Enhancing Parent Engagement this Christmas with Nursery Software
With just a week to go until Christmas Day, it’s safe to say nursery settings everywhere are bursting with festive cheer! Excitement is in the air—not just for the children but for parents and early years staff too. Out of all the jobs I’ve had over the years, I can confidently say that the early years sector really knows how to do Christmas right (and no, I’m not just talking about the staff Christmas party!).
From elf-decorating evenings to festive crafts like card-making, writing letters to Santa, baking cookies for the man himself, and even the classic nativity plays, there’s so much going on. It’s a magical time filled with fun, creativity, and anticipation—but let’s be honest, it’s also a bit exhausting!
With the hustle and bustle of the season, it’s easy for parent engagement and even simple communication to take a back seat. That’s why in this blog, I’ll share how nursery software can help you keep parents involved and connected throughout the festive season, making this Christmas even more special for everyone.
Parent communication in early years education
As we’ve mentioned time and time again, clear and consistent communication with parents is a vital part of early years education. This is especially true during the Christmas season, which is, let’s face it, one of the busiest times of the year! The children are buzzing with excitement, their days packed full of festive activities and Christmas parties. By the time they’re ready to head home, they’re often exhausted but still full of joy from all the fun.
For parents, however, this time of year can be a bit overwhelming. With all the Christmas shopping to do, presents to wrap (and sneakily send to Santa!), and the excitement of the upcoming holiday, they often don’t have much time for a proper chat during drop-offs or pick-ups. And let’s not forget the dreaded traffic that seems to appear out of nowhere at this time of year!
During all this festive madness, it’s easy for important messages to get lost or rushed at handover time. This is exactly where nursery software and parent apps come to the rescue! With the right tools, you can keep parents updated on their child’s day, share important news, and make sure nothing is missed—whether it’s about the Christmas nativity or a change in the usual routine. So, while everyone’s busy enjoying the season, you can ensure parents stay informed and connected.
Using nursery software to your advantage this Christmas (or next)
Nursery software can be a real-time-saver during the festive season, helping you stay organised and keeping parents in the loop. Here are some fun and practical ways to use it to your advantage:
Keep parents informed with festive newsletters
Your nursery software is the perfect tool for sending out newsletters packed with all the essential Christmas information parents need. Make their holiday planning easier by including:
- Key dates: opening and closing times over the festive period.
- Christmas events: stay-and-play sessions, Christmas jumper days, or festive competitions like bauble-making.
- Nativity details: dates, times, and costume reminders to ensure everyone is ready for the big performance.
- Special notices: updates about Christmas card collections or other holiday activities.
By organising all this information in one handy place, you’ll help parents stay on top of everything without the added festive stress.
Share festive fun and activities with parents
Let parents feel part of the Christmas magic happening at nursery by sharing updates on the wonderful activities their children have been enjoying. Use your software to highlight the fun while showing the learning benefits behind the festive cheer:
- Photos and videos: capture moments of the children making cards, decorating cookies, or singing Christmas songs.
- Children’s voices: share quotes from the children about what they loved most—parents will treasure these little snippets!
- Learning highlights: explain how these activities build important skills like creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Parents love seeing what their children have been up to, and it helps them feel more connected to their child’s day.
Strengthening parental partnerships during the Christmas break
The festive season is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen partnerships with parents by engaging them in their child’s learning journey—even while nursery doors are closed. Collaborating with parents ensures a seamless connection between nursery activities and learning at home, all while keeping in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework.
Sharing observations and setting goals for further learning milestones, empowers parents as active participants in their child’s education, we equip them with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to continue nurturing learning at home during the holiday period.
Our ParentZone app makes this process simple and effective. It allows parents to receive resources, activity suggestions, and personalised feedback straight to their phones. Parents can even share their own observations and achievements from home, giving practitioners a fuller picture of the child’s progress and any areas where extra support might be needed.
Festive activities to support learning at home
To keep the learning going over the Christmas break, you can provide parents with fun, easy, and educational activities to enjoy with their children. Here are a few ideas to include:
- Simple Christmas crafts: encourage creativity with paper snowflakes, salt-dough ornaments, or hand-made Christmas cards.
- Festive baking fun: Share child-friendly recipes like reindeer cookies or Santa’s cupcakes to support motor skills and introduce basic maths concepts like counting and measuring.
- Christmas games: Suggest activities like a scavenger hunt for festive items or making DIY reindeer food to sprinkle on Christmas Eve.
Help parents plan ahead this Christmas
We understand that managing finances can be a major concern for parents, especially during this time of year. By sending out January bills ahead of the Christmas break, you give parents a clear picture of what to expect, helping them budget effectively for festive expenses.
Having a parent app with the convenience of in-app payments, parents can settle their bills quickly and easily. This reduces the chances of late payments, eliminates the need for follow-ups in the new year, and avoids any awkward conversations down the line.
By participating in these activities, parents can contribute meaningful observations through the app, offering valuable insights into how their child learns and plays in their natural environment. These insights not only help practitioners support developmental milestones but also deepen the bond between nursery and home.
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About the Author
Content Marketing Executive at Connect Childcare