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In this episode, Kate and Carrie chat about turning ideas into actionable steps to improve childcare programs. They tackle common challenges like managing enrollment, understanding financial impacts, and creating standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Key takeaways include:

• Understanding Enrollment Needs: Know why enrollment goals matter, including financial and ratio impacts.
• Creating Actionable Steps: Break down tasks into specific, manageable parts.
• Brain Purge Technique: Clear mental clutter by writing down all ideas and prioritizing them.
• Delegation: Hand off tasks to the right people.
• Taking Action: Start implementing ideas, even imperfectly.
• Celebrating Progress: Recognize and reward small achievements.

Kate and Carrie’s friendly, resourceful chat is like advice from old friends, making complex topics feel manageable and encouraging directors to take practical steps toward improvement. Don't miss their 250th episode and listen now!

Thanks for Listening 🎧

• Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖
• Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!
• Join our Podcast Newsletter!
• Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.
• Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

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In this episode, Kate and Carrie sit down with Tafta Miller, who runs two childcare centers in Monroe, Louisiana. They dive into the importance of mentorship and coaching for new directors in the childcare industry. With her 30 years of experience, Tafta shares how having a mentor could have made her early days much smoother. She offers practical advice on finding the right coach, navigating post-COVID challenges, and even how to convince owners to invest in coaching.

It's a treasure trove of insights for anyone in childcare!

Thanks for Listening 🎧

• Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖
• Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!
• Join our Podcast Newsletter!
• Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.
• Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

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In this episode, Kate and Carrie chat with Alisha about the vital role playgrounds play in childcare settings. They dive into the benefits of investing in high-quality playground equipment versus DIY options, emphasizing safety, longevity, and return on investment.

Alisha shares tips on evaluating equipment, the importance of maintenance, and how playgrounds can enhance a childcare program's marketing strategy. The conversation wraps up with insights on creating cohesive environments that align with educational philosophies. This episode is a treasure trove of practical advice for childcare providers!

Learn more!

https://www.nrpa.org/certification/CPSI/

https://playgroundsafety.uni.edu/training/detail/early-childhood-outdoor-play-inspector-online-certification

https://playgroundsafety.org/

Thanks for Listening 🎧

• Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖
• Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!
• Join our Podcast Newsletter!
• Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.
• Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

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In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," co-hosts Kate and Carrie chat with Chanie Wilschanski, CEO of Schools of Excellence. Chanie shares her expertise on managing childcare programs, especially during challenging times like the COVID pandemic. She introduces the "five gears" of childcare management: enrollment, staff retention, parent engagement, financial health, and program quality.

Chanie emphasizes focusing on just two gears at a time to boost productivity and avoid burnout. The discussion also covers balancing responsibilities, effective leadership, and the importance of financial transparency. It's a treasure trove of insights for anyone in childcare management!

Learn more at: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/media/

Take the quiz: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/fivegears

Thanks for Listening 🎧

• Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖
• Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!
• Join our Podcast Newsletter!
• Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.
• Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

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In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Kate and Carrie dive into the nitty-gritty of financial planning for childcare providers. They chat about the importance of having a financial safety net, humorously dubbed the "oh sh*t fund" (OSF), to handle unexpected changes like those brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

They share practical tips to build this fund, such as using registration fees, late fees, and part-time care income. The goal? To ensure your childcare business can weather any storm. With a friendly and resourceful tone, they make financial planning sound not just necessary, but totally doable!

Thanks for Listening 🎧

• Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖
• Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!
• Join our Podcast Newsletter!
• Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.
• Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

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In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," hosts Kate and Carrie chat with Karly, an educator and director, about the magic of integrating STEM and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) in early childhood education.

Carly shares her excitement over new materials from "Play with a Purpose," like pretend food and a dinosaur bone kit, which are transforming playtime into rich learning experiences. They discuss how these tools spark creativity, enhance vocabulary, and even involve families in the fun. From outdoor art boards to fizzy science experiments, this episode is packed with ideas to inspire imaginative play and learning.

Check out our last episode with Karly!

Thanks for Listening 🎧

• Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖
• Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!
• Join our Podcast Newsletter!
• Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.
• Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

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In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," hosts Kate and Carrie chat with Daniel and Sasha about their innovative software, Playground, which aims to make life easier for childcare providers. Daniel shares touching stories about his family's childcare background, revealing the inspiration behind Playground. Sasha dives into the techy side, explaining features like CRM and marketing automation that help streamline operations.

They both emphasize the importance of regularly evaluating your tech stack and starting small with new systems. The episode wraps up with a heartfelt discussion on Playground’s mission to make quality child care accessible to all.

Learn more at https://www.tryplayground.com

Thanks for Listening 🎧

• Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖
• Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!
• Join our Podcast Newsletter!
• Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.
• Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

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In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Kate and Carrie chat with Christy Black and Jordan Owens, franchise owners of Primrose Preschool. They dive into the importance of community involvement and how it positively impacts both staff and families.

Christy and Jordan share their experiences with community outreach, like volunteering and hosting events, which not only enrich their staff's lives but also strengthen their community connections. They also touch on the value of continuous learning for leaders, emphasizing that reading is a key tool for effective leadership. It's a heartwarming and insightful discussion you won't want to miss!

Thanks for Listening 🎧

• Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖
• Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!
• Join our Podcast Newsletter!
• Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.
• Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!