Provider feedback about your child

[admin]

Hello everyone,

As a parent, what kind of feedback are you expecting from your provider?
Do you like to have a full account of every day's events and activities or just quick summary?
How open are you to constructive criticism about your child's development or behavior?

[Sunflower]

great question, I hope parents will respond to this

[gcj]

as a daycare provider, I can tell you what I inform the parents of....I use a journal to tell them everything that the child ate, how much time they slept for and any other useful information....unusu al behavior (good or bad), firsts, cute/funny thing....my rule is anything that I would want to know as a parent goes in their journals. It is usually brief, though. Some things are better said in person, but I'm often afraid of forgetting during the short time that they're at the door. Especially if more than one arrive at the same time, or I'm otherwise distracted with other children.

[agesandstagesdaycare]

What kind of journals are you using? Sorry to highjack this thread!

[Spixie33]

What kind of journals are you using? Sorry to highjack this thread!

I don't use a journal currently but I have had journals given to me by a daycare provider when I was using daycare and working outside the home.

I can say that from my own experience it was a notebook - probably from the dollar store about 7 inches by 4 inches. The daycare provider would write in it sort of like a diary by putting the date at the top. Then she would write a bit about the day. What they did, how my kids ate, if they went outside or not, any issues or 'firsts' that happened that day. ie. a new word or a new skill. Sometimes she would fill up 4 lines and other times a whole page. I really liked the journal because I could also write back.

The issue with the journal was that sometimes I would take it out and read it at home (i loved reading it at night to see what the day had been like for my kids) but then I would forget it and leave it on the counter. There were many days where my "mommy brain" would forget to send it back

[Skysue]

I only use 4x5 pieces of paper that get handed over at pick up or if I have time I place them in the diaper bag!

What kind of journals are you using? Sorry to highjack this thread!

[greenborodaycare]

Oh my word! Journals...I had a parent ask me if I could keep a journal of her child's day and this is what I said, "I am not a daycare center. I am a home daycare provider. I do not have staff to watch the children while I fill out your child's journal and write her whole day."
Like really? I couldn't even believe anyone would ask that. If the only break I get is during nap time for 45 minutes out of a ten hour day, do you think i'm going to sit there filling out "journals" for five kids???? lol
If a simple 2 minute rundown of the day during pickup is not enough then perhaps parents should bring their children to a daycare center and pay $50 a day and not $35!
Good gravy...

[Nifer]

As a provider I would like to know when these journals are being filled out? Because we are busy playing and learning in the morning as well as have snack and lunch, then during nap time I clean up after the kids lunch, have my own lunch, rest, prepare afternoon snack as well as some of my family's dinner. After nap, we have snack play some more and kids go home.
When am I going to fill out 4-5 journals-let alone remember (exactly) what each child did?

[Skysue]

I fill my reports out during nap time when I have my afternoon tea, it only takes 10 minutes for all!
They can also be filled out during free play after afternoon snack!

As a provider I would like to know when these journals are being filled out? Because we are busy playing and learning in the morning as well as have snack and lunch, then during nap time I clean up after the kids lunch, have my own lunch, rest, prepare afternoon snack as well as some of my family's dinner. After nap, we have snack play some more and kids go home.
When am I going to fill out 4-5 journals-let alone remember (exactly) what each child did?

[spudjt]

As a provider I would like to know when these journals are being filled out? Because we are busy playing and learning in the morning as well as have snack and lunch, then during nap time I clean up after the kids lunch, have my own lunch, rest, prepare afternoon snack as well as some of my family's dinner. After nap, we have snack play some more and kids go home.
When am I going to fill out 4-5 journals-let alone remember (exactly) what each child did?

I usually do a report daily (whenever possible) as an email. That way I can copy the same summary for each child and add individual comments on each child if needed. I am an extremely fast typer so It really only takes a few moments at various times throughout the day. I used to write in a journal and THAT was way too time consuming!! I leave the email open on my computer and come back to it to report what things I think the parent would want to know ..if the child is new, I put in a lot of detail ..and if there are any issues, i jot them down so I can troubleshoot, keep the parent informed and ensure we are on the same page..and then I also have a log to review. It also covers your butt if journalling..cuz then you have a record of your day..lets face it , days are long, things get forgotten if not written down..and days can run into the next day...so its nice for both parent and me!! Hope that helps