Anyone who’s ever tried to get a young child dressed, packed, and in the car knows how difficult it can be when the child doesn’t want to go. Childcare services are a wonderful benefit many health clubs make available to members, but a poorly run or uninspiring environment for the children can turn what was once a club perk into a real liability. Even the most highly motivated member can become discouraged and forsake his or her workout for the day with a child that doesn’t want to go to your facility.
Sprucing up your childcare services and making them an exciting part of the day for the children involved can turn the tables from a crying child to one that begs Mom or Dad to go workout! Try these inexpensive, easily managed ideas in your club and see what a difference they can make. Of course, plan accordingly for age appropriate activities and always check with the parents in advance to make sure they’re comfortable with their child participating before implementing any of these suggestions.
Plant a Garden: It doesn’t take a lot of outdoor space to plant a garden. Cut out a couple parking spots if you have to and imagine how parents will feel if they think their children are learning about healthy foods and proper nutrition! Teach the children about fruits and vegetables, how they grow, why they’re important for our bodies, and then, at harvest time, sell the “crop” to club members with all proceeds going directly towards toys, games, and educational materials for the children. Your members will love it!
Scavenger Hunt: Make one day of the week Scavenger Hunt day. Every Tuesday, for example, have a map of the childcare area available for each child right as he or she walks in the door. Offer prizes for those who participate; but remember, it’s not a competition- everyone who participates is a winner.
Birthdays: Never miss a birthday! Decorate accordingly, provide cupcakes if you like, but don’t let what, for many children, is the grandest day of their lives to pass by without a whole lot of fanfare! Parents will appreciate the acknowledgement and with all the children in your childcare service, there’s bound to be a party going on all the time!
A Night Out: Take care of Mom and Dad by offering childcare services when they’re not working out. Check with your insurance carrier beforehand, but why not offer your services to allow parents to go out for dinner together, sans the kids. Take care of the babysitting for them. Clowns and Face Painting: Outsource a little fun for the children and hire a clown and/or face painter once in awhile! If you can make ten or fifteen children happy, how happy do you think that will make Mom or Dad? Make coming to your childcare facility fun and surprise the children with something like this once a month!
Lastly, and this cannot be emphasized enough, hire staff that have a genuine interest in children and keeping them engaged mentally, emotionally, and intellectually. It’s easy to pop a cartoon or movie in the VCR and “watch” the children. Take your services up a notch and you’ll see an immediate response from your members-the ones that pay the monthly dues.
Alan Loyd is the Membership Director at Pinnacle Athletic Club in Mishawaka, Indiana. He can be contacted by email atAlan.Loyd@LakeshoreAthleticClub.com.
