Childcare management and stress management start at the top and trickle down like chocolate sauce on an ice cream sundae.  The mere mention of a sundae brings back a slower, richer time.  Time that strolled–not raced–by.  The more you do in less time, the faster each sun rises and sets.  Each season is over before you can swap out the seasonal clothes from the back of your closet to the front. What was once a labor of love has strayed over to feelings of labor only.

The key to restoring wellbeing is renewing your vows to managing your childcare center. That wellbeing trickles down to your employees, parents and children.  The key to wellbeing is making your workplace happy.  Sounds simple.  Sounds sappy.  Keep reading.

 How to make a workplace happy:

–Foster good relationships between workers, starting from the top. Make sure everyone’s views are sought and respected.
–Positive feedback. In a high-performing workplace, the ratio of positive to negative comments is about 6:1.
–Identify strengths and allow employees to use them every day. If you can’t move an employee to a job that suits them better, at least ensure they are doing something they are good at once a day.
–Encourage laughter and humor, but not at anyone’s expense.
–Give people a say in what is going on. Give them ownership of a job and real influence in how it is done.
–Know your employees, their names and what they do. Walk through the office every day and acknowledge them.
        (Source: Cris Popp, Workplace Wellbeing )

Some things–like raising salaries or purchasing everything on your child care center wishlist–you have limited economic control over.  The rest you can do for two cents.  Making time to notice and appreciate your employees and colleagues.  Making time to make memories with the children.  The extra time you put in to recreate the holiday traditions so that they stay traditions.

The less time you spend on managing your childcare business accounting, keeping up with immunization and license requirements and reporting, the more time you have to make your workplace happy.  Nurture the management manager with Childcare Manager–you’re worth it:  http://www.childcaremanager.comWhat is your best story and worst story about stress at your center?  What made your day?  What got you through and back?