Daily Diaries..need an easier way

**Jules12Wed** · 30-01-2009, 12:15 PM

I use an A5 book but with a spiral binding as I found the other types that the pages used to fall out. I write mine like a diary i.e.

Today J arrived at my house at 8.00. We left straight away to take G and A to school, when we got home etc etc.

I write it up as the day goes on when I get the odd few minutes, when feeding etc. When they are all asleep I print off photos I have taken in the morning and stick those in too.

**Twinkles** · 30-01-2009, 01:50 PM

I have a5 sheets that I put in a small ring binder.

times
meals , what & how well eaten/liked
milk
water
nappies - i have numbers for wet & dirty nappies and I just circle the appropriate number
naps - times etc

what did we do today - very brief ie went to toddlers A liked playing with the cars. Or we went for a walk A enjoyed puddle splashing.

On the back I have space for wow moments and/or parents comments

Takes 5 mins at teatime.

**Fairydust** · 30-01-2009, 06:00 PM

Most of my mindees are part-time and some days I have four diaries to keep up to date! Some days I just dont manage and to be honest I know that sometimes the diaries are not looked at by the parents which I find most annoying especially when the children have glued photos and artwork in them and are excited for their parents to see them! At the beginning of the week I glue in a menu so parents know what the snack is to be and I also do a note with proposed activities/important dates/celebrations etc. I encourage parents to use the diary as two way communication but in 8 years of childminding not one parent has written anything in them! I also use stickers in the diaries such as happy faces and stars for special achievements which the parents and children love. Hope this helps.

**Shar** · 31-01-2009, 06:08 PM

I use the BCMA child daily diary, there great. My last Ofsted inspector loved them.

**PixiesDen** · 01-02-2009, 09:04 AM

I have a pre-printed shet that has date name meals times etc listed with fill in boxes for quick additions. Its much quicker that way.
If I knew how to attach I would be happy to share them with the group.
Not every parent reads them but at least they can if they wish to.

**helenlc** · 02-02-2009, 09:54 PM

I use BCMA ones, they are fab and so easy to use and quick to fill in!!

Plus my friend gets them cheap for me as her hubby is the webmaster for the BCMA!! Lol

**Andrea08** · 02-02-2009, 10:10 PM

My LA gave us diarys and its simple to use theres about 14 days for writing daily notes then there are EYFS sections for each of the 6 areas of L&D

eg PSED
i AM STARTING TO....................

I am practising....................

I can now do.....................

last page in section is.... I am working towards,,,,,(this is for your next steps)

what ive been doing /interested in at home///parent/Carers comments...

it covers Obs, and next steps and parent partnership.. ive learned to cut down on this work as i was doing farr to much if parents do not return diary i keep it and send home a simple fact sheet meals/routine/dates to rem/ etc