney | Jul 25, 2022

As a daycare teacher, you know that managing the behavior of your students is a big part of your job. But what are the best ways to do this? There are a lot of different behavior management strategies out there, so it can be tough to know which ones to use. But don’t worry, we’re here to help!

In order to have a well-run daycare, it’s important to have a good daycare behavior management strategy in place for the children. This strategy should include a system of rewards and consequences for the children’s actions. It’s important to be consistent with this system so the children know what to expect.

A daycare behavior management strategy is important for several reasons. First, it helps create a safe and orderly environment for the children. Second, it helps prevent negative behaviors from occurring. Third, it provides consequences for bad behavior so the children learn how to behave properly. Finally, it helps to build positive relationships between the children and the staff.

In this article, we’ll share some of the best behavior management strategies for daycare teachers. We’ll also give you some tips on how to implement these strategies in your own classroom.

So whether you’re looking for new ideas or just want to brush up on your existing knowledge, read on for the best behavior management strategies for daycare teachers!

Top 5 Behavior Management Strategies for Daycare Teachers

While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to behavior management, there are certain strategies that can be effective in managing the behavior of daycare students. Here are five of the most effective:

1. Set Clear Expectations for Behavior (Specific, Observable, Measurable)

When setting expectations for behavior, it’s essential to be as specific as possible. This means clearly defining what is expected of students in different situations. For example, a teacher might say, “Students will raise their hands and wait to be called on before speaking.”

Being observable also means the expectation can be measured. In the example above, the teacher can easily tell if a student is following the expectation by whether or not they raise their hand before speaking.

It’s also important for teachers to be consistent in their expectations for behavior. This means the same expectations should be applied in all situations, regardless of who is present or what the circumstances are.

2. Encourage Good Behavior With Praise and Positive Attention

Praise and positive attention are two of the most powerful behavior management strategies for daycare teachers. By using these techniques, teachers can effectively encourage good behavior in their students.

When praising a child, it’s important to be specific about what behavior you are praising, as all behavior is communication. For example, rather than simply saying “good job,” try “great job on staying in your seat during circle time!” This will help the child understand what he or she did that was praiseworthy.

It’s also important to make sure your praise is sincere. Children can sense when you are being insincere, and this can undermine the effectiveness of your praise.

3. Stay in Control With Rational Detachment

Rational detachment does not mean you don’t care about the children in your care. It simply means you are able to remain calm and objective when dealing with challenging behavior. This can be difficult to do, but it’s important to remember that children often feed off the emotions of those around them. If a teacher appears frazzled or upset, it’s likely that the children in their care will mirror these emotions.

4. Discourage Mild Misbehavior With Active Ignoring

This strategy is also called “selective ignoring.” When a child exhibits mild misbehavior, the teacher actively ignores the child while continuing to interact with other children in the class. The goal is to extinguish the behavior by making it non-reinforcing.

There are several things to keep in mind when using this strategy:

• First, it’s important to have a clear definition of what behaviors warrant active ignoring. These should be unwanted behaviors that are not harmful and do not interfere with the learning of other students.
• Second, it’s crucial to remain consistent with this strategy. Every time the target behavior occurs, the teacher must respond in the same way — by ignoring the child.
• Third, it’s important to keep in mind that this strategy may not work immediately. It may take some time for the child to learn that the behavior is no longer reinforcing.

5. Establish and Enforce Effective Consequences

It’s vital for daycare teachers to establish and enforce effective consequences as a behavior management strategy. This will help ensure children are behaving appropriately and not engaging in disruptive or destructive behaviors.

There are a variety of consequences that can be used, and the most effective ones will be tailored to the individual child. Some common consequences you might use include:

• Timeouts: This involves sending the child to a designated area for a period of time, such as two minutes per year of age. This is an effective consequence for younger children who need some time to calm down.
• Loss of privileges: This may involve taking away something the child enjoys, such as TV time or playtime with friends. This is an effective consequence for older children who can understand that their behavior has led to a loss.

Behavior management in the classroom is essential for a positive and productive learning environment. The best behavior management strategies are proactive, consistent, and tailored to the individual child. Smartcare has developed a comprehensive online training program that provides teachers with everything they need to create a successful behavior management plan in their daycare classrooms.

With our help, you can establish clear expectations for your students and provide them with the tools they need to succeed.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you manage student behavior and create a positive learning environment for all!

How to Create the Best Daycare Forms | Smartcare Blog

by Ben Keeney | Jul 25, 2022

Anyone in the daycare industry understands this fundamental truth: Daycare forms are critical to the success of any daycare business. After all, daycare is a heavily regulated industry, and the government conducts regular inspections of facilities to ensure that kids are safe and well-cared for. Therefore, you need these forms to comply with local, state, and federal regulations. Appropriate compliance often means having extensive information on hand and being easily accessible. It may not be fun, but that doesn’t make it any less necessary.

No parent enjoys filling out daycare forms. At the same time, you can’t make forms too complicated, cumbersome, or annoying. If the document is too complex, they may stop, leaving you without the critical information you need for your facility. You’ll have to call them to follow up, creating more work for yourself and your staff members.

What does this mean? You have to create daycare forms that are easy to understand, get the information you need, and can allow a busy parent or guardian to fill out the necessary information in a way that is quick and painless. Fortunately, there are plenty of templates you can use that help you get the information you need. Here’s a look at some of the best daycare forms you can use for your daycare room.

What The Best Daycare Forms Contain

Daycare forms can be a life saver when it comes to creating a schedule, adhering to government regulations, and ensuring that your daycare is a well-run operation. Fortunately, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel, as various daycare forms are already available for your daycare room.

That being said, there are some best practices you should stick to when designing a daycare form. Here are some thoughts on what these forms should contain and what sources you should check out when it comes to their conten

Basic Information

There are certain pieces of information that all daycare forms should contain. Such info includes the name of the individual responsible and the activity itself. The schedule should also collect contact information for how to get in touch with one of the adults managing an activity, including a cell phone or room phone number.

Timing Information

It may seem like common sense, but keep in mind that a good daycare schedule should clearly contain a few pieces of timing information. It should collect information about when items occur, but it should also include a few other pieces of information. These include:

• Location information: Where an event occurs, including what room.
• Who is responsible for supervising or executing the location
• Any exceptions to the activity, like what happens if outdoor activity is scheduled and it is raining.

Ensure Governmental Compliance

As anyone in the daycare industry knows, daycare is a heavily regulated field. Everything from staff ratios to equipment to paperwork is extensively monitored to protect the safety of the children being cared for. This ensures that the billions of dollars in government funds are being spent in a manner that authorities deem appropriate.

As such, you should ensure that any daycare forms or schedules you create comply with the regulations of any government agency that has oversight of your daycare rooms. If there are any questions regarding these forms, you should reach out to the agency or consult with an attorney if you have access to one.

Retention Policies

Forms may seem just good practice for your daycare. Still, it’s important to remember that there may be particular retention policies related to any daycare paperwork or forms you create. As such, don’t create a form, use it once, and then shred it. Doing so may even be illegal. This is because some government agencies may require you to retain documents for a specific time. As such, before disposing of any daycare forms, you should ensure you understand how long you are legally required to keep paperwork. You may be able to keep the paperwork in an electronic format. However, make sure you check with local authorities before making any decisions about when you can get rid of daycare forms or paperwork.

Track Forms To Kids

You should have an internal system that allows you to track what kid has filed out what form and if there is any paperwork from any of your children that you are missing. Many of these forms are not optional, and having certain forms for every kid is likely required by governmental authorities. As such, make sure you have a robust and easy-to-update system that allows you to create forms and track what paperwork you need from parents. This may include immunization information, emergency contact information, and more.

Download Free Daycare Form Templates

Are you looking for more assistance in creating your daycare forms, such as creating a daycare daily schedule template? At Smartcare, we can help. Visit our free daycare forms template, which will allow you to manage the schedule for your daycare room.

Creating Delightful Early Childhood Education Experiences

by Dr. Melissa King | Jul 8, 2022

Do you remember your own delight when learning something new as a child? Then, doubling that delight when sharing memorable experiences with others? In our formative years, we are naturally curious and eager to discover the world around us. Now, as educators, we want to build on that enthusiasm to support children’s excitement about learning.

• I for INTERACTIVE and INCLUSIVE

• Adults willingly respond to children by listening, noticing, cueing, participating, and actively engaging with them. This interactivity should be multisensory and multifaceted. It begins with observation and includes reciprocal communication, both verbal and nonverbal. This ongoing “dance” between adults and young children fosters healthy growth and development.
• A healthy ECE classroom is an equitable “community of learners” where all children are welcome, regardless of gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic status, language, or abilities..

• C for CARING and CONNECTED

• Caregivers and teachers strive to ensure that all children feel safe, secure, and loved. To achieve this, adults should willingly accept children’s feelings and expressions of emotion. Actions and words should demonstrate awareness, warmth, and sensitivity.
• Children learn best when new input and experiences build on their current level of understanding; adults should link new content to what children are already familiar with. Whenever possible, use a theme-based approach to strengthen those connections, so that ideas, vocabulary, and experiences relate to each other.

• A for AFFIRMING

• Adults should build home-school partnerships that create bonds with families and children, aiming to overcome any barriers or biases, such as racial, cultural, socio-economic, or physical. It’s important to affirm that each child brings assets and strengths to a community of learners.

• R for RESPECTFUL

• In a healthy ECE environment, adults and children accept others, respect differences, and appreciate each other. Courteous behavior is expected, in order to create and foster a safe, kind, and comforting place for learning

• E for ENGAGING and EXPERIENTIAL

• ECE settings should offer stimulating experiences that activate neural connections among various domains. Caregivers and teachers should aim to nurture children’s curiosity and encourage their motivation to learn more. New content tends to capture children’s interest (the “wow” factor), and something silly or unusual will often grab their attention.
• Young children love to “get physical” and act things out, so hands-on, minds-on learning is optimal. Direct, concrete experiences enhance children’s cognitive growth, and socio-dramatic play engages children productively
• Children will relive and rehearse past experiences to reinforce their understanding, and those moments become a springboard for more communication.

If you’re confident that you’ve established a healthy environment to nurture children’s development, you’re ready to focus on best practices for ECE. The following strategies can lead the way to “delightful” learning, ensuring that your setting sparkles with joy.

• Plentiful play and conversation

• “Play is a child’s work.” Through play, children learn to share, cooperate, collaborate, manage conflict, employ problem-solving skills, engage in self-talk and conversation, express emotions, use their imagination, and enjoy themselves. Given opportunities for interaction with appropriate materials and with others, children become happily immersed in these moments. Observe them, and you’ll notice how they harness their own background knowledge and apply skills to “make things work.” Through trial-and-error, young children refine their attempts for success with toys, equipment, and peer engagement. Whether it’s with puppets, child-sized kitchen tools, plastic ocean creatures, construction trucks, or costumes for dressing-up, children’s imaginations come alive as they dedicate brain power to figure out how to manipulate materials. At the same time, most young children will use language and verbal expressions that demonstrate developmental reasoning in action.

• Lots of physical activity and movement

• Young children need to be physically active. Their bodies are growing and changing rapidly as gross motor and fine motor skills develop and advance. Be respectful of their limitations for sitting still too long, and use movement as a “stress buster.” If you play simple listening games that call for physical response, such as “Simon Says,” you will have a captive audience eagerly applying auditory cues to win by following directions. In circle-time gatherings, review colors and basic vocabulary by calling out conditional statements that ask for responsive movement, such as “If you’re wearing a blue shirt, stand up.” It’s amazing how enthusiastically children will participate in anything that seems like a fun game with physical activity. Teach them the sign language alphabet and a few expressions with hand signs, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly they catch on. For many young children, physical actions and reactions may be easier and more memorable than verbal communication. And, no matter what’s going on in a busy or noisy ECE setting, hand gestures and signs are readily recognizable.

• Rich in rhythm and music

• Children are naturally inclined to tune into patterns, and they love to identify and follow physical, visual, and acoustic patterns. Orderly arrangements are an essential ingredient of language, mathematics, and music, so supporting children’s abilities to recognize, discriminate, reproduce, and create patterns fosters cognitive growth. Starting with marching and clapping to music and then adding percussive instruments to practice patterns will help children improve their sense of rhythm and awareness of patterns. Nursery rhymes and short poems also boost listening skills and pattern recognition. Children can memorize the words and increase their self-confidence when reciting what they’ve learned during circle time or in small group activities.
• Most children are music lovers who enjoy rhythmic melodies with repeating patterns, such as “The Wheels on the Bus,” “Old MacDonald Had a Farm,” and “The Eensy, Weensy Spider.” You can also add a simple melody to certain phrases or expressions to help children remember target vocabulary and concepts. For example, when working with colors, this poem about a favorite color can be set to a melody line: “Red is an apple; green is a tree; blue is the sky, and purple’s for me.” Of course, children always have great fun moving and touching body parts while singing the familiar “Head, shoulders, knees, and toes” tune, or “If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.” Musical experiences activate a specific part of the human brain, and music activities are beneficial for children’s cognitive development.

• Early literacy engagement

• Communication is the foundation of language and literacy, which in turn, serve as windows to the world around us. Young children need ample experiences with books to fuel their interest in the printed word. Adult-child interactions in the context of shared reading provide pleasurable stimulation and meaningful bonding. Appropriate literature selections with engaging visuals prompt children’s focused attention. Neurological connections are triggered as they look, listen, and make sense of what they see and hear. Often, children will want to experience the same stories over and over again, which can reinforce and expand rudimentary understanding of language and content.
• Reading about what happens to others can also support social-emotional development. Children may see themselves in similar situations presented in stories and find comfort knowing how someone else responded. Learning to accept their own emotions as “okay” and discovering possible ways of handling those feelings is an essential aspect of healthy growth.

• Open-ended opportunities and creative fun

• Children thrive on routines and predictable structure, but they also need opportunities for open-ended discovery. In ECE settings, they should have access to materials that allow for free play and imaginative exploration, such as wooden blocks and shapes, interlocking blocks, stacking cups, balance scales, salt dough, eye droppers, water toys, a variety of containers, etc. They should also have ready access to materials for drawing and writing, such as washable markers, crayons, paper, easels, paintbrushes, and colorful paint. Those experiences build fine motor skills, as well as providing ways for children to express and record their own ideas for others to view. Adults should be available to talk to children about whatever they choose to do with these open-ended materials, as this promotes verbal exchanges and mutual sharing.
• No doubt, you’ve had moments when children’s creativity has surprised you. You might agree that they can make just about anything interesting! That said, be sure to give young children time to “play” with their own imagination. They are “creative designers” at heart who enjoy putting things together or taking them apart to make something new or unusual. They are experts at dramatization who like to emulate what they’ve seen others do or heard others say, with their own personal twist. Applaud them for these creative efforts. Encourage them to be bold in creative expressions of their own design. You’ll be richly rewarded with genuine smiles that light up your ECE setting.

If you are interested in ECE consulting support for your program provided by Dr. Melissa King, please send your request to smartcaremarketing@vanco.com

About the author:

Dr. Melissa King has a Ph D. in science education and a Masters in linguistics. She is a professional consultant who supports learning programs for educators across the country and has worked as a director and content expert at non-profit organizations and for-profit companies. Dr. King has built online programs and multi-media products in the digital space for Pre-K- grade 12, including a Pre-school curriculum called EmbarK12. She has been a graduate instructor at the University of Virginia, George Mason University, and Kaplan University and recently developed online training modules for the CDA (Child Development Associate).

Top 10 Daycare Room Setup Ideas of 2022 | Smartcare

by Ben Keeney | Jun 27, 2022

As daycare providers, you are always looking for new daycare room setup ideas to keep your classroom fresh and engaging for your students. While the setup of your room may seem like a minor detail, it can actually have a significant impact on the overall learning environment. Zero to Three states that 75% of toddlers in center care are in low or mediocre quality care settings!

There are many potential difficulties and benefits associated with the daycare room setup. One problem could be that, depending on the room’s layout, some students may feel isolated from others if they cannot see or interact with them easily. This could lead to feelings of loneliness or boredom.

Another difficulty could be that some students may find it difficult to concentrate in a daycare setting if there is a lot of noise or activity going on around them.

However, there are also several potential benefits to the daycare room setup. One benefit is that it can allow for a more individualized approach to learning, as each student can have their own space to work in and focus on their own tasks. This can be especially beneficial for students who have specific needs or who learn best in a quiet setting. Additionally, the daycare room setup can provide opportunities for students to interact with each other in a more informal environment, which can be beneficial for building social skills and relationships.

Ultimately, whether the daycare room setup is beneficial or challenging for students and teachers depends on various factors, including the students’ individual needs and the room’s overall layout. With careful planning and consideration, however, the daycare room setup can be an effective learning environment for all involved.

Top Daycare Room Setup Ideas

Running a daycare can be a lot of work, but it can also be a very rewarding experience. Seeing the children in your care learn and grow is an amazing feeling and knowing that you played a part in their development is even better. Of course, part of running a successful daycare is having a well-organized and inviting space for the children to play and learn in. If you’re looking for some inspiration on how to set up your room as a child care provider, check out these top daycare room setup ideas!

1. Nap Area

One important aspect of any daycare room is the nap area. This should be a quiet, calming space where children can rest and recharge. The best way to achieve this is by setting up comfortable cots or mats for napping and providing some soothing background noise (such as white noise or soft music).

2. Feeding Area

The feeding area is another essential part of the daycare room. This space should be bright and cheerful, as mealtimes should be a happy and social experience. A long table with chairs is necessary, as is plenty of storage for food, dishes, and silverware.

3. Open Activity Area

The open activity area is where most of the fun will happen! This space should be large and flexible so that it can be used for a variety of activities. It’s a good idea to have both soft flooring (such as mats or carpet) and hard flooring (such as wood or laminate) to accommodate different activities for children of different ages.

4. Sensory Area

The sensory area is a great addition to any daycare room. This space can be used for various activities, including arts and crafts, music, and movement. Children respond the most when cared for and stimulated.

5. Library Area

The library area is another wonderful addition to the daycare room. This space can be used for quiet activities such as reading, writing, or drawing. It’s important to have plenty of shelves for storing books, as well as a comfortable place to sit. Children that are encouraged to read at an earlier age have been found to perform better in school and have improved reading skills.

6. Blocks Area

The blocks area is another must-have for any daycare room. This space can be used for both creative play and learning opportunities. It’s important to have a variety of different sized and shaped blocks available, as well as some storage for when playtime is over.

7. Diapering Area

The diapering area is an essential part of any daycare room. This space should be large enough to accommodate multiple changing tables and have plenty of storage for diapers, wipes, and other supplies. It’s also a good idea to have a sink in this area so that you can easily wash up after diaper changes.

8. Storage Area

Make sure there is plenty of storage space. Daycare rooms can get very messy, very quickly! Make sure there is plenty of storage space for all the toys, games, art supplies, and other materials that will be used daily.

9. Toilet Area

The toilet area is an area that you cannot do without. This space should have multiple toilets and sinks and plenty of storage for toilet paper, paper towels, and other supplies. It’s also essential to have a good ventilation system in place to keep the area clean and fresh.

10. Access to Outdoors

When planning your daycare room, don’t forget to factor in access to the outdoors. This is important for both fresh air and physical activity. If possible, plan for a designated outdoor play area so that children can enjoy some time in the sun (or shade) every day.

When choosing a daycare building, be sure to tour the facility and see if it has all the areas your children will need and can accommodate all of your daycare room setup ideas. A good daycare will have a variety of activities for children to enjoy and should be clean, safe, and comfortable.

What Other Supplies Do You Need When Starting a Daycare Center?

As you begin to plan for your new daycare center, it is important to consider what other supplies you will need in addition to the basics. While every daycare is different, there are some common items that daycare professionals should consider stocking up on.

Safety should be your top priority when setting up your daycare center. Make sure you have plenty of first aid supplies on hand, as well as smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. You should also have fire extinguishers readily available in case of an emergency. Additionally, it is a good idea to put together an emergency preparedness kit in case you need to evacuate your facility.

Cleaning supplies are another essential item for any daycare center. Stock up on disinfectants, gloves, and hand sanitizer to help keep your staff and students healthy.

Age-appropriate and safe toys are essential for any daycare center. Look for toys that promote cooperative play and help develop gross and fine motor skills.

Finally, you will also need to invest in some daycare technology. Consider buying a good computer system to help with record-keeping and communication. You may also want to set up a camera system to monitor activities in your facility.

Daycare rooms are constantly evolving to better meet the needs of both children and staff. While there are many tried-and-true setups that continue to be popular, we predict that some of the top daycare room setup ideas for 2022 will include a focus on sensory areas, more natural light, and increased access to the outdoors. What do you think? Have you seen any great daycare room setups lately? Let us know in the comments!

Template, Sample & Ideas for Childcare Christmas Newsletter

by Ben Keeney | Jun 27, 2022

The childcare Christmas newsletter is an essential marketing tool that can help parents take in the joy of the holidays. But not all are successful. This guide will show you how to make yours effective.

So, the holidays are here! You need to make sure your emails make the season bright with a little festive flair. From fresh new Christmas content to the best ways to deal with the stress of back-to-school, we have all the right elements to make your December daycare newsletter one to remember.

Holidays are a great time to add some extra cheer and joy into your email marketing campaigns. If you’re inspired by the festive season, you can use all sorts of special dates and occasions, from Christmas to the Month of Giving.

Are you ready to give your email marketing campaigns a holiday boost? Keep reading to get inspiration for your December daycare newsletter.

Christmas Newsletter Made Easy – Use Free Templates

With all your responsibilities, finding time to create the perfect Christmas newsletter can be tough. That’s why you shouldn’t start from scratch. To save you time, we built a December newsletter preschool template. This template is editable and printable. All you need to do is remove the sample text after downloading and enter your own copy.

By using this free December newsletter daycare template, you won’t have to spend time on design. You’ll also get ideas for what to write with our sample text. Download the free template now!

Want a Free Daycare/Preschool Newsletter Template for Every Month?

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Holiday Themed Newsletter Ideas for December

Below are holidays often used to inspire themes for email newsletter.

Hanukkah Newsletter

The Jewish festival of Hanukkah is upon us once again! Beginning on November 28th, Hanukkah plays a starring role in our November newsletter ideas guide. This year, the Jewish festival draws to a close on December 6th this year, with candles being lit and people sharing traditional games and meals with their loved ones.

For your December daycare newsletter, let parents know 10 ways that they can share the love during this holiday season.

Christmas Newsletter

Christmas is a time for family and old friends, feasting and merrymaking. Christmas carols and songs fill the air, presents for the children are eagerly pulled from under the tree, and families gather around the dinner table. And at some point on that special evening, there’s usually some pretty special food as well—Christmas dinner is one of those things that everyone has a special recipe for.

For your childcare Christmas newsletter, you could set up a Christmas themed newsletter and create a Christmas card graphic to insert in your newsletter. Keep in mind that not all families celebrate Christmas, so perhaps saying “Happy Holidays” will suffice.

Boxing Day Newsletter

Boxing Day, also referred to as Saint Stephen’s Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 26th. It originated as a day to offer gifts to the poor. Boxing Day was officially recognized as a bank holiday in England back in 1871 by Parliament and it has been celebrated each year since then.

For your childcare Christmas newsletter, this is a good time to encourage others to give back and help the less fortunate. You could include links to charities and causes that your daycare supports.

New Year’s Eve Newsletter

The New Year is coming up fast and this is the perfect time to welcome it in with fireworks and celebrations, family and friends. Whether you’re going out or staying in during the big night, make sure to wear something that makes you feel confident and beautiful.

For your December daycare newsletter, you could discuss your business goals and curriculum plans for the upcoming year.

December Newsletter Ideas for Month and Week-Long Events

To make your December daycare newsletter extra special, you could add some of these fun and meaningful holidays into your newsletter. Here are five additional holidays to mention in your Childcare Christmas newsletter.

Universal Human Rights Month

December is Human Rights Month and so this month is all about remembering to treat each other fairly and equally.

Month of Giving

December is the perfect month for giving to others. Whether it’s joining a volunteer initiative, donating to charities or passing on pre-loved and unused items, you can make all the difference this December.

For your childcare Christmas newsletter, you could link to ways to donate gifts to children in need.

National Cookie Day

Cookies, cookies, cookies! National Cookie Day is December 4th, so get ready to fill up your cookie jar. Whether you like a crunchy snap or a chewy sugary heaven, there are many forms of cookies out there. Eating cookies brings us happiness—and we should all do it more often. Just don’t tell your doctor!

National Letter Writing Day

With National Letter Writing Day just around the corner, we wanted to share tips on how you can celebrate this special occasion. When you put down your cell phone and pick up a pen, chances are great that you’ll be reminded of the power of handwritten notes.

For your December daycare newsletter, you could announce to parents that you plan on having the children trace and learn letters in the alphabet.

National Ugly Sweater Day

Every year, on the third Friday of December, you can be sure that people all over are trading their casual sweaters for something a little more festive and fun. Whether they found one at the store or made their own ugly sweater, there’s no doubt in our minds that this holiday will make you laugh all day long!

For your childcare Christmas newsletter, it would be a fun idea to have the children wear their ugly sweaters to class.

Other Great December Content Ideas

Below are content ideas that aren’t themed around a holiday that you could incorporate into your November daycare newsletter.

Winter

As you begin to plan your childcare Christmas newsletter, keep in mind that the heart of any great email campaign is the subject line. The subject line should be able to heighten the curiosity of your parents and make them open your newsletter.

Reviews

Share positive reviews from other parents and encourage parents to leave reviews whether it be Google, Facebook or Trustpilot.

Create a Poll or Survey

Parents will really appreciate it if you take their opinions into mind. Show them this by adding a poll or survey into your November preschool newsletter so parents can share their feedback and recommendations in a comfortable space.

Final Thoughts

December is an exciting time. The weather is colder, people spend more time at home preparing for Christmas and New Year’s. They bake cookies, shop for gifts, visit with family and friends, drink hot cocoa, get engaged, buy a new car…and remember to send the kids’ teachers all the supplies for their classrooms!

These celebrations are the main ones of the whole year, and if you miss out you will lose a lot of opportunities. You must be aware that this is the right time to celebrate, so start planning your activities as soon as possible.

A childcare Christmas newsletter can be the perfect way to create a buzz of excitement in your community and keep people up to date.

We hope you will enjoy the holidays with us and all our members. This year has been filled with many memorable moments, events and gatherings. By writing a great December daycare newsletter, you can share your year’s events to add to everyone’s holiday spirit.

That’s right, I hope this email will be the first of many holiday emails to brighten your days.

Looking for Newsletter Ideas for More Months?

Check out these free monthly newsletter guides to find ideas that will work for the rest of the year!