Documenting your day

[MonkeyPrincess]

Do you document how your day has gone? Do you do a write up for each child or do a general write up with major points, like a journal entry?

I used to do a write up for each child at the end of each day and it would take half an hour. Plus it would use up so much paper. I stopped doing that a few months ago when some providers told me they don't even document their day. I don't like NOT documenting, i feel like i should be doing it but i don't want to spend half an hour writing up each child. What do you do?

[Daisy123]

I don't document for everybody. I do use a school type printing book as a communication book for kids under 3 but I figure that after that they're old enough to tell mom and dad bout their day on their own! I keep a notebook around for my personal observations (just as reminder notes for myself) but I don't often use it.

[Wonderwiper]

I don't do any sort of book for parents.

At pick up I chat a bit about our day or if something special or out of the ordinary happened.

Some daycare providers document everything. I personally find it tedious. I think it's really a personal preference.

[MonkeyPrincess]

i always tell the parents how the child's day was, how much they ate, pees/poops, and anything else i feel the parents should know, like an injury etc. but i feel like i should document things so i have a record.

[mickyc]

I don't document anything. If I have something I think the parent should know then I tell them at pick up. If it is really important I send a text during the day (example - I need more diapers). Some parents ask how the day went and some don't. If a child has had an off day I make sure and mention it.

[happy@home]

While the children are having their afternoon snack I send out a group email to all daycare parents. It includes what was served for snacks and meals, daily activities and any special notes
such as upcoming daycare closures. I do not send out any child specific information in this email. I offer all parents a daily text letting them know their child's nap times and pees and poops.
I hadn't thought about documenting the day for my own record but this may be a good idea should I ever need to look back

[5 Little Monkeys]

I speak to the parents at the end of day about things we did, ate, their BM's, naps etc. I send texts for reminders such as diapers/wipes just because I often forget to tell them at pick up! (I have a terrible memory!!)

If there is something that I need to tell all parents than I either send a mass email or I put it in the monthly newsletter that I started doing recently.

I have a dry erase board that I use to write snacks, lunch, art, special activities that we did that day on. I haven't done that in months though as I find most parents weren't reading it anyways. I usually tell them this stuff anyways or have sent pictures of their kids doing throughout the day.

[daisy]

I do a daily e-mail. I send it during nap-time.
It includes what was served at morning snack & lunch and what will be served at afternoon snack. I also include how many bowel movements (bm's) and a recap of what we did that day. It is also how I notify parents if I need diapers & wipes or a change of clothes for their bin.
For any other issues, I send those in a separate e-mail - like upcoming vacation days, appointments etc. I find if they don't have their own e-mail with a dedicated subject line, information can get missed.
I also send pictures via e-mail - I upload them to an online album & the parents can view them and share them with their families.
Everyone likes the daily e-mail and I find it so easy to communicate with everyone.
I also text with parents for more child specific stuff.

[ttremble88]

I send home a daily report for all of my full day children 3 and under. It has what we had for lunch, bowel movements and pee diapers (for those in diapers only), the time they went for a nap, when they woke up and any additional comments. Which is usually what they enjoyed or if we need any more diapers, wipes, clean clothes ect. I send emails home on a weekly basis touching base on any important things.

[Sassygirl]

I did send a report home and also have my menu posted on my wipe board at my front entrance. I was finding my reports on the floor or crumpled in diaper bags so stopped sending them out. I also found the same, no interest no one reading it, with posting the daily menu on the wipe board so I have stopped doing both.
I give my brief report at the end of the day "ate well, had xxx today tried xxx and liked it/hated it" played well went to the park, stayed inside and did more arts, and don't usually mention nap unless there was an issue.