Category: Education

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Business Business Opportunity Childcare Education Franchise Preschool

Surviving Economic Downtowns in the Preschool Industry

More than ever people are looking for businesses that can survive the economic turmoil that our country has recently experienced. With COVID came the harsh reality that not every business is well-suited for times of economic distress and downturn.

There are 3 main reasons that our schools were able to thrive throughout the pandemic:

  1. Our facilities are small for the industry. Smaller preschool facilities are easier to maintain and to clean, meaning that should you need to do a deep clean, it only takes hours, not days. This paired with our small class sizes allowed us to be open and operational throughout the pandemic.
  2. Smaller facilities equal lower costs. With low operational costs, we were able to remain open throughout the pandemic and keep our teachers employed despite the fact that we lost some students. When the students began returning to school over the next few weeks and months, we already had our staff in place to welcome them back to school making parents feel secure in their choice and students happy to be there. A smaller facility allows a business owner to weather economic storms.
  3. Theory® is a program that benefits children. Having a philosophy and curriculum based in neuroscience truly benefits the learner. By paying attention to what the brain wants and needs at any given time, we are able to help children make those important connections necessary between the hind-brain, the mid and fore-brain, that are so essential to becoming a well-balanced, cognitively-ready learner. Parents want their children to participate in our program because, while we provide them with child-care, we also provide their children with so much more. It is because of the quality of our program that parents wanted their children to attend our schools despite what was happening throughout the world.

If you are interested in opening a franchise, and considering ours, rest assured that we have been through and seen it all. From the recession of 2008 to the pandemic of 2020, we have adjusted, grown and thrived through it all. Child care is one of the safest indutries to be in, especially in uncertain times, and with our guidance, you too can own a business that not only survives, but thrives!

 

Categories
American made Business Childcare Education Family homeschool Preschool School

Our Journey to American Made: Where to Find American Made Children’s Toys and Furniture

If you are like me, you are a proud American. 

Your family stands for the National Anthem, opens doors for fellow Americans, and lends a helping hand to those in need. Why is it then, that when it comes to the clothing we wear and the products we use to furnish our homes, that we are not more careful about where those products are made? Shouldn’t we do our best to buy American products as much as we are able? Shouldn’t we be part of a movement that rewards businesses for manufacturing right here in the United States?

As we begin to line up our furnishings for the interior of our preschool franchises, I am more aware than ever of the importance of purchasing American made products and goods. It is our goal that each piece of furniture, every hand towel and all toys that reside within a Theory Preschool be manufactured right here in the United States. As I began researching, I realized that this task was going to be harder than I thought. Sure, you can search for “American made children’s furniture” online and you will find a few companies, but when you are looking for a very specific style of furniture or manipulative, it starts to become a bit overwhelming. 

Luckily, I was able to find quite a few American makers whose products have just the feel we have been searching for. The products we found are not necessarily for preschools, but for infants and children up to the age of 6 years, so I thought that I would share with you my findings and you too can start your journey to American made.

Here are 4 of my favorite shops that I have discovered so far in my journey:

  1. Milton and Goose: If you are looking for high quality tables, chairs and play kitchens, Milton and Goose may be just the place you are looking for. Their dedication to creating modern children’s furniture with clean lines is evident as soon as you land on their page. While their prices are a bit higher than your run-on-the-mill, foreign-made counterparts, the materials they use combined with the beauty of their design makes the extra cost worth it. We cannot wait to set up a space with their play kitchens, tables and chairs in our preschool franchises. 

  2. PalumbaCamdenRose:This is an Etsy shop that specializes in natural wooden toys and home goods. Their play kitchens, doll houses, building blocks, pretend play items and children’s furniture all receive consistent 5 star ratings like this one: “This kitchen is amazing! The craftsmanship is incredible, the wood is soft and smooth. I love the different types of wood used to add some variation and I love the oven rack and turning knobs/swiveling faucet. My daughter loves it too and it makes for a lovely display piece in our living room.” Go and see their beautiful craftsmanship for yourself! You will not be disappointed! 

  3. MamaTingsCreations: This is another Etsy shop that I simply adore. Mama Tings Creations specializes in felt pretend food for play kitchens. From fruit to breakfast items,  to cookies and even pie, there is a variety of fun and whimsical felt creations that will be a welcomed addition to any playspace. Although there is a limited amount of wares at Mama Tings, they are all so beautiful and full of life that we cannot wait to use them in our preschools. 

  4. My Little Songbird: This is an online store that began as an Etsy shop. In fact they still have their Etsy shop up and running. They have a variety of play gyms for infants and are in the process of releasing a larger collection for toddlers. All of their items are carefully made in beautiful, calming shades that will please any child (or parent!). They also have a lovely story on their website that goes into great detail about why they began their store and what continues to motivate them to create. When I first stumbled upon this shop in Etsy I instantly fell in love with their wooden clothing rack. It’s the perfect item to help children experience some independence at a young age and be successful at a task while doing so! This along with many of their items will find a home in our preschools soon. 

It astounds me how much talent we have right here in the United States. You can find almost anything if you just take the time. 

And while I am still looking for more American made toys, furniture and textiles to bring into the design of our preschools, this list is a good starting point. I do hope that it may also help you in your journey to American made.

God Bless America ♡

~Meghan

Categories
Education Family Love Preschool School Valentine's Day

New Ways of Sharing the Love with Little Ones this Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to teach your little ones how to share the love with everyone in their life. Everyone deserves some love this season, from the neighbor down the street, to the grade school teacher, to others in your community. Here are FIVE ways to show love this Valentine’s Day.

1. One of the best ways you can encourage your child to show love to those in the community is to deliver handmade crafts to those who might not receive much on Valentine’s Day. Choose from one of these amazingly easy crafts and take them over to your local nursing home or children’s hospital. Share with your child how much it will mean to those individuals to receive something so special, and how easy it is to spread the love- even with a simple craft!

2. Pets need some love too this Valentine’s day! Use this recipe for homemade dog treats and deliver them to your local shelter, or you can bring along used blankets, pet toys, or any other pet materials you may have on hand. Call ahead of time and find out your local shelter’s policies on children interacting with the animals. Who knows – they may even let you cuddle a kitty while you’re there.

3. When you look around your community, you’ll realize there are lots of people who could use some love this Valentine’s day. Make a list with your child of who those people might be in your community and buy a batch of single stem flowers to share with them. Some examples include your neighborhood postal worker, trash collector, your teacher, or your local barista!  Pro tip: Do this a day or two before Valentine’s Day to avoid the dreaded “empty buckets” at your local flower shop, or find a blooming field nearby (if spring comes early in your neck of the woods) and pick your favorite wildflowers! Keep it fun and easy for the whole family!

4. Make a Valentine treat for your neighbors or nearby friends. Everyone loves something sweet on Valentine’s day! Think cookies, brownies, cake pops, or any other sweet treat your little one would love to make. Explain to them while you’re mixing the ingredients who you’ll be giving these treats to, and ask them how they hope it will make those individuals feel when they enjoy them.

5. With the excitement of potential valentines, treats, and the feeling of love in the air, it can be easy to forget to show love to those right in front of you. Gather the whole family at breakfast or dinner to share attributes you love about each family member. As you do this, write the “love-ly” sentiments on a heart-shaped card or pink construction paper for each family member to hold onto. Encourage your child to share the distinct qualities they love about each family member. For example, instead of “I love that Daddy kills bad spiders”, help them to reframe the sentiment as “I love that Daddy protects me.”

We hope you and your kiddos have fun with these easy crafts and activities that show love in all of its wild ways this holiday, and every day. Those of us at Theory Preschools hope you have a Valentine’s Day filled with lots of ooey gooey love and joy

Categories
Business Childcare Education Family Preschool

How to Create a Preschool Environment Parents Love

One of the first lessons we learned when opening our corporate schools was the importance of how parents and other caregivers entering and exiting our school perceived what was happening in our school throughout the day. Although most parents only spend an average of 5 minutes in our schools, twice a day, we realized that it was during those 10 minutes that they were formulating their opinions of our school, our curriculum and our staff. If parents encountered an inkling of chaos at pick-up time, then they would many times assume that there was chaos throughout the day.

So what can we do to make sure those magical 10 minutes are always perceived in the manner we want them to be?

It’s all about the 5 senses…

If you pay attention to what parents see, hear, feel, smell and taste (yes, even taste) when they walk through the doors of your school, you will quickly understand how (and why) they form the perceptions they do.

So let’s go over each of the traditional 5 senses and how they can help you create an atmosphere of preschool bliss:

Sight

Sight is incredibly important. When a parent walks through your door you want them to see: a neatly, dressed, smiling staff member or teacher, an organized entry, items playfully arranged for their child to engage in upon arrival, teachers positively interacting with other children and a clean and organized classroom. How do you think a parent perceives your school if they are greeted each day with a mess, a stressed out teacher and children screaming in the background? I am sure you can only imagine.

Smell

Smell is a sense that is easy to ignore, especially in our profession. If you have children who are potty training and in diapers, this is particularly of importance to you. Make sure that you have a procedure for taking out dirty diapers on a regular basis, and flushing toilets. Those smells tend to linger and I am sure you don’t want them around any longer than they need to be. Another tip; install some eco-friendly, non-toxic, air fresheners in safe (and strategic places) throughout your school. A pleasing smell will make a great impression on your parents. During the holiday season it is also fun to have some mulled spices on the stove (safely away from students of course). They fill your school with an amazing smell and conjure images of home for both students and parents alike.

Sound

Our sense of hearing is just as important as sight and smell. When parents walk into your school, what do they hear? Are children (and teachers) yelling? Is there an abundance of noise? When walking into a school parents should hear: soft music playing in the background (something fitting to the time of day), the murmur of the soft voices of children engaged in the learning process, and maybe even the kind voice of a teacher comforting a child who is missing their mom or dad. If parents are arriving while you are playing outside with your class, then parents will want to hear: laughter, shrieks of joy and appropriate preschool banter. Always make sure that parents are being greeted by a teacher or staff member when they walk through your doors. A quick, “Hello! How are you?” will create a lasting positive impact.

Touch

That’s right! Our sense of touch is also incredibly important. Think about everything a parent touches when dropping off and signing in a child; a pen, a counter, a cubby, a door knob… and the list goes on. These surfaces should be wiped down daily (if not more often). Not only will parents love how clean your school feels, but you will be helping to keep those pesky germs away too!

Taste

You may be thinking to yourself, “Taste? How does taste come into play?” Well, think about it… what could you do in your school to ensure that parents have a pleasant “taste” experience in your school? Many of you may already provide coffee or hot cocoa to your parents in the morning. Or maybe you have a lovely tray of bagels or fruit available for parents as they head out to work. Parents will look forward to coming into your school each and every morning and enjoying a quick yummy bite or a warm cup of coffee to go.

Our five senses are amazing tools for us to take advantage of as preschool owners and directors. They can help us provide an environment that is pleasing to our staff, teachers, students and parents. As you move through your day pay attention to your senses. Talk with your teachers about what they can do to make sure those magical 10 minutes that parents are in your schools are the most sensory-appealing moments of their day.

Categories
Business Business Opportunity Childcare Education Franchise School

We Have a Theory: The Story of the Theory Preschools Name

It all started because we had theory.

We had a theory that preschool could be done differently.

That was where it began, with a theory.

It is so fitting that now after over 15 years in business we have trademarked that name, and continue to grow our business as this entity.

THEORY.

We love this name. We know that may sound strange. But this business is and always will be our first baby. When we initially named it, we looked for something catchy and new. We thought we had found a name that described what we envisioned our preschool would grow up to be. But as it grew, the business showed us that its original name no longer fit. We realized that we needed a name that clearly represented the inner workings of our methods and philosophies. We wanted a name that showed people not only that our school was somehow unique, but one that invited all people, of every race, shape, religion and color to come in and be at home.

THEORY.

We tried on the name for awhile; sat with it. Was it enough? Did it say enough? Could it stand alone?

YES.

Theory was perfect.

We continued to move forward with trademarking our new name so that it would be protected. All of the methods, the philosophy, the design, protected. No one can take this name, or even try to pretend to be like Theory. There is the only one. We are unique in our industry.

THEORY.

As I sit here writing this I am still thinking about how right this name is for us.

I wonder why we did not see it before. Why we did not see this path before.

How our vision for Theory and all that it will become has grown. This is not just a business for us. It is so much more. We want to help people see that there is another way for children to learn and thrive in an educational setting. We want to help other individuals build a successful business in this amazing industry. We want Theory to continue to thrive and grow.

We have a THEORY that preschool can be this and so much more.

We hope that you will join us.

~Meghan

Categories
Childcare Education Family homeschool Leprechaun trap School St. Patrick's Day

Building a Leprechaun Trap for St.Patrick’s Day

My children have been making Leprechaun traps for years, and even though my two eldest are about at an age when this shouldn’t be deemed “cool,” they are still all in. Maybe it’s for the sake of my youngest… but regardless of age, this activity is just FUN.

Luckily, St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner and designing a Leprechaun trap is the perfect activity to focus on to bring some joy back into daily life.

To start some background information.

If you were unaware, Leprechauns come into the human world only once per year, on the evening of March 16th. On that evening they search the world for children who are trying to trick them with a trap (Leprechauns cannot resist a sneaky challenge). It has been our experience that they always leave evidence of their tampering with the traps either through a dusting of glitter, a knocked over trap, or maybe some green footprints. However, the very best part is that the Leprechaun leaves a special treat behind for each child. If yor child seems concerned about the well-being of the Leprechaun, you can let them know that Leprechauns are resistant to all human viruses.

Now it is time to get building!

Since Leprechauns are small you do not need to build anything too large. Just grab any cardboard box that you have lying around. Add a door, maybe a room or two, along with some tricks for your Leprechaun (they love shiny things) and you’re done.

Place the trap (or “playground” as my eldest daughter has always called her trap) somewhere that your child thinks is accessible to Leprechauns on the evening of the 16th. Once your kiddos are asleep create some Leprechaun havoc and don’t forget to leave a small treat or prize behind.

Your children will wake up excited to find what the Leprechaun has done, and will be thrilled to have received a special treat from him.

Now get going… there is not much time!

Suggested supplies:

-cardboard box

-jars

-glue

-pens or paint

-glitter

-safe scissors

-anything else you have laying around (buttons, fabric, popsicle sticks, etc)

Check out these traps for some inspiration and have fun!

~Meghan

Categories
Business Business Opportunity Childcare Education Franchise Preschool

A Quick Guide to Starting a Preschool

Trying to start a preschool on your own can be a big task; overwhelmingly big if we’re being honest. But it doesn’t have to be! It’s a lot more than hosting your BFF’s little ones a few days a week. In order to provide the best care possible for the young minds you’re entrusted with, having a plan and a tried-and-true method is essential.

Below, we’ve listed a brief overview of the steps you’ll need to take to start your own preschool and how Theory helps relieve the stresses of planning and research.

Quick Checklist for Starting a Preschool:

1. Gauge demand for childcare in your community.

Before you begin drafting your business plan, you first need to evaluate the demand for childcare in your community. Some things to consider are:

How many preschools are there in the city or county?
What do they offer?
What core curriculum are they using?
Is there a need in the community that isn’t being met?
These are all questions to keep in mind, but don’t worry! When you partner with Theory, we take the liberty of researching those questions for you!

2. Take care of the legal details.

Every state and jurisdiction has different regulations and requirements for small businesses and preschools. Do some research to make sure you’ve got the building permits, licenses, vendors, and any other paperwork you might need filled out.

3. Write a business plan.

Easier said than done, right? Well don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. With Theory Preschool, we’ll provide our success-rate guaranteed business plan, along with all the tools and partners you’ll need to help get you started. Now that sounds pretty easy, right!?

4. Find a location and prepare your facility.

You’re going to want to have a place for the kiddos to actively learn and roam around, so finding the perfect space is crucial. With Theory Preschool, we not only provide an established business plan, we also help you build a brand new facility or find a beautiful building to lease with custom furnishings for your preschool. 

6. Create your curriculum.

An engaging curriculum is key to the success of your future students, but selecting which one fits best can be a bit overwhelming. Don’t worry though, Theory helps with that too! Our curriculum is an innovative and exciting approach based in neuroscience, based on a three-pronged strategy. Here at Theory, we believe that education empowers students to dream big and change the world, one day at a time.

7. Spread the word!

Now it’s time to market your preschool and get the word out there! Post flyers around places where parents frequent, run ads in your local newspaper, and advertise online, at local businesses and events, or host a grand opening to attract more families! When you work with Theory, we’ll provide you with an established marketing plan and team to help reach your goals and spread the exciting news!

Starting your own preschool doesn’t have to be such an overwhelming or daunting task. It should be an interactive and exciting process from the beginning stage to the grand opening.

Interested in starting your own preschool with Theory? Great! We’d love to connect with you to start making your passion a reality!

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Want to learn more about opening your own Theory Preschool franchise? Fill out this form to get started:

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(541) 977-1467

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