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25 Best Ways to Motivate Employees (Infographic)

Feb 12, 2018 by Lynelle Leave a Comment

If you are here, you are looking for effective ways to motivate employees. Well, the first step is not to assume that your employees are leaving the company because of money. If that’s the case, then think again. Your employees are probably leaving because of you.

No offense. But, half of the employees leave the company because of their manager. That’s something I saw many times while working in human resources.

The good news is that I’m giving you a list of ways to motivate your team that is easy to implement in your business, department, or group. More importantly, it helps you create a better work environment before it’s too late.

In this article, we are covering the following topics:

Bad effects of lack of motivation in the workplace
The relationship between motivation and employee engagement
What motivates employees?
How to motivate employees? (successfully!)
A list of 25 ways to motivate employees
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Employees leave companies for numerous reasons

If I were to ask you to name some of the most common reasons, you would probably say more money, better benefits, new baby, better job opportunity, moving out of state, getting a better schedule, more job flexibility, or to be closer to home.

But, what about the unmotivated employees who are trying to escape from your work environment?

Bad effects of lack of motivation in the workplace

Before we start evaluating the ways to motivate employees, you need to understand the consequences of having lack of motivation in the workplace.

According to a Gallup study, one in two employees leaves their job to get away from their manager. That’s an alarming 50% of the employees! However, that statistic doesn’t surprise me. Especially, after working in human resources for more than ten years.

The lack of motivation in the workplace may not sound like an important or serious problem. That’s why companies often ignore the problem. But, ignoring this problem only brings negative consequences to your business such as:

Higher turnover

Nobody likes to suffer and that includes your employees. Unmotivated employees will look for another company where they can feel happy, challenged, and useful. They will look for a company that gives them a meaningful reason to go to work.

Increase in absenteeism

Unmotivated employees will try to stay away from your workplace as much as possible. That’s when they start calling in sick on Mondays trying to extend their weekends. Every year, they plan to use all their available paid time off. It includes vacation, sick time, personal, etc.

Lower productivity

Unhappy employees don’t care about exceeding their job expectations or goals. They only put the minimum effort required to keep their jobs until they can get away from your workplace. Not just that. They also try to influence new employees and top performers to do less.

Poor customer service

We have all experienced poor customer service. People expect a customer service department to be respectful, attentive, and helpful. Missing one of these factors increases the possibility of losing customers. Rest assured that each bad experience is shared with about 12 other people. And in some cases, with more than 20. Ouch! As you can see, having different ways to motivate employees not only benefits your employees but, your customers too.

Increases accidents

This negative effect is usually overlooked. But, think about it. Unhappy employees are more vulnerable to have accidents because they are having other things in mind. They are not paying attention to the potential safety hazards around them. Instead, they are thinking of the resume they submitted to another company last week or the promising phone interview they had during lunch time.

Creates more conflicts between employees

This is similar to the situation of an unhappy customer. Something that I have seen many times and even experienced it myself!

In two separate occasions, I started working in an HR department that had an unhappy employee. On both occasions, the unhappy employees immediately started sharing the bad stories with me during my first week of employment. In one case, it even occurred on my very first day!

I didn’t quit. But, employees from other departments did because of other unhappy employees. Imagine. Who would want to work in a place with such a terrible supervisor, co-workers, or work environment?

Unhappy employees use their spare time to gossip with others and to create conflict. And since they are already unhappy and irritated, situations escalate faster than normal.

Bottom line

Implementing effective ways to motivate employees reduces the bad effects of lack of motivation. However, identifying the problem is as important as fixing it.

Many supervisors want to “solve” the problem in the fastest way (but not the best one) by terminating the employees.

But, does that solve the problem? No. Because in this case, you are NOT solving the problem, which is the lack of motivation. You need to reconnect, engage, and motivate employees.

The great news is that there are many ways to motivate employees. So, just keep reading. 😊

The relationship between motivation and employee engagement

It is impossible to talk about motivated employees without talking about employee engagement. Your ultimate goal should be to have as many engaged employees as possible. But, you need to motivate them first.
Therefore, we need to learn about employee engagement when looking for ways to motivate employees.

Gallup is a research-based company that provides analytics and advice to leaders. They help them to better understand their individuals, teams, and organizations.

That company has identified three types of employees: engaged, not engaged, and actively disengaged. In case that you are not familiar with those terms, let me tell you quickly the characteristics of each of them.

Three types of employees

Engaged employees are connected to the company and work with passion. They are willing to take on new challenges, go above and beyond, have a great attitude towards your company, collaborate, want to learn and help, trust management, and they are enthusiastic, committed, and loyal.

Now, you understand why your goal should be to have as many engaged employees in your workplace as possible.

On the other hand, not-engaged employees put time but don’t put energy or passion into their work. In other words, these are the ones that just show up to work.

Not engaged employees are not interested in helping the company, have lack of motivation, don’t want to try new tasks, are always ready to take their breaks, and don’t show any initiative.

Lastly, actively disengaged employees are unhappy at work and are acting out their unhappiness. They also undermine what engaged workers accomplish. Expect for them to criticize your new ways to motivate employees.

Disengaged employees are constantly gossiping and complaining, making excuses, having attendance issues, not wanting to help anybody, exhibiting bad attitude and negativity, not trusting management or the company, having an unsatisfactory performance, and creating more conflicts in your workplace.

In summary, understanding each type of employee helps you to better evaluate your company’s environment. In that way, you can choose the best ways to motivate your employees.

Now, let’s take a look at the statistics…

Some employee motivation statistics

If you think that your workplace is exempt from disengaged employees, look at these statistics from Gallup:

Only 33% of US employees are engaged
51% of employees are actively looking for a new job
85% of the employees worldwide are not engaged or actively disengaged
A small percentage, 25%, of employees in US manufacturing is engaged

And those in the US manufacturing industry are experiencing a deeper employee disengagement since only 25% of employees are considered engaged. That’s why I had to constantly work with management in finding ways to decrease their turnover rate. I asked supervisors and managers the same question: why are employees leaving? The common answer I received was: Money.

That can be true in some cases but, it’s not the whole truth.

Data shows that more of your engaged employees would stay with your company even if they can get 20% more money at another company.

That’s the power of motivation and employee engagement!

What motivates employees?

The importance of motivating employees is not new. But, even though people have been talking about it for years, many businesses still fail to implement ways to motivate employees.

Throughout the years, several theories have tried to explain the basics of what motivate employees and how the motivational process works. As a business, learning about these theories helps you to better understand and apply your motivational techniques.

Three popular motivational theories

These motivational theories talk about people being motivated by different factors. Let’s take a look at each of them:

First, the Vroom’s Expectancy Theory. It says that people behaves based on the effort required, rewards expected to receive, and the value perceived. Therefore, it assumes that people choose their behavior based on the expected outcome.

Another theory is the Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory which is also called the Motivation-Hygiene Theory. It understands that a person is either satisfied (motivator factor) or dissatisfied (hygiene factor). As a manager, you need to focus on providing more of the satisfying factors such as recognition, fun activities, and growth opportunity. But, you should also work to reduce the dissatisfying factors like hostile environment, micromanagement, and unsafe work conditions.

The last theory is called Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory. Its five hierarchy levels take into consideration several factors or needs.

Going from bottom to top of the pyramid, those levels are:

physiological (food, rest)
safety (hazards, benefits, finances)
love (social, sense of belonging)
self-esteem (achievement)
self-actualization (reaching full potential).

Maslow’s theory explains that once a need is met, the person moves to the next level. By using a variety of ways to motivate employees, you are helping them cover more levels of needs.

After all, why are these motivational theories important?

Even though these three motivational theories were developed before 1970, they provide us with some guidance on how to motivate employees nowadays. Fortunately, the conversations didn’t stop and they continue everywhere. From conferences to trainings, and all the way to Ted Talks.

That’s because motivating employees was an important topic then as it is now.

How to motivate employees? (successfully!)

Here are quick tips to successfully implement your different ways to motivate employees:

Use different motivators

Use different motivational techniques. If you use the same technique every single time, the employee starts seeing it more as an entitlement rather than a nice gesture from you. After a while, the motivator won’t work anymore despite its value.

Don’t use the one-size-fits-all approach

As you know, each of your employees has their own personality. Therefore, not everybody is motivated in the same way. By using different motivational techniques, as explained above, you cover different personalities within your team.

Consistency, consistency, consistency

Consistency is very important. Motivate your employees regardless of who they are. For example, motivate your introverted employees as well as the extroverted ones. Applying motivational techniques in a consistent way helps reduce the feeling of favoritism.

Don’t look for a quick, short-term solution

None of the motivational techniques work like magic. It’s an ongoing process that needs to be applied on a regular basis for it to work. It is difficult to engage your employees if you only motivate them once a year.

Be {truly} honest

Honesty goes a long way. I can’t stress it enough. Be upfront with your employees during good and bad times. Employees have to believe in your honesty. Otherwise, it will affect their trust towards you.

A list of 25 ways to motivate employees

Here is what I consider the 25 best ways to motivate employees, create a more positive work environment, and increase employee engagement.

1- Make employees feel part of the group

Include the employees in celebrations when the group achieves a milestone such as sales goals, a number of years in business, or even the successful implementation of a difficult program.

But, also share the bad news with them too. When employees get into the habit of learning about the negative news from somebody else, it not only decreases their engagement and motivation, but it also affects their trust in you and the company.

2- Show them management support

Management support is one of the strongest ways to motivate employees. Your employees need to feel that you are there for them. Motivate them by being an example, leader, and someone they can trust.

Don’t just let them know that you support them. Do it. Help them grow through coaching, establish a plan of skills to develop, schedule some training, or anything else to help them succeed.

3- Celebrate success in the workplace

Recognize your employees for their accomplishments. Use different types of recognition depending on the accomplishment.

You could give a “Great Job!” card, a box of chocolates, flowers, lunch at a restaurant, or even sending a nice email.

Speaking of celebration, you can also celebrate birthdays and work anniversaries.

4- Understand the importance of work-life balance

Your employees have a personal life outside of work. Don’t assume that single employees have the time to work extra hours. They may have to take care of their elderly parents or even work on something else on the side.

Understanding and respecting their personal life is one of the ways to motivate employees. There’s a reason why flexible schedules are growing in popularity.

The workplace has changed over time and the number of employees looking for a work-life balance keeps growing. For example, 60% of women considered that is very important to find a job with a greater work-life balance. Something that’s important for me too! That was one of the top reasons why I started a blog.

5- Have fun with your employees

There are always emails to answer, tasks to complete, deadlines to meet, projects to work on, meetings to attend, and many other job responsibilities. But, that doesn’t mean that you can’t take some time off to have fun with your employees.

You can plan something fun outside the company such as going to the park, restaurant, or an entertainment place. Want to stay inside the company? Reserve a meeting room, order pizza, and play some games.

6- Build a relationship

Basic things are normally the best ways to motivate employees. Like relationships. Building a healthy relationship with your employees is very important. Make your employees feel comfortable. The better they feel working with you, the happier they will be in the workplace.

Show your employees that you care about their well-being and success. Building a strong relationship is a great way to motivate employees as long as they believe in your honesty.

7- Listen to your employees

Pay attention to what your employees have to say. Listen attentively and objectively to your employees’ comments, ideas, and suggestions. In addition to listening to the employees’ problems, worries, and frustrations. What’s affecting them inside or outside of work? Sometimes, all that a person needs to feel better is somebody to listen.

8- Provide employee feedback on a regular basis

Providing feedback to your employees on a regular basis is crucial, but barely used in companies. Many supervisors wait until the performance review to discuss any concern with the employees.

Don’t wait. Now is always the best time to talk about those concerns. That will give your employees a better chance to succeed.

9- Give clear expectations

Let employees know exactly what you expect of them. If you notice any confusion, sit with the employee and go over the expectations again. Having a good communication is always the best way to clarify any misunderstanding. After all, you want your employees to succeed.

10- Create challenges in the workplace

Everybody likes challenges. That’s why there’s a new challenge out there pretty much every week. I am one of those people who get bored easily after mastering a task. Fortunately, most of the supervisors I had gave me the opportunity to challenge myself by handling new tasks and projects. Challenges can be one of your best ways to motivate employees and create competition. Just make sure to promote a healthy competition.

11- Help each employee create a career path

Meet one-on-one with your employees and talk about their interests, skills, and plans for the future. The more you help them visualize the future and available opportunities for professional growth, the more motivated your employees will be. Help them schedule any required training or class to achieve their goals.

12- Maximize their strengths

Maximizing the talent of your employees is a win-win-win situation.

First, employees are more motivated and comfortable to use their talents. Second, maximizing the strengths increases their chances of succeeding. Third, when an employee succeeds, the company wins too.

13- Take employees’ feedback into consideration

Only 30% of employees believe that their opinions count at work. That’s sad. It tells you that many businesses are not seeing employee’s feedback as a way to motivate employees. To improve employee motivation, show interest, and respect for the employee’s contributions.

Over the years, you get used to following the same processes over, and over again. Take the time to listen to the employee’s suggestions and understand their point of view.

To avoid future misunderstandings, share your thoughts with them and be clear about what you can and can’t do regarding their feedback.

14- Recognize individual contributions

Teamwork has many benefits and luckily, most companies encourage it. Just don’t forget to recognize individual contributions too. Make sure to identify and recognize those key contributions that each of your employees makes.

15- Get to know your employees

Take time to know your employees better. It’s a way to make them feel special and important. As a human resources professional, I usually had many employees. At one point, I even had about 400 employees.

Learning all the employees’ names was a challenge for me. But, knowing that it meant the world to them, it became more important to me.

Knowing your employees helps you to identify and maximize their strengths. It the end, you are connecting two effective ways to motivate employees.

16- Ask questions to your employees

Asking questions to your employees have several benefits. First, getting the information directly from your employees allows you to know exactly what they like and what motivates them. Second, that’s key information you can use to plan surprise activities in the future. Third, employees feel happy helping you solve a problem.

Good job! You already went over 16 ways to motivate employees. Make sure to get the pdf version.

17- Give choices to choose from

Sometimes, companies look for ways to motivate employees but they get discouraged by the lack of flexibility. It may require a tight budget or specific location but, don’t let that stop you. In this case, think of a few possible options and let your employees vote for their favorite one. By giving choices, your employees know exactly what to expect and you are letting them make the final decision.

18- Make sure to follow up

Employees normally share things that are happening in their lives. They might be buying a house, expecting the visit of a family member, taking care of a sick parent, or having issues at the kid’s school.

We are all humans and those type of situations affect the employees in a positive or negative way. If the employees share those details with you, follow up with them. Show them that you care, and if needed, be a resource for them.

19- Do some volunteer work {and take your team with you}

The reality is that not everything can be business. Volunteering your time shows your employees that you care about others and about supporting the community.

It’s a special way to bond with your team. Call your local non-profit organizations and ask them how your company can help.

Sometimes, planning some volunteer work seems difficult to achieve. Don’t give up. Try collecting items for donations. Your team can donate cans for the local food banks, backpacks for elementary school students, toys for kids at the hospitals, or blankets to distribute at the senior living centers.

Working together for the community are special ways to motivate employees. Plus, the opportunities to help and make a difference are endless.

20- Have themed days

Promote themed days related to your company, calendar days, cultural events, or holidays. Some companies have an ugly sweater day, sports day, or jeans day. I have been in companies that celebrated the New Chinese Year, Halloween, and Cinco de Mayo.

Think of different themed days based on your company’s work environment. Based on my experience, themed days and dress-up days are two popular ways to motivate employees. Combine them and don’t forget to have fun!

21- Surprise your employees

Plan an activity, tell your employees what to wear, and take them to the place as a surprise. I had a supervisor who was doing it every quarter and we loved it! It kept us excited, thinking of possible places where we were going.

A surprise activity creates the chance to know your co-workers better, aside from adapting to the surprise itself.

22- Forget about the out of sight, out of mind

You are probably familiar with the popular saying: out of sight, out of mind. Unfortunately, many companies unknowingly apply it to employees on leave of absence. Make an effort to let them know how much they are missed.

Send a get well soon card to an employee who had a surgery, flowers to someone who’s just lost a family member, or a baby gift {yep, that’s my shop 🙂 } to an employee on maternity or paternity leave.

Do something nice again upon their return to work. Show them how happy you (and the rest of the team) are for their return.

After having my first girl, I returned to an office that was decorated with welcome back signs. After having my second daughter, my then supervisor and co-workers took me to a restaurant for lunch. Both times, I felt missed and motivated in going back to work.

Make sure you use different ways to motivate employees upon their return to work.

23- Run contests

Contests are great for creative and overachiever employees. A pumpkin decorating contest is popular among companies. What about a holiday contest? Ask your employees to decorate their work area with the holiday spirit.

Use contests focused on your company. It could be choosing the company’s Christmas card, the best- decorated work area, the most creative tagline for a product, etc.

24- Create special groups or committees

People always want to help and be part of something special.

That’s why companies create VIP programs or exclusive benefits for members. Even artists encourage these groups by calling their fans in a special way. Taylor Swift fans are Swifties, Ed Sheeran fans call themselves Sheerios, and Beyonce fans are Bey Hive.

At work, create groups to help you plan company events and activities. Approach those employees that you already have in mind. But, leave some room for the volunteers who want to join the group.

Choose few employees for each group but be sure they are enough to get the work done without frustration.

Quick tip: Have your more engaged employees be the leaders of these groups. And, whenever you are ready to plan a new event or activity, give new people the opportunity to join the group.

25- Give out handwritten “Thank You” cards

Giving out “Thank You” cards is an old valuable motivational technique. The gesture is highly appreciated in a time where most messages are sent through phones and computers.

Have a box of thank you cards handy on your desk and be ready to recognize a behavior that goes above and beyond. Just be careful. Distributing the cards too often will decrease their value.

Which ways are your favorite to motivate employees?

Wow, we discussed a lot in here! Don’t forget to download the pdf version of this article. It includes the 25 employee motivation techniques mentioned above. Plus, a bonus page which is a quick start with 15 Fun Ways to Motivate Employees, is included.

I hope you now have a better understanding of how important employee motivation is in the workplace. The examples provided should help you get started in the right direction.

What do you consider are the three best ways to motivate employees? Leave a comment below!

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Is the guiding word of the year a waste of time?

Jan 1, 2018 by Lynelle 2 Comments

If you haven’t chosen your guiding word of the year, you are missing out. A guiding word gives you an extra boost to achieve your short-term goals.

This post includes the following:

– the benefits of choosing a guiding word

– five easy steps to follow to help you choose the right word

– ten examples of words that you can start using today

So, let’s get started!

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more information.

Why should you bother to choose a guiding word of the year?

Several years ago, I heard about choosing a guiding word. I was kind of skeptical at first, but I still went ahead and did it. And, let me tell you that I haven’t stopped choosing a word since!

Here are three reasons (or benefits) to why you should do it:

Provides guidance

The word guides you to what you want to accomplish. That special word immediately makes you think of what you are planning to achieve.

It also makes your decision-making process easier. For example, let’s say that my word for this year is “simplify”, then it guides me to make decisions that are aligned with the word.

Keeps you focused on your goals

Every time you see the word, it acts as a quick reminder to keep moving forward. But it also helps you to get back on track if needed.

Ensures consistency

The frequent reminders ensure you keep your actions and decisions consistent with your plans for the year. The more consistent you stay with your actions, the closer you get to achieve your goals. As a result, you will be more motivated and happier in life.

As you can see, these three benefits alone are enough for you to start thinking of potential words. But, before you do that, let’s go over the quick steps to ensure you choose the right word for you.

5 Easy steps to choose a guiding word of the year

STEP # 1 – SET YOUR GOALS FOR THE YEAR

You need to decide what you want to achieve during the year. In order to do that, think about your short-term goals. Your guiding word won’t be meaningful to you unless it’s related to your plans or goals.

Another way to choose your word is by thinking of a problem you want to fix. For example, a few years ago, I chose the word “simple” because after reflecting about the previous year, I felt that I was complicating my life too much by adding things to my plate that were not necessary.

Keeping the word “simple” in mind helped me to improve different areas of my life. That in addition to feeling less overwhelmed, saving time, and being more productive.

If you are still not sure of what word to use, go over your goals for the year and try to identify something in common between all your goals. Do you see any patterns?

STEP # 2 – FOCUS ON THE WORD YOU CHOOSE

Some people suggest that your guiding word of the year should be a verb. I understand why they say it because using an action word motivates you to take action.

But, I also look at it in a different way.

It’s better to choose a word that is meaningful and aligned with your goals for the year, rather than focusing on which type of word to use.

In other words, don’t limit yourself.

Choose whichever works for you: a verb, an adjective, a noun, or even a phrase. Choosing a phrase might sound weird but if a phrase such as “Make it happen” or “Less is more” matches better with your plans and intentions, then go for it!

In summary, be intentional when choosing your word. Don’t overthink it by trying to choose the perfect word. Just pick a word that can guide you, motivate you, and help you keep your goals in mind.

STEP # 3 – CHOOSE A WORD THAT’S MEANINGFUL TO YOU

The word you choose needs to, in a certain way, describe what you want to achieve. And most importantly, what you want to feel when you read, write, or hear that word.

For example, this year, I was trying to decide between the words “achieve” and “accomplish”. In the end, I chose “achieve” because it sounded stronger, to me.

You can also add the “ing” if needed. In my case, choosing the word “achieving” was perfect to describe the continuous achievement that I am looking for throughout the entire year.

If you have an idea of what you want to use but can’t find the right word, try using websites like Thesaurus or Merriam-Webster. There, you can get a list of similar words to help you decide.

However, if you need some ideas or inspiration, then check this great list of 50 Empowering Words for Women.

At this point, you probably have your guiding word. But, if you are still unsure of what word to choose, I still have one more suggestion for you.

Try the happier in life which randomly chooses a word for you. I tried it and got the word “start” which is great for perfectionists like me, who normally wait too long to start some things such as starting a blog.

For example, I wanted to start a blog seven years ago but kept waiting to have the perfect blog name, themes, ideas, etc. Back then, having “start” as my guiding word would probably have pushed me to get out of my comfort zone to work on that blog and to finally hit publish!

STEP # 4 – WRITE THE WORD IN VISIBLE PLACES

One of the most common reasons for people not to reach their goals is the lack of follow-ups. To reduce that, have your word everywhere to see it often.

Keeping it in visible places helps you remember what you want to do, achieve, or improve. But, don’t just put a note on the refrigerator. Put it in various places to ensure you “bump” into it regularly.

I always have my word in at least these three key places:

– A sign in my bathroom where I can see it several times a day since I am working from home.

– Write it on my productivity planner which I use every day.

– Use it as part of my password. It could be a password for the computer, cell phone, or an account that I use frequently.

The main purpose is to keep the word in your mind as much as you can.

STEP # 5 – APPLY YOUR WORD TO YOUR LIFE

This step should be easy if you followed all the previous steps. Because the more in contact you are with your chosen word, the more in contact you will be with your goals and intentions. You start applying it more consistently through all the areas in your life.

It’s like putting your guiding word on autopilot!

By the way, this post, mentions the different areas that you need to keep in mind when setting your goals. Those same areas are also important when choosing your guiding word.

That’s it!

Those were the steps to choose a guiding word.

As you could see, those steps are not difficult to follow and doing them will put your mindset to achieve the results you are looking for.

10 Great words that you can choose

Here are ten quick examples of words that you can choose. This list includes a mix of different types of words that I would consider for my myself:

Success (having a blog named Mom Succeeds, this word was a must 😊)
Committed
Intentional
Influence
Happiness
Grateful
Complete
Valiant
Simplify
Balance

Bonus: Examples of phrases to use

I can and I will
It’s never too late
Take action
I believe in myself
Living life to the fullest

As I said before, focus on a word that works for you. A word that would inspire and motivate you to make the changes you want throughout the year.

Can I reuse a previous word?

Once the year is over, follow the same five steps mentioned above to find the right word for your new goals. Don’t be afraid to reuse words from previous years. Remember that there’s always room for improvement.

For example, this year, I could easily reuse the word “simple”. As a busy mom, I can quickly identify different ways to simplify my life: groceries, meal planning, and batch cooking.

You’re ready to make this year the best yet!

Ok, in summary, you:

learned the benefits of choosing a guiding word of the year
went over the steps to choose the right word for you
got examples of great words, and phrases, that you can use

Now it’s time for you to put everything into practice.

Just one more thing…

I have noticed that some people get so motivated that they replace their goal setting process with their guiding word. I personally don’t recommend that and suggest using both, choosing a word and setting your goals.

Your word works as a daily reminder of what you want to achieve (goals). However, setting your goals is the detailed plan explaining what, how, and when to achieve what you want.

So, make sure to use both for greater benefits!

Now, tell me…what’s your word for this year? Do you prefer a word or a phrase? I would love to hear from you! Let me know in the comments section below.

Additional resources for a successful year:

12 Days of Elf on the Shelf Ideas My Toddler Loved

Nov 27, 2017 by Lynelle 10 Comments

Having the visit from an Elf on the shelf for about a month is not just a lot of fun but it requires some preparation time too. You can have the best intentions, but sometimes you run out of ideas, or you just need one last-minute idea. These twelve Elf on the Shelf ideas can help you get back on track!

Since I grew up in another country, I remember learning about the Elf on the Shelf from my oldest daughter. Every day, she was coming from school telling me about a nice elf that kept entertaining one of her friends.

Then, the year after, we had our own elf on the shelf named Izzy. Our Elf on the Shelf kept visiting our house for a few more years until it wasn’t a secret anymore.

But last year, Izzy came back to surprise my little one for the first time. This time, I wanted Izzy to do more than just hiding or changing places. And, she delivered!

The good news is that there are so many good Elf on the shelf ideas out there that it was easy for Izzy to find something different to do each day. By the way, make sure to pin it this post for later.

Quick note: This post contains affiliate links. Read my disclosure for more info.

12 Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Here are the twelve Elf on the shelf ideas that my toddler loved from last year:

1. Elf inside the cereal box

This cereal box is such a cute idea from Lovebugs and Postcards. It took some time for my toddler to find our elf but once she found her, she kept stopping by the kitchen to see the elf inside the box.

2. Elf on the shelf eating marshmallows

In addition to the adventures, our elf had to eat too. Evidently, she was enjoying the marshmallows but she still shared with the kids.

3. Elf with minion bananas

While I was looking for a last-minute elf on the shelf idea, I found this one. As soon as I saw this minion idea at Fancy Shanty, I knew that my toddler would like it since she loves minions (and bananas!)

4. Elf on the shelf riding a horse and driving a car

Izzy was riding a horse one day next to her bear friend. Then, another day, she was found driving across the Christmas village after getting some groceries for the little one.

5. Elf the Snowman

I found this idea at Frugal Coupon Living! It was pretty easy to do and we all enjoyed it. I just customized it a little bit more adding a red Christmas garland at the top and using some chocolate cookies to leave a trail of the snowman’s buttons (something that my daughter appreciated). For the scarf, I went through all the ribbons that I use to make hair bows and I found the Olaf ribbon which couldn’t have been more appropriate!

6. Elf on the shelf fishing

Since my daughter loves goldfish, Izzy had two days of fishing. On the second day, there was even a printable for my daughter to color.

7. Elf on the shelf snow angel

The idea of the snow angel was found at Pretty Providence. It was also a perfect time to add some powdered donuts for the kids since it was something that we don’t do at home often. If you have some cookie cutters, you can add some designs to the elf’s mess, like the heart I added in the corner.

8. Elf on the shelf playing games

This relaxing day had our Elf on the Shelf playing games with her special group of friends who were on the other side of the board. This friendly game ended with a smiley face on the board.

9. Elf in the flower

Another easy and cute idea! To create this flower, just head over Remodelaholic to print your template. Then, just cut the three different layers and glue them together. I used a butterfly bucket that I had at home but you can find similar ones at Walmart, Target, and even at dollar stores.

10. Elfie Selfie

Selfies are everywhere and elves can’t be the exception. This elfie selfie is more like a close-up, but there are other great selfie pictures that you can check out here, here, and here.

11. Elf with nativity

This idea came from a picture I saw at Sweet Shoppe Design. I gave it a try and not only did I like the picture, but it was an opportunity to remember the true meaning of the holiday season.

12. Elf on the shelf pictures

On the last day, my toddler received several pictures of Izzy. Those pictures showed the adventures that Izzy had during the previous weeks. My daughter not only had a good time remembering those days but I am still keeping those pictures as a memory.

Please share it with your friends. They will love it!

Elf on the shelf ideas

There you go! The twelve days of Elf on the Shelf ideas that my toddler loved.

Have fun with your Elf!

In the meantime, which idea was your favorite? Leave me a comment below.

How to Create a Simple Command Center for Kids

Oct 30, 2017 by Lynelle 2 Comments

I had enough of this cluttered area! A very dysfunctional area in my house is now an organized and really simple command center for kids.

When I moved into this house a few years ago, I had plans for a wall space between the dining room and family room. The idea was to put the mail, magazines, school paperwork, and work documents there until I could process them. I didn’t want all that daily paperwork to end up on top of the dining table or worse to get lost.

I had enough! I transformed a messy and dysfunctional area in the house, to an organized, functional, and real simple command center for kids. Learn six important tips to create your own! Plus, FREE PRINTABLES!

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more information.

I love storage cubes and they have been my BFF for years. Because they are great for decoration and organization purposes. That’s the reason why I got a storage cube. It had the right size for that space area. The goal was to keep all the paperwork in one place. And, it worked!

But not anymore…

Get these easy tips to transform a dysfunctional area in your home to a real simple command center for kids! Plus, FREE printables!

Table Of Contents

Home Organization Needs
A beautiful, functional, and really simple command center
DIY Command Center Tips
Get started with your command center
Wrapping up
Make sure to Pin it for later!

Home Organization Needs

Our home organization needed a change. There were some problems/challenges such as the oldest daughter keeping school supplies in different areas, no place for notes but too much space to store clutter, and having the youngest daughter about to start Pre-k. You know exactly what that means. Not just another backpack and lunchbox but more school paperwork too!

After doing some research, I was convinced that a command center would be the perfect solution to replace the dysfunctional area. There are so many options available that I stepped back and identified our new home organization needs first.

I made a list of our requirements:

Inexpensive
Simple
No holes in the wall
Kid-friendly
Some storage
Space for notes and reminders

Inexpensive

Living on one income makes our budget pretty limited. I needed to fix that dysfunctional space with the least money possible. However, there are always ways to work around it. I created a simple command center for my kids that avoided adding a lot of items I wouldn’t use.

Simple

You can add so many things to a command center. Things like folders, key holders, calendars, frames, and pretty much anything else that comes to your mind. I just wanted a simple but functional area where my kids could place their backpacks, a lunchbox, a 4-inch binder, have notes or reminders, and any additional book or material required to be kept at home.

No holes in the wall

I have seen command centers with hooks to hang kids’ backpacks. Even though I liked the idea, it was not an option for us for two reasons. First, because my oldest daughter’s backpack is waaaay too heavy. It has her books, notebooks, laptop, and other required school supplies. In this case, the hook would probably get loose and fall over time. Second, because I was determined not to make holes in the wall. I wanted a simple, pretty, and clean look.

Kid-friendly

With a toddler and a tween at home, I wouldn’t expect them to be super careful putting their belongings in the command center. I didn’t want to worry about them dropping a frame, damaging a folder, or even getting scratched by sharp hooks or corners. The storage bench top round corners maintain the area safe for kids.

Limited storage

Some storage is still needed in that space but not as much as we had before. In this case, I repurposed a storage bench from my youngest daughter’s room which I was using as a window bench. I used it to comfort her as a baby when she was waking up at night. Now, she is a toddler and we haven’t used it anymore. It had the perfect size to easily hold a regular backpack, a laptop backpack, and a 4-inch binder on top. At the bottom, it also provides the amount of storage space that I was looking for

It was great for our low budget and the furniture is in better use. A win-win situation. I also added a folding storage bin similar to this one. I prefer those type of storage bins than the clear ones because it looks more organized and consistent. You can leave the window bench without bins or add all three bins.

Space for notes and reminders

The old area had zero space for notes or reminders. I had to leave notes on the dining table in order to remind my oldest daughter about important things coming up. To solve this, I used this chalkboard contact paper.

I cut two 20”(W) x 35”(H) pieces and placed them side by side to give the impression that it is one whole piece. It’s tall enough for the backpacks not to cover or erase the messages. It also protects the wall from getting dirty which was a major concern. It is easy to clean too. Just use a damp cloth to remove the chalk and that’s it. You’re done! Something simple and practical.

real simple command center for back to school

Some people don’t like the idea of using contact paper on textured walls. They prefer to use contact papers on smooth surfaces to have a better look. And it does look better. Because of that, some people have only used it on a smooth surface or they have added a smooth surface under the chalk contact paper. In my case, I am happy with the results. Yes, the contact paper is not smooth but it’s not that noticeable either unless you get close to it. Plus, it doesn’t bother me when I write on it. It works like a dry erase wall decal. Do what makes you happy.

Tip: As you can see, I even add some decorations to the command center based on the season. But, you can also add some color by using colored chalk or adding post-it notes which are easy to remove too.

A beautiful, functional, and really simple command center

I really love the way that area looks now. It’s no longer a messy, disorganized, and dysfunctional area. Now, it’s completely the opposite. It’s beautiful, functional and organized. The kids have been using it every single day. As soon as they come back from school, they know exactly where to put their school stuff. But more importantly, they know where to find them too! 🙂

DIY Command Center Tips

There are so many ideas or ways to make your command center that you could easily feel overwhelmed by the process. To help you succeed in your project, follow these six tips:

1 – Identify your family home organization needs

A command center should help you and your family stay more organized. Make sure it solves your needs. Every command center layout and content are unique based on what you are trying to accomplish. There’s not a right or wrong way to make it. It’s only wrong if it doesn’t meet your needs.

Don’t be tempted to add few more items just because they are cute. Having all those unnecessary items may overwhelm you even more or increase your clutter which creates a dysfunctional area.

Be intentional during the planning phase to achieve the desired results. Visualize your dream command center and transfer your thoughts to a piece of paper. It is easier to move things around on a piece of paper than changing the whole command center after it is set up.

2 – Determine who will use the command center

You can be creating a command center for yourself, your kids, or the whole family. The needs will vary depending on who will use it. For example, if I create a family command center, I would include bills, a weekly calendar, a monthly calendar, and a bin to keep the incoming and outgoing mail. But, my kids don’t need any of that.

3 – Focus on the purpose

The sky’s the limit when you are making a command center. And I have seen many types. Some are simple, while others have everything included. That’s why you need to focus on the purpose. What are you trying to fix? What do you want to achieve?

4 – Choose the home space for the command center

Decide how much space you need for the command center. Take into consideration the items that you want to include. Many include calendars on it but I didn’t need them there. The number of people that will use it is also important. Because a family of eight will probably require more space than a family of four. Or a kids command center may need less space than a family command center. Choose the space based on the previous steps.

5- A convenient location

Space and location go together. The location of the command center has to be easy and convenient for the person(s) using it. Some command centers are located near the entrance door while others are near the family room or even the kitchen. In my case, it is right next to the dining table where my kids normally sit to do their homework. It’s only a few steps away from the garage door which makes it easier when we are leaving or coming back from school.

6 – Keep your budget and purpose in mind

It’s easy to get lost inside an office supply store and to “unconsciously” add unnecessary {but cute 🙂 } items to the shopping cart. Save time and money by making a list of supplies needed for that command center that you visualized on Tip 1. But, before heading out of the door, look around your house for any unused item that you can repurpose.

Get started with your command center

After following those important tips to create your command center, it’s time to take action. I have put a few products together to get you started…

PRACTICAL CHALKBOARD CONTACT PAPER

For this project, I have used the chalkboard contact paper 1 shown below but there are similar products that you can use too:

Chalkboard contact papers:

chalkboard contact paper 1 | paper 2 | paper 3 | paper 4 | paper 5

Functional Storage Bench

Even though I used the espresso storage bench (top), you have other colors and models to choose from. Here are some that you might want to consider:

espresso bench (top/used) | white espresso bench | espresso bench (bottom left) | storage bench (bottom)

Update: Unfortunately, Target is no longer selling the storage bench that I used. But, I found the same storage bench here and a similar storage bench here.

Colorful storage bins

There are so many storage bins to choose from! For this project, I used an 11″ x 10.5″ x 10.5″ red storage bin that I bought from Target a few years ago. They don’t seem to carry those bins anymore but I found similar bins at other places. And added a couple of bins that caught my attention 😀 :

black bin | hot pink bin | ocean blue & black bin | green bins | ocean blue bin

Wrapping up

Now, you know how I made my simple command center. Make sure to follow the six tips described above to successfully make yours. Hope you get as happy as I did after seeing the difference and don’t forget to scroll up and get the quick start guide.

Download the quick start guide

What type of command center are you planning? Leave me a comment in the section below!

Make sure to Pin it for later!

Choose a Daycare: 5 Must-Know Tips for New Moms

Oct 16, 2017 by Lynelle 17 Comments

Today, I am providing you with important tips to help you choose a daycare for your baby. If you have been following this blog post series from the beginning, you should have already accomplished a lot throughout this process.

This step of choosing a daycare should be pretty easy if you have completed the previous steps. If you are just now joining me in the process of finding a daycare, make sure to start with Part 1 so you can start identifying your needs.

5 Important tips on how to choose a daycare

Look for a reputable and licensed daycare

There are different ways to find a reputable, licensed daycare. Yes, things can happen at a licensed or unlicensed daycare. But at least licensed daycares are regularly inspected by the state to make sure they follow the required standards, regulations, and laws. Those inspections are conducted in areas like certifications, trainings, background checks, safety, staff to kids ratios, and more.

But, just because it’s a licensed daycare, doesn’t mean that it’s the right one. There are still several factors to take into consideration such as other people’s opinion about that daycare. Find out what people are saying by checking the comments and reviews that they have posted on the internet, including websites, forums, and social media.

Meet the daycare staff

After years of working in Human Resources, I can tell you that there’s a difference between employees and engaged employees. You want to choose a daycare with an engaged staff who truly like their job, workplace, and who enjoy working with kids. You want positive, happy role models around your child who can inspire and motivate them every day.

You also want a staff who believes in having an open communication with parents. As a parent, it’s important for you to know what has happened with your child that day and anything new at the daycare including minor incidents or even illnesses that could affect your child.

An awesome staff with seniority is definitely a plus! At Corporate America, having a group of employees with many years of service is always a sellable point for any prospective employee. Because seniority usually translates to happy, loyal and engaged employees. And that’s normally achieved through a positive work environment that results in less turnover.

What does all that have to do with a daycare?

Everything! 🙂 A positive work environment is a plus at the time to choose a daycare. When the daycare staff members have worked together for a while, they know each other and have already found out ways to work better as a team. That not only benefits the daycare but parents and kids too. Having the same staff members showing up to work every day, make kids feel stable, safe, and give them the opportunity to build a better relationship with their caregivers.

People in charge of kids have to be properly trained to handle different situations. That’s why it’s important to keep their skills current and to complete every training on time. That supports the importance of the first tip: choosing a reputable, licensed daycare.

Check the daycare’s organization and cleanliness

An organized daycare benefits your child in many ways. Because the organization is more than just the way it looks. It includes the daycare’s decoration, curriculum, routines/schedules, and of course, orderliness.

The daycare should be decorated in a way to make kids feel happy and welcomed. And, it should be designed for kids to explore and learn at the same time. Since kids react positively to bright colors, it’s not a coincidence (or lack of creativity 🙂 ) to see many daycares decorated in a colorful way.

Make sure to choose a daycare with a well-structured curriculum because of its benefits. It provides guidance to daycare providers on what needs to be covered. It focuses on helping kids to develop different learning areas and skills, helps to create consistency across different locations and among staff members, including new employees. Having a structured curriculum also makes it easier for the daycare to share with parents the upcoming topics and activities.

Routines and schedules have positive benefits for adults as well as in kids. That’s why a curriculum is as important as having a daily schedule in place. Experts agree that a daily routine helps kids feel less anxious, more confident, and able to handle changes more positively. Plus, let them sleep better at night which is a huge plus for you! 😉

In addition to evaluating the cleanliness during the daycare tour, check how often they clean the toys and furniture included in your kid’s area. And, ask them about their procedure when a kid gets sick. Many daycares have a designated area where sick kids rest until a family member arrives.

Last but not least, orderliness. An unorganized daycare can create an unsafe environment where kids can trip over, cut themselves, or have major accidents. And, that takes us to the next tip…

Ensure a safe environment for your child

As I just mentioned, the organization goes hand in hand with safety because an unorganized daycare creates a dangerous environment for kids.

Take everything into consideration when assessing the level of safety in a daycare. It’s not uncommon to only focus on evaluating the indoors but keep in mind that outdoor areas are important too. Look for red flags such as hanging cables, uncovered electrical outlets, unlocked entrance doors, unfenced patio, unmonitored drop-off/pick-up process, etc.

Some things are not necessarily considered red flags but you may prefer to have them in a specific way. For example, you may want to choose a daycare with covered playgrounds in hot weather states or one with security cameras throughout the facility.

Trust your gut feeling when choosing a daycare

After following the previous tips to choose a daycare, make sure to trust your gut when making the final decision.

And, that’s what I didn’t do! 🙁

I searched, pre-screened, and toured different daycares. But, because of our corporate jobs, I felt the pressure to make a quick decision. I had a bad feeling about one of the daycares but still decided to focus only on the facts such as its close location, affordable cost, and extended hours of service. I completely ignored my gut feeling and ended up enrolling my little one in that daycare.

On that first day, I kept telling myself that there was no reason to have that bad feeling. That day, I planned for my baby to stay at the daycare only for a few hours. But, not even that discouraged me from calling the daycare twice to check on her status.

After my husband picked her up, he mentioned that all the infants in the room were sleeping at the same time. All infants sleeping at the same time?!! That really concerned me. My daughter was sleeping so profoundly that she wasn’t responding to anything. She looked very weak and couldn’t eat or even open her eyes. She was completely out!

Her behavior was so awkward that we ended up calling the Pediatrician who asked us to take her immediately to the hospital. After several physical check-ups and a few hours, she finally woke up! As a mom, it was such a scary situation that I still get chills every time I think about it. I was lucky that she went back to normal but I didn’t take her to that daycare ever again!

After that scary situation, I decided to trust my gut feeling (after following a process)…

As you can imagine, after that incident, I started my search for a daycare all over again. But this time, I decided to trust my gut as part of the process. After evaluating different daycares, I chose a daycare for my baby. This time, I didn’t have to convince myself that my little one would be okay. At the end of the day, I felt even better when I picked her up and her behavior was completely normal.

My advice to you?

Do the research AND trust your gut feeling. If you feel that something is not right, then keep researching until you feel more comfortable with that daycare, or just move on to another one. Listen to your gut feeling and you will have peace of mind!

Final Thoughts on Choosing a Daycare

You did it! You have completed the last part of this blog post series on How to find a daycare.

This time, we went over five tips on how to choose a daycare. These tips include researching, observing, and following your gut feeling.

Before finishing, don’t forget to get the free daycare worksheets if you haven’t done it yet. Those forms include a ranking system to help you choose a daycare.

I would love to know how the information covered in this series has helped you. Best of luck to you and your family on this journey and let me know how it goes!

Do you have a tip that you would like to share? Let me know in the comments section.

Enjoyed it? Please share it with your friends. Thank you! 🙂

Read these five must-know tips before choosing a daycare. Also, learn the mistake I made so you can avoid it! #baby #pregnancy #moms #momlife

Daycare Tour: Get The Most Out of Your Visit

Oct 2, 2017 by Lynelle 2 Comments

It’s the time for a daycare tour! Which means that you’re ready to visit those potential daycares that are still on your list.

Make sure to read and complete the previous two parts of this blog post series: How to find a daycare and Find a daycare near you, if you haven’t done so yet.

Touring a daycare is more than visiting a facility. It’s an opportunity to:

confirm the good impression you had during the pre-screening process
make sure that it is a good fit for you and your kids
ask open-ended questions

Instead of looking at it as a daycare tour, think of it as a person-to-person interview and daycare inspection. After all, you’re hiring the person that will take care of your baby.

PIN IT FOR LATER

Tips to maximize your time at the daycare tour

Don’t schedule a tour

Many of us have done it. We have fixed our house before friends arrive or have fixed our work area before a visitor from the headquarters comes for a tour. And that’s okay. But in this case, since you are planning to leave your baby at the daycare on a regular basis, you want to see how things run on a normal day. So, don’t feel the pressure to schedule a tour. Just show up.

Plan ahead of time

Your plan should depend on a number of the number of daycares on your list, your availability, and energy. If you are an overachiever, you may want to tackle them all in one day. But, the best way is to visit only a few daycares per day. In that way, you can dedicate quality time to each daycare tour instead of rushing the tour in order to go to the next. An option could be to separate the daycares by area and visit one area per day.

Schedule your visits

Set aside some time in your calendar so you can spend a good amount of time at each daycare you visit. And don’t try to rush your tour since you want to have all your questions answered at the end. That will help you make the best decision for your baby. Another tip: plan the daycare tour during a time that you are not hungry or too tired.

Also, if you are touring a daycare while pregnant (like I did) wear comfortable shoes, stay hydrated, keep snacks handy, and don’t plan too many tours in one day.

Ask enough questions

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. In order to find the right daycare for your baby, you need to clearly understand what they offer to make sure it matches your needs and parenting style.

Let them talk

Don’t just ask questions but listen to the answers by paying attention, without interrupting or completing their sentences. Let them fill the silence gaps. Remember that you are trying to learn all that you can from each daycare.

Visit your child’s room

Visit the area where your child will be and pay attention to all the details in the room; its decoration, organization, type of toys available, the condition of the cribs and mattresses, etc. Look around the room and make sure that your baby will feel comfortable in it.

Look for signs of happy kids

Take some time to visit the areas for older kids even if you are enrolling a baby. Older kids can give you a better idea of how they feel towards the daycare. Do they look happy to be there? Do you see them playing, laughing, and/or enjoying their time?

Committed daycare staff

Keep an eye out for the interaction between kids and staff. You don’t want a staff that is physically there but that are not taking care of the kids’ needs. I immediately eliminated a daycare from my list after seeing that a little one had spilled his cereal with milk all over the tray of his high chair. He was playing with the mess while the three employees in charge kept chit-chatting with each other.

Daycare cleaning procedures

Somes staff members automatically cover the cleaning procedures during the daycare tour. But if it’s not mentioned, feel free to ask them. Especially while visiting your baby’s area. It’s always good to know how often they are disinfecting and sanitizing toys, cribs, crib mattresses, high chairs, etc.

Daycare Organization

Keeping organization inside the daycare is crucial to avoid safety hazards. When that same daycare mentioned above showed me the inside of the refrigerator located in the kids’ area, it was extremely messy. It could easily cause other issues such as overlooking expired food or even grabbing the wrong food or milk for a child.

Safety in the daycare

You attend safety trainings at work and take safety precautions at home to keep your family safe. But, what about the safety in the daycare? During the daycare tour, check for things like uncovered outlets, hanging cables, unattended objects on the floors, and unlocked gates.

Questions to ask on a daycare tour

Ask questions related to your daycare needs especially the must-have needs that you identified during the first section of this series, Find a daycare.

Below are some questions that you may want to ask during your tour:

What’s the daycare visitation policy?

Even if you are not able to get out of work to visit your baby, make sure to ask them about their visitation policy. I would not feel comfortable leaving my daughters in a place where I can only visit them at certain times. You want a daycare with an “open” visitation policy similar to the open door policy at work. In other words, you should be able to visit your child whenever you want to.

What’s the sick child policy?

In the same way that Pediatrics offices have the sick and well-waiting rooms separated, there are daycares with a room designed for sick kids. The purpose is to prevent well kids from getting sick while the staff notifies you and waits for the child to be picked up.

The policy normally explains the process to follow if your child becomes sick with details like how you will be notified when your child can return to the daycare after being sick, and if a doctor’s note is needed upon return.

What is the daycare curriculum for your child’s age?

A daycare curriculum varies by kids’ age and from daycare to daycare. But, most of the time it includes educational, creative, and physical programs. Daycares normally go into details about those programs during the tour and even share the latest projects that kids have worked on.

What is their child to staff ratio for your child’s room?

The ratios are standards established by each state. The child-staff ratio works like the student-teacher ratio at schools. A teacher in charge of fewer students can dedicate more time to each student than a teacher with a larger number of students. The maximum ratio requirements depend on different factors such as the state, type of daycare, and age group.

Which days is the daycare closed?

It’s easier to plan ahead of time if you know what days your daycare will be closed. That will give you enough time to find another caregiver for those days or to make arrangements at work like submitting an early request for paid time off {and there’s my HR side again 🙂 }. While some daycares are more independent, others follow the closest ISD schools closures. Check with them during the daycare tour and you may be able to get a printed list with their closing dates.

What’s daycare procedure during inclement weather and emergencies?

Daycares should be prepared to take care of your child during an emergency, including an inclement weather. Both, daycare centers and home daycares should have a procedure in place. I went through the experience of having to hide at my then work’s tornado shelter while my little one was at her daycare. Knowing that she was safe at her daycare’s tornado shelter made me feel a lot better.

Is there a daycare vacation policy?

There are daycares centers that allow families to have a certain number of vacation days per year. Meaning that your child is allowed to be absent for 5 consecutive days every year. You may still be required to pay part of the weekly fees. Either way, you need to make sure you understand the daycare vacation policy.

It’s a little bit different with home daycares. Most of the time you need to pay even if your child is absent the whole week. Plus, they may have what is called paid vacation time where the staff is off few days or weeks per year. The daycare is closed during those days but you are still responsible to pay your regular weekly fees. Again, ask the daycare so you can plan ahead of time.

What type of communication do you have with parents on a regular basis?

Communication between parents and daycare is extremely important. A good communication benefits both sides and builds a stronger relationship between you and your daycare provider.

Daycares use one or more ways to communicate with parents. I have experienced the following types of communication:

One-on-one: where the caregiver gives you daily updates of what has happened with your baby during the day.
Written communication: in this case, the daycare gives you a paper with information specific to your baby or a generic one to let you know what they are/will be working on, reminders, and any other important information
App: daycare uses it to send you notifications, updates, pictures, and reminders throughout the day

After the daycare tour

Once you are done touring a daycare, write your thoughts and observations before you forget. I normally go to any safe place near the daycare where I can rate the daycare and write my comments before heading to the next one.

The daycare worksheets include a form that makes it easier to complete an evaluation of what you observed during the daycare tour. Since it is based on a ranking system, you can evaluate a daycare in a better, faster, and consistent way.

It’s your turn

In this section, you learned tips to maximize your time while touring a daycare. Tips such as planning your visits, making observations, and not being afraid to ask questions. Now, you should also feel more comfortable with what questions to ask on a daycare tour.

But, most importantly, make the purpose to learn as much as you can about the daycare. The more you know about their policies and procedures, the better it will be at the time of choosing a daycare which we will discuss in the last part of this blog series, How to Choose a Daycare.

Take me to Part 4: Choose a Daycare >

Finding a Daycare Near You (Make sure to do this)

Sep 18, 2017 by Lynelle Leave a Comment

It’s time to show you a pre-screening process to help you find a daycare near you. This pre-screening process is the second part of the series on how to find a daycare for your baby.

On the first part of this series, we went over your daycare options, when to start looking for a daycare, and what to look for in a daycare, which included steps like identifying your needs and sorting those needs by must-have, want to have, and nice to have.

It’s better to create your list of daycare needs before pre-screening a daycare. If you haven’t identified your needs yet, I suggest you going back to the previous post on how to find a daycare.

Contents

The pre-screening process
Visit the daycare’s website
Search the internet
Take advantage of social media
Check their inspection records
Give them a call
Wrapping up
Final thoughts on finding a daycare near you

The pre-screening process

The term “pre-screening” may sound weird, especially if you’re just trying to find a daycare, not a job. But, besides my human resources background, this pre-screening process has its benefits.

When you pre-screen, you are conducting a quick research to eliminate those daycares that are not a good fit for your needs. It’s an easy process that saves you time (and gasoline) during the interview or touring process.

But first, we need to make a list of possible daycares to pre-screen. To start building your list, do the following:

Brain Dump – Write those daycares that you already have in mind; those that have caught your attention while driving.
Word of Mouth – Ask family members, friends, and even co-workers for referrals. Referrals are always a great way to go. It eliminates the guessing part and reduces the time spent pre-screening those daycares.
Google it – Yes, use Google to find a daycare near you. I normally search for the following:
- “daycares near me”
- “daycares near zip code” – replace the words “zip code” with your real home or work zip code (i.e. “daycares near 95210”)
- “child cares near me”
- “child cares near zip code” – remember to replace the words zip code.

Now, with a list of possible daycares, you are ready to start the pre-screening process…

Visit the daycare’s website

In order to find a daycare near you, we need to go online.

Don’t limit your search thinking that only daycare centers have a web page. Nowadays, it’s easier and affordable to build a website which allows home daycares to have their online presence too.

When you visit a company’s website, you get a sense of the brand and its culture. And that’s also true with daycares. It doesn’t matter how big or small the website is, but the way it makes you feel. Play around on their website, look at their photos, read the information posted, and think about if you can picture your baby there.

A home daycare that I used had a website with information about the daycare and its staff. They also had a section with pictures of thank you notes they received from previous moms. Those notes showed me the type of relationships they built with the kids and the kids’ moms. And that was a huge plus for me! That’s information I learned even before meeting them.

If you like what you see while visiting their website, make sure to write their phone number and address. It will save you time later on when you get ready to tour the daycare.

Free Worksheets

These worksheets help you follow a step-by-step process to evaluate, and choose the best daycare for your child.

CLICK THERE TO DOWNLOAD

Search the internet

Type the daycare name on your browser’s search bar and see what comes up. You can’t believe everything you find online but you may need to reconsider a daycare that shows a large number of complaints.

Make sure to read their online reviews. Especially those with three stars or under. Remember, you want to find a daycare near you but you also want to find the right one.

Search for their location(s) if you haven’t yet. By using the street view from Google Maps, I feel like I am right there in front of the daycare without leaving my home. If you haven’t used it yet, go to Instant Street View and enter the daycare’s address.

Take advantage of social media

Go to their social media pages and take a look at what other people are saying.

Just by checking the daycare’s Facebook page, you get an idea of what type of information that daycare is sharing with the public, how fast they respond to questions or comments, and how other people feel about them.

I prefer to use Facebook pages but you don’t have to. You can visit their other social media pages to see what they are tweeting about or what pictures they are posting on Instagram.

Check their inspection records

This great resource is one of the most important tasks that you need to complete in order to find a daycare near you. I strongly encourage you not to skip this step.

Your state’s government office has a database that includes most of the child cares in your area. That database includes the results of regular inspections that they conduct to the child cares. Depending on the state, you can find inspection dates, reports, citations, violations, risk levels, correction actions, revoked licenses, and much more. And guess what? All that information is easy to access and completely free!

But, where should you start?

There is a specific government’s department within your state that handles that area of child care services. I can’t give you the exact department name in your state because each state calls it in a different way. For example, in:

Texas, it’s called the Department of Family and Protective Services.
California, it’s the Department of Social Services
Florida, it’s named the Department of Children and Families
Iowa, it’s the Department of Human Services
Georgia, they call it the Department of Early Care and Learning

Yes, they are all different. But with Google’s help, you should be able to find it within seconds. Actually, that’s how I found those other department’s names outside of Texas. For instance, I did a quick search for “California department find child care”, and I immediately got the correct information.

The government department is normally one of the first results you get. If you are not sure, look for a “.gov” (instead of .com) on their URL or address link. That’s the case of Georgia:

Keep in mind that some states like Texas may not have the “.gov”:

Keep in mind while reviewing the records

While checking the inspection records, don’t be surprised if you see quite a few daycares with violations.

With my second daughter, I remember feeling frustrated thinking that I would not be able to find a daycare near me. Then, I found a licensed home daycare that had been in business for years, inspected several times, and had zero violations.

Thinking that it was too good to be true, I pushed it to the end of the list of daycares to visit. When I finally visited that home daycare, I immediately fell in love with the sweet caregivers, beautiful environment, and how happy the kids were.

I know that I said it before but take your time to complete this step. Seriously. Pay attention to what’s included in those records. Nothing can ever prevent every single problem but it should at least avoid you many headaches down the road.

And before moving to the next step, make it a priority to not only find a daycare near you but to find a licensed daycare. Here in Texas, the government sorts the daycares by licensed child care center, licensed child care home, registered child care home, and listed family home.

Why do I prefer a licensed daycare? Because they are regularly inspected by the government to ensure they meet the minimum standards. Registered child care homes are inspected less often than a licensed daycare. And listed family homes are not inspected at all unless the government is alerted to a negative situation.

Give them a call

Call those daycares that remain on your list.

There are two main reasons to call them. First, you want to know how they handle the conversation over the phone. Second, you want to get basic but key information before moving forward. That will save you time.

While you have the caregiver or representative on the phone, pay attention to details such as:

Professionalism: How did she answer the phone? Did she sound mad or frustrated? Is she talking to other people while you are asking questions?
Friendliness: Being a child care provider is a difficult and busy job with a huge responsibility. But, is she still trying to be helpful? Is she answering all your questions? Is she rushing you to finish? Does she sound annoyed by your questions?
Background: Were babies crying in the background and nobody seemed to be calming them down? Do the kids sound happy, playing, talking or even singing?

What questions to ask during the call

Make a list of five to seven basic questions and have it ready before calling the daycare. Ask questions with the purpose to get important information that can help you decide if that daycare should stay on your list or not.

Those basic questions should be short but important to you. Use closed questions for this step and leave the open-ended questions for later. After all, they are taking care of kids so we don’t want to keep them on the phone for too long.

I normally ask questions like:

Do you have any openings for infants?
What’s the weekly fee for an infant?
When does the weekly fee drop? And what would be the new rate?
Is there any registration fee?
Do I have to pay any additional fee such as supply fee?
Do you provide discounts? (i.e. Corporate discount, family discount, military discount)
What are the hours of operations? (if you didn’t see them online)

Use those questions as a guide to come up with key questions for your own situation. Make sure to write down the answers so, in the end, you will be able to compare daycares and refer to your notes if you need to. Once you are done with your questions, thank them for their time and call the next daycare on your list.