Make sure your facility is warm and welcoming.

Every child and family should be greeted at the door with a smile. Encourage families to help create an environment of comfort. Families can even be encouraged to help create this environment.

Ensure your facility is clean and bright.

A clean facility is not only reassuring to parents. It can also cut down on any mold and vermin that trigger asthma attacks or respiratory ailments that keep children home from class. These materials can help.

Involve families in their children’s learning.

Share what children will be learning each week and give parents ideas for how they can reinforce learning at home. Create opportunities for families to volunteer in the classroom so they can see what children are learning. If your program has access to a robocall system, think about delivering the message that way.

Create opportunities for families to meet each other and build relationships.

Provide access to resources that help families address challenges with particular sensitivity to families facing economic hardship.

  • Offer a food pantry that families can access easily. Consider special distributions right before holidays.
  • Start a clothing bank, especially for the coats and gloves children need in the winter. If your program is located in a school, engage parents and older children in a clothing donation drive.
  • Create a resources sheet with phone numbers for available services and agencies within the community.