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As a provider of early childhood education and care, you know that enrollment is key to your success. However, it can be challenging to come up with ideas to fill those empty spaces, and as you probably know, if you have open spaces, you are leaving massive money on the table.

Before we get started, If you're new here, My name is Dena, and I have 21 years of experience as a daycare director. The child care industry is rewarding, but it is WORK! My goal is to help other providers with their child care programs and help relieve the stress that the daycare world brings.

Don't forget to snag my FREE Interview Guide to hire the right staff for your daycare or child care center! Reduce turnover with my 12-page Interview Guide with Questions and Job Position Descriptions designed for child care hiring!

Here are 10 ways to max out your daycare enrollment and ensure that your program is thriving!

1. Have a top-notch website.

Having a website gives your daycare greater visibility and credibility, helping you to stand out from the competition and reach more parents who need quality child care services.

It’s also an important part of developing your daycare’s brand identity, allowing you to show off the range of services you provide and build trust with potential customers. It can include images of your premises, testimonials from previous customers, and even videos introducing staff members or showcasing activities.

2. Make your program visible.

Ensure that parents can easily find information about your program by having an active social media presence. Consider advertising on Google and Facebook. If online advertising sounds overwhelming, hire an expert on Fiverr to set up and manage your ads. Also, make sure your daycare is visible from the street or place a sign on a nearby street advertising your business. If parents can see your daycare while driving by, they'll be more likely to stop in and inquire about enrollment.

3. Offer gifts and incentives.

Give parents a reason to enroll their child in your program by offering incentives, such as free registration or a discount on tuition. For example, you could offer a $20 weekly discount on tuition for the first six weeks. You could also give gifts upon enrollment, such as a date night basket or gift card.

4. Take goodies to local businesses with flyers.

Stop by local businesses with cookies and introduce yourself and your services. Developing relationships with local schools, churches, and pediatrician offices will have them refer your center or program to their families when asked for referrals.

5. Post on Facebook and ask parents to share it.

I can guarantee that most of your parents are on Facebook and would love to spread the word about their child's fantastic daycare! Create an eye-catching post about your child care program and email your parents about the post and ask them to go to your center's Facebook page and share the post. When creating your post, include pictures and give details about what sets your center apart from the rest and what gift or incentive you are currently offering to new families.

6. Create a Parent Referral Program.

Offer a tuition discount or other incentive for every new family that enrolls because of a referral from a current family. Email the details of the referral program to your existing families and post it on social media. Create a flyer for your door and front counter to spread the word. You can get my free Parent Referral Email Template here.

7. Create a Staff Referral Program.

Offer staff bonuses for referring new families. For example, your referral bonus may look like this… $100 bonus after the new family's first week of enrollment, then a $100 additional after the family has been enrolled for 90 days. Make sure you spread the word to your staff. Post it in the break room, email them, post it in your private community group, and pass out a flyer.

8. Ask for parent testimonials to place on your website.

A great way to increase confidence in your program is by having parents write testimonials that you can post on your website and social media. You could also create a video testimonial. Ask the parent to answer a few questions about their experience at your daycare center and then post it on your website and social media pages. There is nothing more convincing than social proof. You can get my FREE Parent Testimonial Card on my Freebie page by clicking here.

9. Do a mini facelift on the place.

We see our facilities daily and sometimes don't realize how normal wear and tear can take a toll. Look at your daycare or center with fresh eyes, as if it were your first time walking through the door. Ask yourself these questions? Does It look clean? Does it smell clean? Is the décor bright and inviting? Does your playground look secure and clean? Does the paint look fresh? How is the curb appeal? First impressions do matter. Parents arriving for a tour need to be impressed before even walking in the door.

10. Have an open house or tour day.

Invite potential families and the community to tour your facility and meet your staff. Advertise it locally. Have a drawing every 30 minutes to give touring parents a chance to win prizes. Offer light snacks to the parents and a small toy to the children.

You can purchase inexpensive party favors and fidget toys on Amazon in bulk. They make great open-house child gifts or tour gifts. If you want to make it even more significant, you could have a petting zoo, clown, or character costumes on-site. Contact a local radio station and ask about what it would take for them to sponsor your event. Hosting an open house event is a great way to get new families in the door.

Conclusion:

By following these simple tips, you should see an increase in child care enrollment! And remember, it takes time and consistency to see results, so don't give up if you don't see an immediate boost in enrollment.

Remember that although you may have space available, you are not obligated to accept enrollment if it isn't in your best interest or if you don't feel like their values align with yours. Don’t forget to download my free Family Screening Guide for a complete list of screening questions to ask and to access my Family Information Card to give during a tour.

Do you have any other tips to add? Please share them in the comments below! And be sure to share this blog post with your fellow child care providers! Together we can make a difference!

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