Special occasions are not the only time child providers can express their adoration and joy for kids in their care. Caregivers can show their lovin' feeling toward their charges through special notes, attaboys (and attagirls), photo creations, and other memorable keepsakes. Here are top and budget-friendly ways providers can show kids they care. And, parents, take note: these ideas work just as great for your kids!
1. Create A Caregiver Photo Album
Create a custom photo album for each kid, highlighting special interests or successes throughout the year. Use inexpensive stickers or stamps to make it unique to each child. With today's low cost and convenience of getting prints (and many folks now have home photo printers), this certain "kid pleaser" is simple and a guaranteed keepsake. Be sure to take a photo of you and your charge, along with a group shot of the whole gang! It's a guaranteed "ooh" gift! 2. Begin A Love Meter
What do kids do that bring you the greatest joy? Consider creating a "love meter" (it can be as simple as a poster board display) that showcases activities, behavior or actions that you just "absolutely love" to see as a caregiver. Develop a point/sticker/stamp session and create an award once the love meter reaches a certain level. Maybe kids earn an outing to a special park or a batch of home-baked brownies. Keep it simple, but kids will be clamoring for "love meter" points every day.3. Design Love Coupons
Don't you just love it when kids play nicely, pick up after themselves, begin going potty by themselves, or become helpers? Create love coupons that are unique to each child based on age-appropriateness and skill level that amounts to one-on-one awards between you and the child in your care. Tuck in a few "good for a 5-minute snuggle" or "good for one all is forgiven" type when behavior is less than angelic. Creative providers can use pictures instead of words for young kids on the coupons. 4. Establish a Love Bank
Pennies can become an incentive and reward system, and teach counting (and saving skills) for youngsters. Create a simple "love bank" for each kid and throughout the year reward a penny for every significant behavior that you just "love." Set up a reward system and post it for kids to see (use pictures, if more age appropriate). For example, a child with 25 pennies might cash in her love bank savings to earn a sucker; 50 pennies nets getting to be the line leader all day. 5. Write Love Notes
All kids (and their parents too) respond positively to praise and about what they did right on a given day. Create simple "love notes" that you send home every day (yes, even on naughty days). The sentiment can be as simple as "I love how Emily ate all her peas today" or "I love Jake's ability to make his friend feel better when he was sad." Ask parents to consider saving the notes so that kids can look at the messages in the future as affirmation of their virtues and character.6. Character Counts in Day Care
Create a list of character traits that you expect of your youngsters while in your care (respect, fairness, honesty, etc.). Have a designated circle time on character during a designated day of each week, and talk about all the "good" things that people say and do that means good character. End each week with rewarding a child with a virtue that they exhibited that week. For example, Jim earns the virtue of sharing while Anna receives a helpfulness sticker. 7. Design a "Lovin' It Board"
Create a "lovin' it bulletin board" of all the things and activities that kids in your care love to do. Change out the board frequently, and consider having it to the theme of time of year to keep kids' interest high. Add in seasonal activities, types of food, favorite songs, or anything else your charges love.8. Begin a "I Love to Read" Library
All kids love to hear certain stories, and you can create a "love library" of special books that can be shared and looked at by children in your care. Providers could easily create a mini book starring each child that includes pictures, things they love, and even family members and parents. The "book" can be a simply-typed short story featuring the child that can be read during quiet time. 9. Produce a Video/CD Keepsake
If you have the means, consider creating a keepsake CD of songs the kids all sing together or even a videotape showing a special presentation, play, outing, or something that kids can watch at home when not in your care. Keep it short and fun, and if you have the technology-savvy, add an introduction naming all the "cast of stars" and year. It will become a treasured keepsake in years to come.10. Make A Pin the Heart Game
Buy an expensive roll of construction paper and then have the kids trace around your body, cut it out, and then color it to include hair, eyes, clothing, etc. Take your paper likeness on the wall. Next, create hearts featuring the name of each child and have them "pin the heart" on you. (Think "Pin the Tale on the Donkey.") Tell the kids in your care how special you feel to be a part of their lives and how lucky you are to have so many loving children to care for. They'll get the message!
