Creating a Childcare Handbook: Where Do I Start?
The Basics.
I remember when I was opening my first daycare center, I was completely overwhelmed by the idea of writing an 80-page family handbook! Where would I get the information, who was going to edit this document, and how detailed should I be? Along with a host of other questions. In order to get my license approved I had to have a handbook, so I started with the basics. I included our mission and vision statement, I also included a welcome letter to my families.
But what other items should a childcare handbook actually include? You’ll want to make sure you have the following clearly stated for parents and families:
Your daycare center’s policies and procedures
Hours of operation, fees, and program rules
Information about your staff, including qualifications and contact information
Descriptions of the daycare's curriculum and activities
Health and safety policies
Information on how to contact the daycare in case of an emergency
Clearly communicating this information and your expectations to families, can help prevent misunderstandings or miscommunications in the future and save you time by answering frequently asked questions in advance! Another aspect of your handbook to consider is checking to make sure you aren’t using jargon or technical terms that may confuse parents, keep your language clear and concise!
Your handbook will be implemented on a daily basis because this is the foundation of your program. It’s important to remember that your handbook is a living document, if you start out with 10 pages, you can and should add to it, as your business grows and as your program evolves. Reviewing and updating your handbook on a regular basis will help improve the quality of your business; a good time to update your handbook is at the start of a new school year. You’ll have an entire year of business to reflect on, what went well and what didn’t and your families will appreciate starting the year knowing your new and updated policies, rather than having a mid-year shift.
While creating a childcare handbook may seem like a daunting task, it is an invaluable tool for both you and the families you work with. By taking the time to plan and organize your content, create a professional-looking document, and distribute it to your families, you can ensure that everyone is on the same page and that your early childhood education business runs smoothly and successfully.
