Childcare can be a tough business. At the end of a long day, staff often want nothing more than to go home and take up residence on the couch. So when stress adds up and morale dips, things can get tense.

That’s why we’re here with tips on how to boost daycare center employee morale and keep the team as strong as Rocky Balboa.

Learn everything about boosting daycare staff morale in our video:

1. Reward success and hard work

After giving their all for the kiddos, it’s always nice for teachers to see their work rewarded. Whether it’s in the form of a bonus or even a small raise, recognizing a teacher’s hard work and dedication with a financial pat on the back will translate into a morale boost, I guarantee it. Also, everyone can use a little bit more cash in their pocket to pay the bills and put food on the table.

Understandably, not every daycare center (or even most, let’s be honest) is in a position to offer raises and bonuses. If that’s your situation, don’t worry  Hopping In can help you earn extra revenue by filling your daycare’s vacant spots. This can help you offer bonuses or improve on other things we’ll touch on later in the article.

2. Hold a staff appreciation day or week

Teachers work hard and they deserve a thumbs up from each other and from providers! Special recognition awards, refreshments, speeches and fun activities are all good ways to show appreciation for the work they do.

Maybe a staff member went above and beyond to help a youngster who was sick. Or maybe another team member has been cleaning the daycare center spotlessly and parents and staff are noticing it and loving it.

Well, celebrate it! Hand out awards, hold a gift card raffle for free massages or meals out at a nice restaurant, throw a treasure hunt, order in a catered meal of delicious sandwiches and dessert pastries. The options are endless and if the money is tight, channel the extra revenue from more bookings into staff appreciation. Do what it takes to get it flowing, and the morale skyrocketing!

3. Build relationships and a can-do atmosphere

Holding a staff appreciation day or week is one effective way to boost daycare center employee morale.

Source: Eversheds Sutherland / FlickR

Relationships are the bedrock of every people-centered business, and childcare is no different. Forming a bond with your employees, listening to their needs and being there for them in times of crisis is something they won’t forget. Employees work hard and get high work satisfaction when they feel like they matter. Prove to them that they do.

Boost daycare employee morale by including staff in your vision for the center. You can also inspire them with your mission and future goals. When you really care about how someone else is doing, they start to care a lot more about how you and your business are doing, too.

4. Provide top-notch training

Giving staff the tools and training they need to excel goes a long way. When there’s confusion and mixed messages morale can sink like a stone. Holding paid training days for staff and proactively solving challenges they face on the job builds loyalty, confidence and dedication. Boost daycare center employee morale by training your staff to the highest standard so they always know what to do, reducing stress and improving satisfaction.

5. Do fun activities

When it comes down to it, sometimes the work mood suffers for one simple reason: people are overworked.

That’s why you should organize a fun outing for teachers or give them the chance to unwind. Maybe it’s a day at the zoo or a baseball game. Maybe it’s just getting the teachers to do team-building activities like a ropes course or a day hosted by a special events organizer. It’s not always easy if you’re working on a tight budget, so look into options of earning extra revenue.

One day of fun can recharge a crew, and help them handle everything else with more ease. The kids and parents are going to feel it, too.

Author: Hopping In Blog

Sholom Strick is an expert on the business of running daycare centers and founder of Hopping In, a tool that helps childcare centers and family daycare providers fill unused spots.

To contact him or for media inquiries email s.strick@daycareteam.com

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