In the chaos of running an in-home childcare, sometimes unexpected challenges arise, like the sudden disappearance of bulletin board materials. One day, to my surprise, I found myself facing an empty storage space where once vibrant Valentine-themed love monster decorations resided. Panic set in momentarily, but necessity sparked creativity. Determined to maintain the festive atmosphere for the children, I swiftly improvised with the wonderful Canva and what initially felt like a setback turned into an opportunity for creativity proving that sometimes exciting creative moments come from the unexpected challenges we face.
I switch up my bulletin board many times in the year. All the holidays, the beginnings of seasons like the first day of spring, Dr. Suess’ birthday. If there is a way to spark some excitement for my little friends at 7:30 in the morning, you can bet I am going to do it!
In an in-home daycare setting, we don’t always have the space for some of the extras like those big centers where work and home are not one in the same. We want our space to be both inviting for our childcare families while also being comfortable and…well, home…for our own families.
This can make setting up a fun decorative bulletin board difficult in some settings.
As I had mentioned in my post about my Spring Bulletin Board, it was very important for me to be more mindful of my space when we moved into a larger home a few years ago.
It’s going okay…I need to get better.
One area that has worked out fantastic is my bulletin board. Right outside my childcare entrance in my garage is the side of a built-in cabinet. It is the perfect spot for all our cutesy, goofy, lovey, etc etc bulletin board pictures.
It is an area out of the way but one of the first things my childcare kiddos see when they are entering.
If you don’t have a space like this, consider getting a large pin board or magnetic board that you can prop up in the morning and stick away in a closet at the end of the day. Heck, grab a poster board from the Dollar Tree.
I promise, a fun bulletin board is a great addition to your in-home Childcare!
Have you ever tried to find something in your office/craft room/kids bumper car and other super special large toy room?
My goals of organizing this year are slow.
After what felt like hours of digging through papers and file folders, I gave up. It was January 31st, (getting better with procrastinating less this year is also slow) I did some web searching and found some ideas I liked then off to Canva I went.
Thank goodness my printer was good on ink and my box of laminating sheets was full. A couple hours later and a sore hand from all the cutting and I was done!!
- You can grab the pdf of this fun Valentine’s Day bulletin board printable HERE.
- Cut out all the hearts and letters
- On the small hearts, add the names of children in your care, more positive words, or leave blank
- Laminate your hearts and words
- No laminator? –Grab one at this link. This is the exact laminator I have been using for the past couple years and it’s awesome!
- Grab your laminating sheets at this link. I’ve found the Amazon Basics brand works just as well as the name brand and you get twice as many for basically the same price!
- Cut out your laminated hearts and words
- Decorate your bulletin board…or wall…or door.
Click on the name of some of these ideas to see the images.
- Love Bugs
- Create bugs out of paper with googly eyes and pipe cleaner legs and anteni
- Add childrens names to each of the bugs
- Bee Mine
- Make bees out of paper holding a heart
- Hello February!
- Super simple use of words surrounded by hearts and envelopes
- Love is in the air
- Amazon is my go to for bulletin board pieces when I’m not feeling overly crafty
- Kind Hearts
- Big Hearts
- I Mustache You to be my Valentine
- Add pictures of the kids with a mustache…hilarious!
Part of the excitement with bulletin boards for me is the kids noticing when I change it. Their exploration of the new pieces and finding that piece that represents them.
You can still hold on to this excitement while getting their help. Have them decorate a piece for your bulletin board a week or so before you plan to switch it. One day they will arrive and see their work hung up.
Use snapchat filters or other forms of photographs of the children to add to your bulletin board. For Valentine’s Day you can use their faces as the head of your love bug or add them into a heart shaped hot air balloon.
Include each child’s name or photo somewhere in your bulletin board when you are able.
Not every bulletin board you create has to be personalized, but they are way fun when they are.
After the holiday or season is over, let each child take home their personalized piece if you don’t plan to use it again. I have found parents really enjoy these personalized items as well especially if it’s a laminated photo.
This years bulletin board name hearts will be used on each valentine box as a way to personalize their boxes.
This part is completely up to you and what you plan to celebrate or feature.
My year looks a little like this:
- New Years
- Put up on New Years Eve
- Valentine’s Day
- Put up on January 31st
- Dr. Suess’s Birthday
- Put up March 1st but only for a couple days
- St Patrick’s Day
- Put up by March 5th
- Easter
- A couple days after St. Patrick’s Day depending on holiday dates
- Spring ‘April Showers Bring May Flowers’
- Shortly after Easter
- Summer
- Weekend after the last day of school
- 4th of July (sometimes)
- Up July 1st
- I don’t always change my board in the summer
- Welcome New Friends or Back To School
- Week before school starts
- Halloween
- Put up Sept 30th
- Thanksgiving or Thankful for you
- Put up a couple days after Halloween
- Christmas
- Put up after Thanksgiving holiday
Related Article: Spring Bulletin Board with Printable
This will depend on how much you want to do or how much you want to spend.
When I’m not losing things, I generally have a set of bulletin board pieces I purchased from Amazon for each holiday or season. These are great when I don’t have time to come up with something new. These average about $15.
Another option is to look through Pinterest and find out all the cute things people do. Mimic their boards or take ideas from a few.
I do a lot of shopping at the Dollar Tree and this is also a great place for holiday décor.
We’re coming up on the holiday and I hope you have found a couple of ideas here on what you plan to put on your bulletin board. Maybe this will be your first time trying it out and I am so excited for you!
Let me know what you did for your Valentine’s Day bulletin board! I always love new ideas too!
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an enthusiast and expert in early childhood education and in-home childcare management, I have a deep understanding of the challenges and creative opportunities that arise in maintaining a festive and inviting atmosphere for children in a home-based setting. My expertise is rooted in years of hands-on experience in creating engaging and educational environments for young children, as well as a thorough knowledge of resources and tools available to childcare providers.
Now, let's delve into the concepts used in this article:
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In-Home Childcare Management: The article discusses the challenges of maintaining a festive atmosphere in an in-home childcare setting. It highlights the importance of creativity and resourcefulness in overcoming unexpected hurdles, such as the disappearance of bulletin board materials. The author emphasizes the significance of creating an inviting space for both the childcare families and their own families, acknowledging the limitations of space and the need for practical solutions.
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Creative Improvisation: The narrative showcases the author's ability to think on their feet and improvise using digital tools like Canva to create decorative bulletin board materials. This demonstrates the value of adaptability and resourcefulness in managing unexpected challenges in a childcare environment.
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Space Management: The article touches upon the constraints of space in an in-home childcare setting and offers practical suggestions for setting up a decorative bulletin board, such as utilizing available wall space, using pin boards or magnetic boards, and considering budget-friendly options like poster boards from Dollar Tree.
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Organizational Skills: The author shares personal experiences of organizing and managing their childcare space, including the process of finding and utilizing relevant materials for bulletin board decoration. It also mentions the slow progress in organizing and the use of digital resources for inspiration and creation.
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Seasonal and Holiday Themes: The article emphasizes the importance of changing bulletin board themes to reflect various holidays and seasonal events, highlighting the author's commitment to creating an engaging and dynamic environment for the children in their care.
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Resourcefulness and Budgeting: The article provides insights into cost-effective ways of obtaining bulletin board materials, such as purchasing pre-made pieces from online retailers like Amazon, utilizing Pinterest for inspiration, and leveraging affordable options from stores like Dollar Tree.
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Engagement with Children: The narrative emphasizes the interactive aspect of bulletin boards for children, encouraging their involvement in creating and personalizing pieces for the board. It also suggests incorporating children's names and personalized elements to enhance their sense of ownership and connection to the space.
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Planning and Scheduling: The article outlines a yearly schedule for changing bulletin board themes, showcasing the author's organized approach to managing the childcare environment and celebrating various occasions throughout the year.
Overall, the article provides valuable insights into the creative, practical, and organizational aspects of managing a decorative bulletin board in an in-home childcare setting, offering a wealth of ideas and tips for fellow childcare providers.
