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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Low Number = Parade?
kelsey's kids 06:50 PM 07-27-2013
I have been really low on daycare number for about a month and my city is doing a parade in a couple weeks so I decided to help boost my number I will put a float in the parade I was wondering if any of you guys have suggestions as to what to hand out to the parade that won't get thrown away and what kind of slow to create that would draw attention to the daycare any help would be greatly appreciated
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Cradle2crayons 08:24 PM 07-27-2013
Originally Posted by kelsey's kids:
I have been really low on daycare number for about a month and my city is doing a parade in a couple weeks so I decided to help boost my number I will put a float in the parade I was wondering if any of you guys have suggestions as to what to hand out to the parade that won't get thrown away and what kind of slow to create that would draw attention to the daycare any help would be greatly appreciated
I'm not sure what to throw out, but as far as the float is concerned, I'd do something very very bright, with rainbows and trees and a pretend swing etc,.. Or representations of kids things.

I saw one local once who did at the front end of the float.. Where the trailer (that's what we use here) hooks to the hitch .. They made a huge pineapple that looked like sponge bobs house... And added rainbows... And jelly fish... Happy things...things that make kids and hence their parents notice...
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mamac 08:37 PM 07-27-2013
Are you looking to hand out freebies with your info to the crowd? I know the one thing that I never throw out are the free pens I get. Discountmugs.com has a lot of options and ships free. Maybe a pen and a flyer describing your dc?

As far as the float- what are you using? Is it a vehicle or are you just walking in the parade? If you are looking to attract kids (and their parents) a BIG bunch of balloons (as in the movie "Up!") would get their attention. You could possibly hand those out to some of the kids that are closest to the float and give their parents a pen.
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Familycare71 10:05 PM 07-27-2013
Originally Posted by mamac:
Are you looking to hand out freebies with your info to the crowd? I know the one thing that I never throw out are the free pens I get. Discountmugs.com has a lot of options and ships free. Maybe a pen and a flyer describing your dc?

As far as the float- what are you using? Is it a vehicle or are you just walking in the parade? If you are looking to attract kids (and their parents) a BIG bunch of balloons (as in the movie "Up!") would get their attention. You could possibly hand those out to some of the kids that are closest to the float and give their parents a pen.
I have no idea how much it would cost but balloons with pens tied as weights. Kids would be ecstatic and I agree- no one throws away pens!!
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SunnyDay 07:04 AM 07-28-2013
We did the personalized pencils from Oriental Trading with our website on them. I made designed a flier so that 3 slightly larger than postcard size cards fit on a page, had Staples print them on cardstock, cut them out, punched 2 holes in them, and put the pencils through the holes. I thought they looked great, but that was a year ago and I don't think I ever heard from anyone that saw us there . We also did a piece of candy taped onto a business card.

Good luck!

Edited to add: For our "float" we just ordered banners from Vistaprint and tied them to the side of our minivan.
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Josiegirl 08:38 AM 07-28-2013
If you're using a trailer type float, what if you replicated parts of your daycare onto the float? For example, set up a reading corner with stuffed animals, sensory box, an art corner, block corner, etc. Will your dcks be in it? Use lots of fun stuff and bright colors, have kids waving and smiling.

As far as what to give out, I like the pen idea, or magnets for their fridge. Do you have brochures to hand out? Or maybe tootsie roll pops with your card wrapped around it.
BUT if you're looking to have kids throw candy out, then just about any candy will do.
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mamac 09:21 AM 07-28-2013
Originally Posted by Christie71:
I have no idea how much it would cost but balloons with pens tied as weights. Kids would be ecstatic and I agree- no one throws away pens!!
You could do 100 plain balloons with clips and custom pens for about $60. (not including helium)

Unfortunately the most expensive thing is the helium which is about $32 from Walmart and it will fill about 50 balloons.

Alternatively you could use those plastic balloon sticks and use air instead of helium but then it's more difficult to hold a lot of those at once... not to mention having to blow them up.

Here are the links I used in case you're interested: (prices include shipping)

Pens ($41): https://secure.discountmugs.com/nc/dm-cart-step2.php (250 is a better rate)

Balloons ($7.99): http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-PCS-Birt...#ht_1081wt_905

Balloon clips ($8.54): http://www.balloonplace.com/catalog/clips.html (easiest way to close and attach ribbon)

Helium: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Balloon-Ti...loons/14101103

Alternate to helium: http://compare.ebay.com/like/3806084...Types&var=sbar
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Familycare71 11:18 AM 07-28-2013
Originally Posted by mamac:
You could do 100 plain balloons with clips and custom pens for about $60. (not including helium)

Unfortunately the most expensive thing is the helium which is about $32 from Walmart and it will fill about 50 balloons.

Alternatively you could use those plastic balloon sticks and use air instead of helium but then it's more difficult to hold a lot of those at once... not to mention having to blow them up.

Here are the links I used in case you're interested: (prices include shipping)

Pens ($41): https://secure.discountmugs.com/nc/dm-cart-step2.php (250 is a better rate)

Balloons ($7.99): http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-PCS-Birt...#ht_1081wt_905

Balloon clips ($8.54): http://www.balloonplace.com/catalog/clips.html (easiest way to close and attach ribbon)

Helium: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Balloon-Ti...loons/14101103

Alternate to helium: http://compare.ebay.com/like/3806084...Types&var=sbar
Not too bad!! You rock finding all that . I would just make sure you have lots of help handing them out so you don't miss kids . Alternatively you could not "do" the parade but walk up and down the sides handing them out- may be a less stressful way...
I think it's a great idea!!
Let us know what you decide!
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Play Care 05:42 AM 07-29-2013
A DC in my town did this and handed out a small box of crayons (the ones with 4 colors) with their sticker on it. It was very cute - and a nice change from the other floats throwing out candy...
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kelsey's kids 07:05 AM 07-29-2013
Those ate all great ideas Thanks for all your help. I am debating on weather or not to pull a small flost behind our van or just put the kids in the van with banners on the sides and adults walking have also thought about hiring the local mini train to pull the kids in
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