Dear Reader,

Reality TV has covered everything from strangers living together to an energetic fella named Rocco trying to start a restaurant.  Although this is true, I have yet to see someone get honest about the challenges of operating a day care center. 

After 13 years of owning Adventure Learning Community Center (also previously known as Adventure Learning Center), I am ready to break the silence.

Why?  The ups and downs of operating a Center reveal some humorous aspects of the human condition - and some real ways that parents and care providers can work together to improve life for our most precious young children.

We welcome you to the first issue of our newsletter where we try to answer the question, "Just how does the cookie crumble?"

Robert L. Barnes, Jr.
ALCC Director and Chief Bottle Washer

Issue #1 - September 15, 2003

Just How Does the Cookie Crumble?

In This Issue:

• Just How Does the Cookie Crumble?

• Coffee and a Donut

• Compliments, Complaints, and Conclusions

• About Us

That's the way the cookie crumbles.  Did you ever notice how people find a way to summarize life's misfortunes in 10 words or less?

A crumbling cookie represents the way something can utterly fall apart.  In our business, one of the worst crumbling events is the loss of a positive relationship with a parent.

So exactly how does the cookie crumble?  What actually causes a relationship to go south?

90% of the time, I can trace a broken relationship back to a bad string of communications.  No, this isn't another episode of Dr. Phil, but he sure would be proud of our findings.  When teachers stop providing adequate feedback about a child, and parents stop asking questions, the bad relationship begins.  The lack of communication may be perceived as a period of silence.  In reality, there are questions screaming underneath.

Be honest - if you didn't hear anything at all from your child's teacher in public school - not even a report card - wouldn't you be concerned?  That's because quiet actually speaks, and it usually speaks in the form of questions.

And it works the other way around.  Teachers that don't hear anything from parents begin to wonder and become concerned that there may be an unspoken problem.

These long periods of silence usually end when a minor misunderstanding brings down the whole house of cards.  In the early days of childcare, I would see parents loose their temper and remove their children over obvious misunderstandings. 

"What?  You mean Johnnie tripped, spilled his juice, and had to go all day on water?  We're outa here!"

This caused me to see parents as flaky consumers...until the trend revealed itself.  Stories would pour in about other minor incidents that weren't addressed well by the teachers.  Add this to the fact that children are the world's most precious gems - and I suddenly understood why poor communications caused entire relationships to crumble.

With age (and experience) comes wisdom. We have come far in improving the way we communicate with our parents - with new additions all the time.  We recently implemented a "report card" system that mirrors the feedback provided in the school system.  We also added this newsletter, and our new web page.

With all of that said, there are also ways that parents can help us keep the cookie together!

1.  Ask questions.  When something doesn't look right, just ask!  99% of the time, there is a perfectly legitimate reason.  The other 1% of the time, someone may have made a mistake!  No matter what, your question gives us the opportunity to give you the explanation you deserve.

2. Don't save complaints in a complaint bank.  I am amazed at the number of parents that are unhappy about something and never reveal it to us.  They wait until a few minor complaints are wrapped in a ball.  That ball turns into a bomb, and suddenly spilled juice lights the fuse.  No complaint is too small - and they help us serve you better.

3. Start your communications close to the source.  If you have a question about your billing, you should certainly call the business office.  But if your need for information has to do with the classroom, start with the teacher.  As the Director, I am the long route to classroom issues.  If you are uncomfortable talking to your child's teacher for any reason, take classroom issues to the NJ State Certified Head Teacher on-site, Heather Friel.

When all else fails hold tight to the fact that we are in business to provide your child with the best care available.

Coffee and a Donut

Interesting Links:

The National Association for the Education of Young Children

Adventure Learning Community Center, Inc.

If I could sit and have a cup of coffee with my parents right now, I would love to talk about a common misconception that many Centers must overcome.

Babysitting service is often seen as a close cousin to our services. Thankfully, they aren't even related. When you pay your weekly payments, they actually represent tuition for education services. Even the babies have "report cards" that assess developmental milestones - and the infant teachers are required to design activities that encourage this development.

So the next time you leave the house with your children - don't tell them they're going to the Center. Have them eat their Wheaties because they're really going to school!

Better yet, what do you want to talk about over coffee and donuts?
 Let us know what topics are at the top of your list, and we
will feature them in future issues of the newsletter.

Compliments, Complaints, and Conclusions

Adventure Learning

Community Center, Inc.

1812 Marmora Avenue

Atlantic City, NJ  08401

(609) 348-3883 Phone

(866) 348-3883 Toll Free

The focus of today's column is on a common complaint I receive from parents: Camaflouge is for soldiers.

Since the members of my staff spend most of their time chasing children and cleaning finger paint, I allow them to wear comfortable casual clothing.  Unfortunately for parents, members of the staff tend to blend into the background and look like another parent.  This leaves my mommies and daddies to ask, "Do you work here?"

Parents have told me over and over again that the dress code causes confusion.

I heard that!  Who called me hard-headed?

My wife finally hit me over the head about it.  After my head healed, she had the number to a uniform shop where I can get white lab smocks for the staff.  She even offered to make name tags for all of the teachers.

With the changes coming soon, there will be no more guessing games for the parents - and no more bumps on the head for me!

Compliments and Complaints from
parents help us to serve you better!
 Submit yours here.  We respond to each person, and
yours may appear in future newsletters.

ABOUT US:
ALCC is a day care center and private pre-school dedicated to quality care for working families.  Our hours of operation (7am til 12 midnight, 7 days a week) are designed to meet the needs of our parents that must work during the evening and on weekends.

We assist working families in balancing work/home with services
such as breakfast and potty training.

We invite you to contact us or visit our home page at www.alcckids.com.