**Daily Diary help needed**

[misst104]

Hi everyone

I am just wondering how much information everyone includes in their daily diary that goes to parents? Do you just put basics in eg. what the child ate, sleeptime, toddler group attended etc or do you go into alot of detail?

Getting a bit confused what with learning journeys, obs, scrapbooks and everything else........

xxx jo

[sarah707]

Things the child has done / said / particularly enjoyed;

Outings;

Things the child has eaten;

Sleeps and rests;

Nappy changes;

Highlights from the day;

Notes to inform parents for the future ...

I use a school notebook and tend to write about a page (one side) a day, sometimes a bit more if I've time and if it's a busy day I'll write less.

Hth

[huggableshelly]

I also note down any obs I've done which jogs parents to request to look at their childrens journals.

[singlewiththree]

I use an A5 notebook and use one side each day I usually just do it like this (example with 13mth old I have). I usually put a time by the snacks/meals and nappy change so they know when it was last done.

TODAYS DATE

Really enjoyed standing up unassisted at keyboard and loved the noise he was making.

Cars

Bikes

Sand

Favourite was the balloon he kept kicking it like a ball


FOOD -

DRINK -

NAPPY CHANGE -

[louised]

Mine is really simple, just descriptions of what we did and what time. I don't write down what they have eaten as I send menus home every week so parents don't give them the same as what they've had for lunch. I used to write a few paragraphs but really struggled to find the time, so now I leave the diaries open in the window sill and write in the time and what we did as we do it.

Example:

8.20 -freeplay
8.40 -school run
9.15 -toddler group
11.15 -outdoor play-sand and water
12.30 - lunchtime
1.00 - sleep
2.30 - storytime-hungry caterpillar
3.00 -school run
3.40 -snacktime-toast
4.00 -freeplay

[marian]

I send a 1/2 a A4 sized pre -printed 'note' called MY DAY home each day

It has their name and the date , then is divided into -eating and drinking, sleeps, nappies/toileting, activities and a space at the bottom for anything else...... such as reminders that fees are due, outings for next day/ week etc


I used to send a book home with them when I first started but it was 'forgotten/ lost/not read etc so I switched to paper

Marian x

[clorogue]

I do offer daily diaries, but not all parents wants one. Is that OK for Ofsted?

[wendywu]

I use the ones Angel put on that her friend very kindly let us use. The Dora and Night Garden etc.

[RachelE]

I use a notebook for each child - whether the parent wants it or not!!

After working in a nursery, I decided if 2 parents arrived at the same time,I couldnt always remember how many ozs of milk etc a child had drunk at what time.

I put the headings:- sleep times, food times,nappy times.

I then put activities for the day at the bottom - brief outline of toys and activities and where we have been. - NO essay (made that mistake with my first child 7 years ago and after getting writers cramp whilst juggling a screamer, then no more!!)

I write in the front that the parents can add any comments - and most do.

This has always come back in the bag each day, with only the odd day forgotten.

[haribo]

i dont send the diaries home anymore they never came back still fill them in and parents see everything evrty couple of months but was getting frustrated so now have a quick chat at hometime and its working ok

[miffy]

I use an A5 sheet a day - split into morning/afternoon with space for what we had for snacks/lunch/tea. Space at the beginning for anything parent tells me when they arrive and at the end for them to sign and comment.

Parents sign them daily and then they go in children's files

Miffy xx

[becks]

I use an A5 book and use a page per day. I keep it really simple, i note down food eaten, drinks/bottles, nappy changes all with the time at the side then at the end of the day i write a paragraph about what weve done that day.

[Allie]

I give parents as much or little information as they want, I also encourage them to add to the diary information about their child eg bad night, family advents etc



Allie

[SlummyMummy]

I have always used small notebooks but I am changing to loose leaf sheets that I will keep in A5 plastic wallets. I will pre-print the sheets withdetail such as nappy changes, amount eaten, nap time and how long, etc. I will also slip in a planned menu at the start of each month to save time writing down what we have had.

Good idea to add in observations......

[Andrea08]

i dont send the diaries home anymore they never came back still fill them in and parents see everything evrty couple of months but was getting frustrated so now have a quick chat at hometime and its working ok

i dont send home now too because it never came bk but if i get a new family i would offer daily diary sheets for parents to keep i found one on ere once and printed it off,, think it had dora on and bubbles to add quick notes eg time had sleep lunch,, tea,, etc

i keep the diary as a journal now but when lo leaves in a few wks im not sure what system ill do just home i get some new mindees

[Daftbat]

I do offer daily diaries, but not all parents wants one. Is that OK for Ofsted?

A record of what the children have been doing and info about sleeping, eating etc is good practice. So long as you can show how you are communicating with parents to an inspector then you should be ok.

[helenlc]

I use the Daily Diaries off the BCMA website. Its A5 sized and pre-printed with

Date
Meals
Sleeps
Nappy Changing
Account of day
Notes to Carers

Its very good and quick to fill in

[Chimps Childminding]

I use an A5 notebook. Jot down sleep, nappies, what they have eaten, amount of milk etc. also any notes to parents ie need more nappies etc. and the odd note about what they have done

I use the childs "All about me" book to put in photos of activities, arts etc.

I only usually carry on the daily diary until the child is about 12 months old, unless the parent request otherwise!

[sushila09]

Mine is really simple, just descriptions of what we did and what time. I don't write down what they have eaten as I send menus home every week so parents don't give them the same as what they've had for lunch. I used to write a few paragraphs but really struggled to find the time, so now I leave the diaries open in the window sill and write in the time and what we did as we do it.

Example:

8.20 -freeplay
8.40 -school run
9.15 -toddler group
11.15 -outdoor play-sand and water
12.30 - lunchtime
1.00 - sleep
2.30 - storytime-hungry caterpillar
3.00 -school run
3.40 -snacktime-toast
4.00 -freeplay

Hi is this good enough as it can save me so much time and i have been worried sick of what to write i do have photo but have no ideia of what to write and i have kids comming all the time and a waiting list but am thinking of giving up as cant cope with paperwork
Sushila09

[sushila09]

I use a notebook for each child - whether the parent wants it or not!!

After working in a nursery, I decided if 2 parents arrived at the same time,I couldnt always remember how many ozs of milk etc a child had drunk at what time.

I put the headings:- sleep times, food times,nappy times.

I then put activities for the day at the bottom - brief outline of toys and activities and where we have been. - NO essay (made that mistake with my first child 7 years ago and after getting writers cramp whilst juggling a screamer, then no more!!)

I write in the front that the parents can add any comments - and most do.

This has always come back in the bag each day, with only the odd day forgotten.

Can you please tell me how you get time with 5 to 6 kids if this is the case'[as i find it hard .

Sushila09