Maintaining regular communication with parents a common extra service that is offered by many day cares. Communication, such as a brief daily letter about the child's activities, lets the parents know what happened while they were away. Spending a few minutes updating a dry erase board in the classroom with upcoming events, such as a birthday celebration or special art project, gives parents the opportunity to talk to their child about events at day care. A day care newsletter allows parents to stay up to date on day-care policy changes, center-wide special events and other important center information.
Inviting parents into the classroom for a face-to-face meeting provides them with additional information about their child's development and daily activities. Schedule parent-teacher conferences throughout the year to share information about each child's progress and discuss any concerns you have about the child. Encourage parents to visit the day care for a special parent's day or open house event where children are on hand to show their parents some of their favorite daily activities so they become more familiar with your day-care offerings.
A designated parent resource library provides parents with resources on a range of child-related topics, from child rearing to growth patterns. Set aside a special room or area of your center and stock your library with parenting books, educational DVDs and a list of recommend Internet resources. Include educational games, activities and a selection of books that are appropriate for the children at your center and allow parents to check out the materials for a set period of time. Staff your library with one of the day-care teachers during after school hours so parents may ask any questions they may have.
Host workshops on parenting topics throughout the year. Workshop topics may include getting ready for the first day of day care, reading with your child, educational activities to do in the car or specific workshops of interest to the parents at your center. Invite your day-care teachers to lead the workshops or ask community experts to share their knowledge with parents. When planning your workshops, consider what times work best for parents in your community.