Hi everyone!

I just did my website for my daycare and I was hoping you guys could check it out and tell me what you think. Your opinions or suggestions will be well received!

Thank you!

http://nikkishappycare.weebly.com

Reply

It looks great! I think though you have to much planned for them to do in a short amount of time.

Ex-15 min for arts/crafts will actually probably turn into 1/2 an hour or more.

I would have some of your activitie times longer or leave some out. Also, I would let them have more free time in the afternoon.

Remember to, if you have infants, it will be hard to follow a schedule with preschoolers if you have to stop and feed, nap, etc. with the baby. Maybe your mom could help you during the day with the infants.

Reply

Thank you Country Kids, that is so helpful! I was a little unsure about how the schedule would actually play out when I have kids here (I'm brand new, so I don't have any yet) but you're right, longer durations would be better!

Reply

I really like your website. It is nicely arranged and gives all the info. I do think you should put pics of your daycare instead of the ones you have. I think potential clients would want to see your set up.

I do agree with Country Kids your schedule looks too busy. Too many things in such a little time. Sometimes if you have little ones it will take 15 min just to transition from one activity to another.

I like your menus, do you belong to a food program? In my opinion it is well worth it. I have 6 dck's and I get reimbursed around $400 a month. I do all my paper work on my iphone with an app. It is so easy.

Good luck on your new adventure!

Reply

Thanks GrannyJ! I agree about having pictures of the dacare, and the reason I didn't put them up is because my house is very small, and I don't actually have a designated room. I took some pictures of the things I have, but it looked really bare and so I wasn't sure if I should use them. Do you think I should use them anyway?

Reply

Oh and no I'm not signed up with a food program yet. But that is definitely something on my to-do list! Are there certain requirements that need to be met in order to qualify?

Reply

Very nice website. If I was looking for daycare and came across your website , I would schedule an interview with you.

I like your sample activities sample schedule and sample menu.

There are just a few minor things that you might want to look at.

On the hours and rates page:

• it may look better if you move $45 per day over so it is under the other prices.
• The sentence about affordable prices is unneccesary. I would take it out and just keep the list of your rates.

Contract:
Under the Scheduled Hours section: You say something like "Please advise if your child will be arriving early..." I would word this differently because it sounds like the child can arrive earlier than open hours if the parents just let you know. Also, do they really need a California photo id or just a photo id Some of my kids have grandparents from out of town. When they come in town, they pick up the daycare kids frequently.

Reply

Thank you Ipperry! I went ahead and fixed the things you mentioned, except I'm having trouble with re-wording the part in the contract. How would you suggest I rephrase it? My brain is overthinking it lol.

Reply

I like it. Your business name is cut off at the top header. Also suggest you register NikkisHomeDaycare.com and point it or frame it to you weebly website.

Also, ditch the commercial pictures and use those of you daycare interior and exterior. Potential clients are more interested in you and your facility.

Some great info here https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35323

Reply

It looks great Nikki,

I love the picture of the doggy made me ...keep it please.

Everyone else hit on the small changes to be made.

I can' wait to start working on mine...gotta fine the time.

Way to go!

Reply

Thanks Michael, I think I'll take set up the things I have and take a picture of my son doing the activites, since I don't have any other children yet lol. And thanks so much frugalmama4! The puppy picture is cute, isn't it? Let me know when you get your website up and ready! I would definitely recommend using weebly, it's really simple and doesn't take long at all!

Reply

I love the elephant picture. People are going to be curious about the play area and napping area as far as pictures go.

Reply

For the food program you just have to have a daycare so you qualify. I belong to Framax which I think is just central California. There is one called Monterey Bay that might be in your area. But you should check it out.

Reply

Definitely include photos of your daycare.
If you can swing it, hire a photographer to take them. It looks much better.

Reply

If the photos are of good quality, you won't need any children in them!
The only photo of children playing on my website is in my header (with me).

Reply

I'll definitely look into a food program! And tomorrow I'm gonna set up each play center and take some pictures.

Reply

I think your website is FANTASTIC!!! If it were mine, I would make some simple changes:

HOURS, RATES, AND ADMISSION:
Are you going to charge the same price for infants and preschoolers? I charge
$50.00 more (per week) for infants.

I would also change it to: 6 weeks through 5 years of age

DAILY SCHEDULE:
Arts and Crafts: Painting, coloring, macaroni and clay sculptures, and more!
School Time: ABC's, numbers, shapes, and colors.
Story Time: A special book is read before nap time.
Circle Time: Singing, dance, sign language, musical instruments, and games.
Cooking and Baking: Simple "child friendly" recipes your child will love making!
Indoor Play: Lots of puzzles, dolls, cars, and toys for your child to enjoy!
Centers: (List whatever your centers are here)
Outdoor Play: Running, hop scotch, jump rope, trikes, and slides.

Regarding your outdoor play equipment… If you are going to be licensed, you will need to put your slide on stall mats (for safety). At least that is what is required in my state.

Lastly, you have squeezed WAY too much into a short period of time. Example: You have given yourself 15 minute for clean up, bathroom break, and free play. In reality, that could take 30 to 45 minutes. If you want to PM me, I’d be happy to send you my daily schedule.

Meals and Snacks:
I’m not sure if you’re on the food program, but we are required to serve a protein, veggie, fruit, starch, and milk with lunch. Actually, milk has to be
served twice per day for children two and over.

I would write on your sample menu:

Breakfast:
Scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, orange slices, milk.
Oatmeal, toast with jam, sliced banana, milk.
French toast, seasonal berries, milk.

Lunch:
Turkey and cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread, carrot sticks, apple slices, milk.
Homemade macaroni and cheese, green beans, orange slices, milk.
Spaghetti with tomato sauce, peas, sliced cantaloupe, milk.

Snack:
Cheese, crackers, apple juice.
Apple, celery, or graham crackers with peanut butter, apple juice.
Gold Fish, carrot sticks, orange juice.
Homemade Chex mix, orange juice.

I hope I am not being too nit-picky. I wanted my website to be perfect and it took me FOREVER to word everything properly.

Good luck!!!

Reply

I would leave out my personal psychical address ex-

Nikki’s Home Daycare
Concord, California 94521
(925) 890-0569

I know state licensing lists our compete contact if information, but just thinking alone the lines of the crazy people e.g-CL. But also I deal with HOA in my area and rather be safe then sorry. Never now your neighbors...you now.

I will get to work on my site in the next few weeks (after Easter)...and post once it's done. Good Luck with everything. Oh, if you have Facebook or any of the other social media sites be sure to pin/like your website on it and ask family and friends to do the same. Got that ideal from hip aunt

Reply

And I would leave your physical address in . Funny how everyone has their own way of doing things. In the end it's up to you though, for me it's been VERY beneficial to post my address. It tells potential clients where I am and really interests them especially because parents usually choose a daycare close to their home or work.

I think your website looks great and agree that photos of your space is a wonderful idea. Kids in the photos aren't necessary, just get some really crafty and flattering photos of your DC in there and you'll be fine. Thre's nothing else that I can say that hasn't already been said. Great job.

Reply

Thanks so much everyone, you've all been very helpful! Everyone has such great advice, and my website has greatly improved because of it! Sounds like the last detail left is some daycare pictures!

Reply

I love the look of the webpage, and I love that you have it broken down and didn't try to fit it all on one page! I think you cover the basics and cover them nicely. You answer the 5 W's and the H. The only thing I thought might be a help would be to add the information as to "where do we go from here?" If I was a parent, I think I'd figure out to give you a call, but you may find it beneficial to spell it out. Something along the lines of "If you are interested and would like more information or would like to schedule a time to meet, please call me at....... Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m." Or something along those lines. Maybe on your contact page or at the bottom of your contract info????

I found some spelling errors. You may want to go over it all with a fine toothed comb.

A couple I found - in your schedule - structured daily rountines instead of routines and activites instead of activities, afternoon stack instead of snack, and outdoor play and activites instead of activities. These are just a couple I found without a thorough perusal. I also saw a couple of grammatical errors in your contract.

I hope you don't think I'm trying to be nit-picky. I hope this helps a little.

Reply

Thank you countrygal, I really appreciate the complements! Yikes I'm going to fix those typos right away! Parents won't believe that I offer very educational activities if I can't even spell them, lol. Thanks for the heads up! And that's a great idea about telling the parents where to go from there, I will add that in too!

Reply

Cheekychick, thanks so much for all of the great info!!! Would you send me your daily schedule that you use? I would really appreciate it! That is the only thing left to fix up.

Reply

You are so welcome.

I sent you the one I print for the parents. If you would like the one my assistants follow (more detailed and includes potty breaks) I can send you
that one as well. Let me know...

Reply

Do a google image search for daycare and you can find images of kids and toys to use.

https://www.google.com/search?q=daycare&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=3Ux7T-6MFcna0QGR4oz9BQ&biw=1366&bih=639&sei=4kx7T5mwDYfm0QHnybyTBg

Reply

The suggestions so far are great, I don't have much to add. It's a nice looking website!

Ok, so I do have one suggestion: Your climber is on a wooden deck, and it looks really nice, but it's a safety hazard! If a child should fall from that height, they could be seriously hurt. Can you possibly move it to the grass? Most people have woodchips, sand, or something else softer, but even grass is better than decking.

just something that jumped out at me...

Reply

not sure if it was already mentioned, but why would you allow someone to come 4 days a week at a cheaper rate? You will never fill that last day and therefore are selling yourself short. Thats 140 a week per child. If you have 2 kids come only 4 days a week, thats $280.00+ dollars you are losing. I would not set it up that way.

4 days and over is full time rate...

Reply

Thanks for the input guys! Daycare, good point on the pricing! I changed it pronto!

Reply