Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/what-a-wonderful-place-for-children-are-parents-saying-this-about-your-center/5013510/
Pretend you are a prospective parent seeking child care the next time you enter your center. Then take a walk throughout the center, looking into each classroom for a few minutes, peeping into the kitchen, and visiting the playground. What is your first impression? Do you like what you see and hear? Whether we think about it or not, first impressions weigh heavily upon whether a parent chooses to enroll his/her child in a program and what will be said to others about your center. How our house looks says a lot about our lifestyle and values; how our workplace looks reflects how we feel about what we do.The center should be a happy place where children feel comfortable, secure and independent, and where parents and other family members feel welcome. It is a child's place and should look like it, but this doesn't mean there has to be clutter and disorganization.
Prospective parents are more likely to visit a facility that is attractive from the outside. If the lobby is inviting and "family friendly," parents immediately feel welcome. Are there comfortable adult and children's chairs in the waiting area? Are children's books and parenting magazines available to keep the family busy ...