The Smart Step
Continuing a series of business blogs written by Victor J. Temple, business manager at Friendship Garden Nursery School, Inc.
By Victor J. Temple
As the leader of your fiefdom, there is no job that you think you can’t do; furthermore no one could do these jobs as well as you. How could they, you built this company, created the policies and procedures. That is your blood, sweat and tears on the floor, there is no possible way that anyone could add value to your custom built business, or could they.
Often the first professional manager to be hired by a growing company will be the CFO or equivalent. The founder realizes he/she needs help however the release of the company, product or process to the new professional manager is an arduous task.
A while ago I undertook the consolidation of 96 Excel worksheets into an accounting information system. The 96 worksheets was bragging material for the proud founder. His company didn’t need a double entry accounting system. There was a spreadsheet for domestic A/R, another for international A/R, one for deposits owed, deposits paid and on and on and on.
The unfortunate result of the cash and balance sheet account reconciliation was a drop in retained earnings of $500K. If you are a proud founder, doing everything yourself, ask yourself the hard question. Do I know the best practice for each process in my business? Honestly you don’t, start looking for professional managers that can help you succeed, before you have a $500K retained earnings hit.
Child Care Management App
Using a child care management system with an app has been a game changer. Considering the average age of today’s parent if you are not using an app, you aren’t keeping up. There are many options available and they are very competitive in price I have found. Features including: teacher time tracking, attendance for children, messaging for families, paperwork, reports, online enrollment and billing save countless hours for administration and educators. The ease of use, convenience and time saving make it worth the cost.
I like to sign up for introductions so I can see what is current with each app. Fundamentally they are all similar and each includes something unique to it. If you find a feature or need one they seem fairly open to getting that feature into the app. As they try to stay competitive it is good for our end use.
Our parents have loved this app. If you are worried about teachers using their phones these apps can be used on school owned tablets. If you are worried about the amount of screen time that might be required of a teacher, set some firm guidelines before you roll out. Th app has been a timesaver for us!
Have you started using an app? What is holding you back?
10 Best Loose Parts for Toddlers
First published in 2017 in Becker’s Blog https://www.shopbecker.com/resource-cafe/beckers-blog/infants-and-toddlers/10-best-loose-parts-for-infants-and-toddlers/
Loose parts are defined as open-ended materials that can be used in many different ways. Check out these ideas for loose parts in your infant/toddler classrooms.
10 Best Loose Parts for Infants and Toddlers
1. Tin Cans – Cans of all sizes with clean metal edges are typically safe. Be sure to use a safety can opener, one that leaves no sharp edges on the lid or the can.
2. Fabric – Fabric of all textures this category includes ribbons.
3. Cardboard Tubes – cardboard tubes of varying circumference can be used so many ways.
4. Balls – offer balls of all sizes and textures.
5. Container lids – lids of varying materials and textures. When placed with intent in different areas of the room, they could be used for filling a container, dump truck or drink holder.
6. Egg cartons/to go drink holders – these are great for holding and transporting other safe parts.
7. Tree cookies – tree cookies of different circumference and width including cookies with holes. These baby tree blocks are great, too.
8. Boxes – small boxes for non-mobile infants to put things into, small boxes and also larger boxes for walkers to push around and get into.
9. Sensory bottles – sensory bottles filled with objects for exploring sight or sound. They should be small enough for an infant to grasp. Toddlers enjoy the challenge of larger bottles to carry and roll.
10. Pots and pans – A real favorite of all ages for banging together!
What are your favorite loose parts in the infant and toddler classroom?
Adults at Play
Interrupting Victor’s blog series for a week!
Children play naturally all day long and often continue to play before, during and after the times adults think they should not be playing. Like creativity, why is play taught out of us? By comparison to children, being on vacation highlighted for me the innate nature of play and that adults turn to play when “out of the office” or on vacation.
I participated in or watched adults playing beach volley ball, pool volley ball, BINGO, card games, trivia and adult drinking games. I watched adults at play inn the water either dock jumping or swim racing. There were very few children where we vacationed, the children that we did see played in the water and the sand with limited “stuff”. I witnessed other activities that could be play such as reading, and snorkeling.
We should not limit our time to play nor should we limit play time for children. Quite the contrary, we all need to play more. Who among us wouldn’t be refreshed by play activities?
What do you like to play?
The “Truth”
This month I will be posting a series of business blogs written by Victor J. Temple, business manager at Friendship Garden Nursery School, Inc.
By Victor J. Temple
Is your truth……the real truth?
We are the best…..we are the best childcare…No one is better….our business runs like clock-work….nothing is needed. Isn’t it easy to believe your own stories and rhetoric. In a business the stories of superiority spread like wild fire when fed from the top.
We fell into this trap in the past at our childcare. We had the best childcare, just ask the teachers. Some parents stated there is no better in the industry. Accounting boosts of fail safe processes, with no errors.
It takes a brave, insightful leader to support the bravado with fact. If you desire the truth, ask all your customers; past, current and future. Our story was we were the best in town and had the most competitive price. Then we asked our customers when returning from a sabbatical how we did while away. They told us that the teacher turnover was excessive, policies weren’t followed and pricing was inconsistent.
Try this in your company, walk into a classroom and ask the team why they are doing a specific task. If the answer is, “because we have always done it this way”, you might not have that fail safe process with no errors.
If you want to add fact to the bravado, just ask your internal and external customers for their opinion.
How inaction is an action
This month I will be posting a series of business blogs written by Victor J. Temple, business manager at Friendship Garden Nursery School, Inc.
By Victor J. Temple
Inaction is a Decision that will Create a Result:
In today’s political turmoil and possible economy downturn it is easy to find yourself re-arranging the deck chairs on your Titanic. Perhaps your wait list is off, cash is low, and parents aren’t calling! Many of us turn to what we did yesterday or worst yet, clean our desk, file and re-organize last years invoices, candidly taking no action.
Over the course of history, the dot com bubble, the housing crisis, Covid and more brought similar economic and political turmoil. We were mentored back then by a very successful entrepreneur that founded Whistler Radar, with help, we created a simple acronym for our action plan, OAF or rather OAPH, Operational Action Plan Highlights.
Create this plan with your team, all of them, get them together and ask a very simple question, what are we going to do differently tomorrow than what we did today? In each functional area of your business, ask this question, challenge yourself to craft unique and ridiculous objectives, don’t debate them, there is no wrong, just opportunities for change. Prioritize these objectives and take action, report on them weekly and continue to push change, remember no action is a decision and will create a result, one that might not be pleasant.
The companies that weathered the storm of the great depression emerged to be the leaders of today. Create the possibility of success and live into that possibility by doing something differently everyday, when the economy shifts you will be poised for grandeur.
Celebrations without Food
Photograph by Lulu Lovering Shepherd
We recently decided to stop celebrating birthdays with sweets. After observing an alarming number of snacks and lunches that are full of sugar and sodium and having children with allergies and dietary restrictions as well as parents wishes, we felt it was time to make a change.
For celebrating, families have the choice of coming in and reading a story, participating in a craft, sending in a craft for the class to participate in, or sending in fresh fruit or vegetables keeping the focus on the celebration and not the treat. This summer we had a major garden overhaul and addition and a big activity table was added. It was the perfect backdrop for a recent birthday celebration. We also like how families can be involved rather than quickly grabbing cupcakes at the market.
Teachers provide special activities in the classroom or outside based on the child we are celebrating specific interests. They might read the child’s favorite story or set out their requested activity. We are also working on a birthday celebration box filled with materials to make cards and play dough cupcakes. So far we are pleased with our decision to cut out more sugar!
What other ideas do you have?
Teacher Role
Ms. Lulu, Friendship Garden Toddler Teacher, wrote this blog, it has been edited slightly and shared with permission.
We often giggle that it probably looks like the teachers are just kind of hanging out, but what are we really doing? We spend much of the day in close observation of each child, adjusting the “other teacher/ the third teacher”, their environment, to meet their interests and explorations as they unfold.
This might appear like a laidback approach but this Reggio Emilia style of childcare lets the teachers build strong bonds with each child while nurturing their natural independence, social skills, and problem solving. We often say that Friendship Garden children are “built different”! 😂💗
When they are ready our kiddos fly down the slides, swing on all kinds of stuff, climb trees, navigate complex pretend play scenarios that can last an entire day, read through books with a teacher, jump from the tops of the climbers (and somehow never get a scratch) and much more.
We are grateful in the toddler class to set the initial path for self-esteem, love of nature and joy in independent thinking. It’s important to all of us teachers to make the children feel like they are at a home away from home where each child is like a member of the family.
Basically, your kiddos mean a lot to us and we’re a bit nerdy about their development and growth behind the scenes 😂
written by Lulu
30 years
As I watched the sun come up this morning it is another beautiful day here on Cape Cod. I reflect on the name my mom chose for me, Robin. I am the early bird, I am aptly named.
Today marks the beginning of year 30 at the Friendship Garden Nursery School, Inc.
I was once a 33-year-old with big, big dreams. I am so grateful and fortunate to have been able to live out those dreams for the past 29 years running my own business with an additional 9 years working for the original owner of the property.
We’ve seen plenty of change throughout the years. The most significant was in 2020 when we reinvented ourselves and now follow the philosophy of play based, child lead, nature inspired early childhood education. We have found our most success, of all our years, during this time.
I’ve met and worked with some incredible teachers so dedicated to the field of early childhood education. We collaborated to make FG fun place to work and a safe and fun place for children to learn. We also advocated for professional recognition and adequate compensation. Yes, we are still working on these things!
To the children I have met over the years, you are incredible human beings. I am so fortunate to still be in contact with some of you, including some of my first children that are now in their early 40’s! I am so fortunate to have some of their children!
Families, together we have shared our happiness and sorrow and you’ve shared yours with us. Thank you for finding us and allowing us to partner with you on your parenting journey. We are honored to be a part of your lives.
Looking back to look ahead I am enthusiastic and energized to begin yet another school year. A special thanks and shout out to my early team members that taught me hard work and resilience. To my first husband, he was there by my side opening the business with me I owe him my heartfelt thanks. To my current team of teachers whom have taught me; compassion, cooperation, collaboration, and trust allowing for my semi retirement, I am so appreciative of your support.
To my husband, Victor my life could not be better so grateful to have you in it!
2025-2026 here we come.
Rest Time
I often see early educators ask on different platforms how to handle non-sleepers at rest time. Most teachers seem to ask because it is very stressful time of day in a classroom. Responses often include quoting a state requirement for rest and also the range of answers from giving children “busy bags” or books to listening to audio stories to not requiring a rest time. All fine ideas that one would hope does not add to the stress that occurs for educators during “rest” time.
Some people claim rest time to be for curriculum planning and breaks. In my opinion this is what creates a hardship. The teachers have an agenda for themselves so it gets SO frustrating if they can’t accomplish what they expect. The expectation that teachers plan or break during rest is doomed to failure.
You need to know what your philosophy of rest time is. We should not see it as controlling children. There are schools that allow children to choose to rest where other children do not choose to rest. This is when you need to define your philosophy. We believe that everyone needs down time, a time to slow down, re-set and self regulate. We help our children to rest by setting the stage for rest. We cover the toys, dim the lights, and start with quiet music. We model our own rest time by quietly reading a book, writing notes, working on portfolios or messaging parents. We do not scurry about the room but rather sit quietly attending to our tasks. We use big pieces of flat cardboard to make partitions between children if needed.
We need to trust that children know their own bodies and we also need to help them to see that a resting period is healthy.