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Does how you look really make a difference? Do your clothes determine the quality of care you provide? Read what this guest author has to say and give us your opinion!
Presentation is everything in a business. So when childcare providers come to work looking unprofessional, it reflects poorly on the childcare center, and may give parents the impression that the providers aren’t taking their jobs as seriously as they would like. An unprofessional staff can also interfere with business growth because it makes parents think twice about signing their kids up for your program.
Just as a potential employer would choose a different candidate if you went to an interview dressed inappropriately, parents are likely to do the same. For instance, if a mom comes in to tour your childcare facility, and she notices a teacher conducting circle time wearing ripped and stained shorts and flip-flops, she may decide to choose another childcare.
Even home childcare providers need to dress professionally to gain the respect of their clientele. When you greet parents and kids at the door in your pj’s, parents may be concerned that you take the same relaxed approach to caring for their kids. For the sake of professionalism, make it a point to freshen up before welcoming children into your home childcare.
A professional looking staff adds credibility to a childcare, and lets others know that the childcare teachers respect themselves as professionals. A well groomed staff also gives moms and dads the impression that the providers are confident in their abilities as caregivers.
How to Encourage Professional Appearance of Staff
What’s considered professional is subjective. For this reason, it’s important for childcare center directors and owners to set clear guidelines of what’s acceptable with regards to the appearance of their staff.
Childcare providers constantly move and interact with kids, so they must wear comfortable clothes to do their jobs effectively. Center owners and directors must be realistic about what they expect their childcare staff to wear. Polo shirts and khakis, for instance, are professional, comfortable, affordable, and these garments allow ease of movement. Employers can also invest in uniforms that display the center’s name and logo, and require staff to wear them to work.
The appearance of your staff can have an effect on the way parents perceive your childcare center. Setting clear guidelines about how you expect teachers to look when they show up for work will ensure they always appear professional.
I fully agree. The Center that I used to work at was very strict that you should dress in a proffessional manner. Jeans were not allowed unless it was a field trip. Skirts, dresses, and dress pants or (khaki), were accepted. Now I see people where I work wearing nursing scrubs and old stained shirts. Those should be saved for days when only staff is working without children. Show that you take pride in your work. You are a proffesional. You have earned it so show it off.
I agree also. It really makes a difference. I am a family childcare provider though and I do struggle between looking profesional and comfort. Since it’s family childcare I wear all the hats and work with a variety ages. And I spend most of my day on the floor and outside. I do like the idea of the khaki pants or capris (I live in Florida) and the polo shirt. I even thought to add professionalism I would design a logo with the name of my business and have it embroidered on the shirt. Any other ideas?
There shouldn’t be a problem with looking good and being comfortable. Children are usually very interested in showing what they have on. I like to order all my shirts from environmental/pet groups because I can support good causes and the shirts I choose are always portraying nature and are inexpensive, 2 for a $12 donation. Bottoms should always be clean and can be jeans, shorts or capris.
Personally, I don’t like skirts because we spend much of our time outdoors and they don’t allow for getting down with nature!
This is something I try to get over to my colleagues. We are Family Child Care Providers and we work out of homes and it can be very easy to dress unprofessionally. So I suggest that they get a uniforms or scrubs in their school colors and to get a logo that is eye catching. But I totally agree that we need to look, sound, and act professionally. If we don’t take ourselves serious then no one else will!