http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/rss/1726-The-Read-Aloud-Storytime-Center Dads and Moms will be able to drop their children off at this colorful, unique, educational center at a prearranged time for 2-3 hours. Unlike a daycare center, the benefit to parents is that it’s a temporary educational program that entertains their children while an errand is being run, such as grocery shopping. At the center, children will listen to great stories being read by local authors, they’ll see illustrators at their craft and they’ll participate in plays and games. The benefit to children is that they will learn and have fun at the same time and every child will leave the center with a special book or toy to take home. Benefit to authors/artists will be to share their talents. One more thing.... I can also see some great community building potential by having local seniors come in and participate. They get a chance to get out and contribute to their community and the kids get extra grandparents. Fri, 21 Mar 2008 23:09:28 -0500 advice http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/rss/1726-The-Read-Aloud-Storytime-Center#advice1011 http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/rss/1726-The-Read-Aloud-Storytime-Center#advice1011 I really like the idea of scheduling the center's activities in 2 or 3 hour blocks. You may want to consider requiring parents to sign up for a specific time block each week (for example, every Tuesday from 12-3) just as they would if their child was taking a ballet class or playing soccer. Some reasons why you might want to require parents to sign up in advance: 1) If you make parents register for a specific block you can also require parents to pay a month in advance just as they would for any other class: 2) Since it is a pre-paid and scheduled learning activity it may increase its value to parents who may view it as an important part of their child's education and development rather than a babysitting service; 3) Helps you to know what kind of flow of children to expect and how to schedule your employees and activities: 4) Also, it helps parents because they know that they have a specific time each week during which they can run errands, lunch with friends, etc. Parents have a scheduled 'break' time. I really like the idea of giving parents the option to stay. You may want to make some time blocks specifically parents and children only. With our busy lifestyles a scheduled activity that parents and children can participate in together on a regular basis may be ab attractive way to fit family time in. The parent gets to have fun hanging out with their child and no responsibility for planning or clean up and the child has a specific regularly scheduled time when they are the focus of the parent's attention. Of course you could also set some blocks of time during the week that would be open for drop in service. You should be able to charge parents a higher fee for those times for the convenience of dropping off the children on short notice. Fri, 21 Mar 2008 23:05:58 -0500 advice http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/rss/1726-The-Read-Aloud-Storytime-Center#advice1010 http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/rss/1726-The-Read-Aloud-Storytime-Center#advice1010 I really like the idea of scheduling the center's activities in 2 or 3 hour blocks. You may want to consider requiring parents to sign up for a specific time block each week (for example, every Tuesday from 12-3) just as they would if their child was taking a ballet class or playing soccer. Some reasons why you might want to require parents to sign up in advance: 1) If you make parents register for a specific block you can also require parents to pay a month in advance just as they would for any other class: 2) Since it is a pre-paid and scheduled learning activity it may increase its value to parents who may view it as an important part of their child's education and development rather than a babysitting service; 3) Helps you to know what kind of flow of children to expect and how to schedule your employees and activities: 4) Also, it helps parents because they know that they have a specific time each week during which they can run errands, lunch with friends, etc. Parents have a scheduled 'break' time. I really like the idea of giving parents the option to stay. You may want to make some time blocks specifically parents and children only. With our busy lifestyles a scheduled activity that parents and children can participate in together on a regular basis may be ab attractive way to fit family time in. The parent gets to have fun hanging out with their child and no responsibility for planning or clean up and the child has a specific regularly scheduled time when they are the focus of the parent's attention. Of course you could also set some blocks of time during the week that would be open for drop in service. You should be able to charge parents a higher fee for those times for the convenience of dropping off the children on short notice. Fri, 21 Mar 2008 23:05:51 -0500 advice http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/rss/1726-The-Read-Aloud-Storytime-Center#advice1009 http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/rss/1726-The-Read-Aloud-Storytime-Center#advice1009 I think this is a great idea and something that is needed in the marketplace. Many people know they can benefit from a mentor but don't know how to go about getting one. Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:17:20 -0500 advice http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/rss/1726-The-Read-Aloud-Storytime-Center#advice884 http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/rss/1726-The-Read-Aloud-Storytime-Center#advice884 Dads and Moms will be able to drop their children off at this colorful, unique, educational center at a prearranged time for 2-3 hours. Unlike a daycare center, the benefit to parents is that it’s a temporary educational program that entertains their children while an errand is being run, such as grocery shopping. At the center, children will listen to great stories being read by local authors, they’ll see illustrators at their craft and they’ll participate in plays and games. The benefit to children is that they will learn and have fun at the same time and every child will leave the center with a special book or toy to take home. Benefit to authors/artists will be to share their talents. Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:44:37 -0600 comment http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/rss/1726-The-Read-Aloud-Storytime-Center#comment5388 http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/rss/1726-The-Read-Aloud-Storytime-Center#comment5388 Sounds like you will need to public service announce your proposed schedule to start off, in case parents could plan around YOUR schedule. Try it as a pre-assessment strategy simultaneously taking in parental feedback for change around THEIR schedule. Work it from there. Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:42:47 -0600 advice http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/rss/1726-The-Read-Aloud-Storytime-Center#advice677 http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/rss/1726-The-Read-Aloud-Storytime-Center#advice677 The biggest challenge is to schedule the appropriate number of children throughout the day and to make sure parents understand the educational mission of the center. Parents will be welcome to stay and participate if they wish during storytime readings as well. Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:50:16 -0600 challenge http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/rss/1726-The-Read-Aloud-Storytime-Center#challenge1016 http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/rss/1726-The-Read-Aloud-Storytime-Center#challenge1016