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It Pays to Be Nice

Debra Hasbrook, M.Ed.

Debra Hasbrook, M.Ed.

 9/2/2014 

When you consider that parent’s may be spending thousands of dollars at your Child Care facility it pays to work on customer service and hospitality. Making families feel welcome and valued does affect your bottom line. It costs more to recruit new families than it does to keep the one’s you have. Without enough families to pay staff and the costs of running your business you may have some lean times. This can mean reducing staff, materials, equipment and services.

What can you do?

• Greet families warmly and with a smile.
  
• Even if you are busy, make a point of looking up and saying hello.
  
• Be patient when parents are sharing the concerns they may have.
  
• Follow through with any agreements you make with a family.
  
• Set out refreshments in the morning for busy parents to take with them.
  
• Provide a variety resources and information in the front foyer
  
• Have small packets of crackers for parents to take as they leave at the end of the day.
  
• Support parents in their efforts to raise their children
  
• Sing their child’s praises before you let them down with a negative report
  
• Have an occasional family event such as movie night or sweetheart’s night out for parents
  

Customer service and hospitality will help you serve your families and provide financial security for you and your business. Have Fun!

Resources:

• Customer Service in Child Care: http://www.childcarequarterly.com/pdf/summer10_parents.pdf
• What are Parents Looking for in a Child Care Setting: https://cceionline.edu/newsletters/May_09.html