This podcast, brought to you by Procare Solutions, is all about giving child care, preschool, daycare, afterschool and other early education professionals a fun and upbeat way to learn about strategies and inspiration they can use to thrive. You’ll hear from a variety of child care thought leaders, including educators, owners and industry experts, on ways to innovate to meet the needs of the children you serve. From practical tips for managing operations to uplifting stories of transformatio ...
…
continue reading
Child Care Software Podcasts
The iCare Software podcast channel is full of informative and helpful content that covers a variety of topics related to childcare center management. This is a great resource for child care, preschool, daycare, afterschool, and other early education professionals who want to learn more about best practices in the industry, or just keep up with the latest news and developments.
…
continue reading
…
continue reading

1
Season 5, Episode 10: How to Incorporate Social Emotional Development in ECE, with Wendy Turcott and Dani Svantner
34:43
34:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:43Ready to build a culture of well-being in your early childhood program? In this episode of the Child Care Business Podcast, we sit down with Wendy Turcotte and Dani Svantner, the dynamic duo known as The Play Coaches who have become leaders in implementing social-emotional learning from infancy. They share why SEL should be the foundation of your c…
…
continue reading

1
Season 5, Episode 9: Why ECE Programs Need Child-Led Play, with Stacy Benge
32:13
32:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:13Literacy begins with embracing the whole child, says Stacy Benge, an expert on early literacy and a proponent of child-led play. Her mission to help educators approach literacy in a way that builds confident, curious, lifelong learners. In this podcast, Stacy defines child-led play (and dispels myths about it), including the difference between chil…
…
continue reading

1
Season 5, Episode 8: Building Loyalty: Strategies for Family Retention in Child Care, with Jaime Rechkemmer
35:45
35:45
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:45Jaime Rechkemmer is the founder of Aim4Impact Consulting and her work in early childhood education includes helping child care centers with QRIS, compliance, professional development, curriculum, assessments, technology and more. She has worked at some of the largest child care organizations in the country, and she chairs the AI and Machine Learnin…
…
continue reading

1
Season 5, Episode 7: The Six Professional Pillars of Child Care, with Heather White
46:30
46:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:30Heather White is a multi-site owner who is part of The PREP Schools franchise, and she’s a licensed director and speaker. Finding ways to help fellow child care leaders find joy in their jobs and lives is a huge passion of hers. In this podcast, Heather shares her six professional pillars of child care success and delves into how each matters in be…
…
continue reading

1
Season 5, Episode 6: How to Create a Family Handbook for Your Child Care Center, with Kelly Matthews and Paula Drew
49:30
49:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:30In this episode, Kelly Matthews and Paula Drew of the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association describe how to create a family handbook for your child care center. This handbook is key to your bottom line, your reputation and ultimately, your business. They give the following writing tips: Use a consistent font and formatting throughout. Review carefu…
…
continue reading

1
Season 5, Episode 5: Mr. Ty Answers Your Child Care Business Questions
53:25
53:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:25Mr. Ty, the Childcare Whisperer, has the answers to your child care questions! Among the questions he answers in this podcast: How can you encourage middle management to not be friends or overly friendly, causing a divide between teachers? How can I encourage staff to take initiative and feel empowered in their roles while maintaining consistency i…
…
continue reading

1
Season 5, Episode 4: Using Videos Effectively in ECE Classrooms, with Nermeen Dashoush
40:55
40:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
40:55Dr. Nermeen Dashoush is the chief learning officer of MarcoPolo Learning, the award-winning global developer of educational products and instructional resources, and she's also a clinical associate professor of early childhood education at Boston University. In this episode, she shares her insights about how early childhood education programs can u…
…
continue reading

1
Season 5, Episode 3: Advocating for ECE in Washington and Closer to Home, with Michele Schmitt
37:32
37:32
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
37:32Michele Schmitt is the senior director of government relations and business development for Procare Solutions. In this role, she meets with legislators and other stakeholders in early childhood education to advocate for the industry and stay on top of what's happening in government, both at the federal and local levels, in policy and proposals. In …
…
continue reading

1
Season 5, Episode 2: Child Care Business Trends You Need to Know in 2025
53:02
53:02
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:02In this important episode, Jon Pollock, chief product officer at Procare Solutions, and Kathlyn McHenry, director of state policy and government relations at the Early Care & Education Consortium, share their expert insights on the latest business trends and legislative updates. Many of their insights draw on the findings of the 2025 Procare Child …
…
continue reading

1
Season 5, Episode 1: Creating a Vision for Your Child Care Center in 2025, with Mr. Ty, the Childcare Whisperer
33:23
33:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
33:23"You cannot be a director if you don't have a vision," says Mr. Ty, the Childcare Whisperer who is the president of The Childcare Agency, a popular motivational/keynote speaker and an early childhood education teams coach. In this podcast, Mr. Ty shares his tips from his years of experience working in ECE, including what he sees as problems that mu…
…
continue reading

1
Season 4, Episode 11: Understanding the CDA and How to Complete It, with Sammantha Boyle
27:47
27:47
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:47The Child Development Associate CDA credential, better known as the CDA, is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education. It is an important part of career advancement in the field, but many talented teachers do not have the certification. In this podcast, Sammantha Boyle, a curriculum manager at Procare Solutions, breaks down…
…
continue reading

1
Episode 4, Season 10: How to Find and Keep Insurance for Your Child Care Center with Samantha Phillips
34:37
34:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:37Samantha Phillips is an insurance broker who specializes in insuring child care centers, a job that is especially tough this days as ECE businesses struggle to find and keep insurance. Costs are soaring. Samantha said she has a client in Massachusetts whose insurance DOUBLED, from $25,000 a year to $50,000 a year .. and the client had never filed a…
…
continue reading

1
Season 4, Episode 9: How to Attract New Families to Your Child Care Center, with Molly Hichens
52:18
52:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:18Molly Hichens is a second-generation owner at Bright Beginnings Preschool, which has three locations in Charlottesville, Virginia, and is about to celebrate 40 years in business! She’s also an accomplished child care consultant and speaker. In this episode, Molly breaks down some tips for how child care center leaders can attract new families! Thos…
…
continue reading

1
Season 4, Episode 8: Creative Leadership Ideas to Train and Assess Child Care Center Staff, with Kathe Petchel
47:08
47:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:08Kathe Petchel began her education career working as a public school teacher before opening her own preschool center in 1984. She now owns three sites serving more than 300 families in Charlottesville, Virginia. In 2017, Kathe joined HINGE Advisors, where she now works in business development. In this podcast, she shares her tips on using creative l…
…
continue reading

1
Season 4, Episode 7: How to Develop Leaders in Your Child Care Center's Staff, with Beth Cannon
44:25
44:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:25Beth Cannon is the owner of 13 Stretch-N-Grow child enrichment franchises and is an expert in early childhood education working as a speaker, trainer and coach. One of her talents is teaching child care center leaders how to develop talent from within their current staff, which is especially important as owners and directors struggle to retain high…
…
continue reading

1
Season 4, Episode 6: Three Tips to Grow Your Child Care Business, with Caroline Jens
52:06
52:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:06Are you ready to take your child care center to the next level? Whether you're a seasoned child care professional or just starting out, the tips from Caroline Jens shared in this podcast will help you grow and succeed in the competitive world of early childhood education and management! Caroline is the owner and co-founder of Child Care Biz Help an…
…
continue reading

1
Season 4, Episode 5: Using Developmentally Appropriate Practices to De-stress Children and Teachers, with Prerna Richards
45:02
45:02
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:02"We've gone down this path of expecting little humans to sit when they're not developmentally made to sit this long. Brains don't learn like this," says Prerna Richards, founder of Together We Grow. In this episode, Prerna walks us through how to use developmentally appropriate practices to de-stress teachers and children. Prerna says early childho…
…
continue reading

1
Season 4, Episode 4: From Burnout to Balance: Nurturing Well-being in ECE, with Anisha Angella
39:43
39:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:43As early childhood education providers, your jobs including serving many people, including children and families. But too often, you don't pour enough back into yourselves ... and that's where burnout comes from, says Anisha Angella, founder of the The Early Childhood Coach. In this podcast, Anisha walks us through the roots of burnout and gives ti…
…
continue reading

1
Season 4, Episode 3: The Five Pillars of Financial Success for Child Cares, with Kathy Ligon
26:37
26:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
26:37Kathy Ligon is the founder & CEO of HINGE Advisors. Trained as a public accountant, Kathy has more than 35 years of experience in educational operations. During that time, she has found there are five pillars to the success of a child care business: occupancy, tuition rates, discounting practices, salary costs and rent-cost management. Listen as Ka…
…
continue reading

1
Mastering Calm: 10 Key Strategies for De-Escalating Dysregulated Students
55:28
55:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:28In this session presented by Pam McNall, she focuses on equipping educators with practical, trauma-informed approaches to manage students who are experiencing emotional trauma. Emotional trauma in students can manifest in various ways, often leading to challenging behaviors in the classroom. The session aims to address these challenges with empathy…
…
continue reading

1
Season 4, Episode 2: Breaking Down the 2024 Child Care Management Software Industry Trends Report
58:56
58:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
58:56Procare Solutions recently released our 2024 Child Care Management Software Industry Trends Report, which provides a comprehensive look at the current state of the child care industry’s use of technology as well as challenges that early childhood education programs must adapt to, and overcome, to thrive. But the findings detailed in this report go …
…
continue reading

1
Season 4, Episode 1: How to Help Child Care Staff Embrace Technology, with LaToya Riggins
38:41
38:41
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:41Technology scares people, and that's true for child care employees. "Easing them into it helps, and really slowing it down and teaching them," says LaToya Riggins, vice president of professional development of CRAFT by Better Futures. Proper training and guidance is key, and so is showing employees how they'll benefit from using technology ... and …
…
continue reading

1
Childcare Tax Q&A with Daycare Accounting Pro
54:44
54:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:44An ever-changing financial landscape means childcare providers need to understand tax laws and regulations. Get an insider's look at the complex world of taxes for childcare providers by joining us for this informative webinar. During this tax Q&A session, Daycare Accounting Pro addresses the unique tax challenges childcare providers face. For more…
…
continue reading

1
Streamline Childcare Management for a More Productive Year
41:03
41:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:03The new year brings an energy to do better, including at work! Taking care of kids comes with a lot of responsibilities, but they don't have to wear you down. Start the new year fresh and feel excited about 2024. In this podcast presented by Cynthia Parker, she gives you ideas and motivation to simplify tasks, reduce clutter, and find more time. Th…
…
continue reading

1
Season 3, Episode 9: Why Digital Payment Processing is a Must for Child Care Providers
21:00
21:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:00Tuition collection can be a breeze when families can easily pay you on time and with their preferred method of payment. And for today’s parents, their preferred method overwhelmingly is digital, whether through autopay from their checking accounts or by debit cards and credit cards. The perks of accepting digital payments at your child care program…
…
continue reading

1
Season 3, Episode 8: How to Grow Your Enrollment With Top-Notch Tours of Your Center, with Molly Hichens
45:12
45:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:12A tour of your child care center should be your Super Bowl, says Molly Hichens. Are you doing enough to wow families who tour your daycare or preschool? Molly is a second-generation owner at Bright Beginnings Preschool, which has three locations in Charlottesville, Virginia, and is about to celebrate 40 years in business! She’s also an accomplished…
…
continue reading

1
Mastering Staff Hiring and Retention in Childcare Centers
49:47
49:47
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:47In the dynamic world of childcare centers, the biggest challenge faced by 67.37% of providers is hiring and retaining skilled and passionate staff. Staffing issues can lead to decreased quality of care, frustrated parents, and increased operational costs. In this podcast Cynthia Parker delves deep into the heart of the issue and present innovative …
…
continue reading

1
Season 3, Episode 7: Billions in Child Care Funding is About to Dry Up: What that Means for Providers and Families, with Cindy Lehnhoff
48:55
48:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:55Beginning September 30, 2023, states could be forced to deal with the loss of billions of dollars in federal funding, which will lead to a mass disruption in the child care landscape. The $24 billion that went to child cares was part of a pandemic program, and has been the largest investment in child care in history. Without that funding, 3.2 milli…
…
continue reading

1
Creating the Best Childcare Program for your Childcare Center
35:37
35:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:37Are you ready to elevate your childcare center to new heights of excellence? Listen this podcast presented by Cynthia Parker as she delves into a dynamic showcase of cutting-edge features designed to enhance efficiency and communication within childcare facilities. Learn how iCare Software empowers parents and caregivers with an intuitive, user-fri…
…
continue reading

1
Season 3, Episode 6: Building a Nonprofit ECE Center and the Push for Child Care Funding, with Allyx Schiavone
53:53
53:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:53Allyx Schiavone had intended to start a new elementary school in New Haven, Connecticut, until she listened to her community and saw the need for an early childhood education center. In this episode, she talks about partnering with local Quakers to form the Friends Center for Children. Allyx is the executive director of the center, which is support…
…
continue reading

1
Tax Savings Strategies for Daycare Centers
43:12
43:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:12Running a daycare center can be a rewarding endeavor, but managing the financial aspects of your business can sometimes be overwhelming. One key area that daycare owners often overlook is tax planning and savings. With the right strategies in place, you can significantly reduce your tax burden and increase your profitability. In this podcast, David…
…
continue reading

1
Season 3, Episode 6: The Importance of Design and Branding in Child Care Centers, with Better Beans Branding
44:36
44:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:36Think about going to a restaurant. That's an experience you have. It's true in other businesses too, from a coffee shop to a doctor's office to a hardware store. So why shouldn't that apply to a child care center? That's the message of Better Beans Branding in Duluth, Georgia. This company does branding, design, signs and construction and their cli…
…
continue reading

1
Season 3, Episode 5: How to Successfully Onboard and Retain Employees, with Kris Murray
52:45
52:45
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:45Today's millennial and Gen Z workers are mission driven, tech savvy and they expect to be onboarded and given professional development and coaching, says Kris Murray. Kris is the founder and president and founder of The Child Care Success Company and a leading child care business expert. In this podcast, she talks about how to help child care staff…
…
continue reading

1
Maximizing Your Marketing Efforts - Strategies for Promoting Your Childcare Center
33:44
33:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
33:44Listen to this podcast with Joni Levine of Child Care Lounge, where you will learn how to create a compelling mission statement and possible tagline for your childcare program that accurately reflects your unique approach to childcare. She also provides you with specific strategies for promoting your program, including social media marketing, refer…
…
continue reading
Children develop at their own pace. However, when children's development or behavior appears to be outside of the normal range of development it can be difficult to determine what to do next to ensure that the child is provided the most appropriate care and support. Early intervention/special education can make an enormous difference in a child's s…
…
continue reading

1
Season 3, Episode 4: Why Early Childhood Education Can't Be Delayed, with AJ Crabill
44:14
44:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:14AJ Crabill has strong opinions about early childhood education and he's quick to dispel any notion that it should start around preschool. He is a champion of ECE, and his education experience includes chairing the Kansas City School Board and serving as the deputy commissioner of the Texas Education Agency where he helped spearhead statewide incent…
…
continue reading

1
Season 3, Episode 3: Insights From an ECE Professor, Including What her Students Want in a Career, with Dr. Rosemarie Allen
52:19
52:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:19Dr. Rosemarie Allen has served as an educational leader for over 30 years and her life’s work is centered on ensuring all children have access to high-quality early childhood programs that are developmentally and culturally appropriate. She’s an associate professor in the school of education at Metropolitan State University in Denver, and other car…
…
continue reading

1
Playful Ways to Engage Kids and Toddlers Using Balls
39:00
39:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:00Did you know that a single ball is all it takes to support a lot of learning opportunities for young children? In this podcast, presented by Cynthia Parker, (M.Ed.) from Nion Early Education she discusses: • How balls support children's learning and development • Fun ways to use balls with children • Explore ways to introduce play with the ball • H…
…
continue reading
In this podcast by David Encarnacion from Daycare Accounting Pro, he shares information and tips on how to organize your childcare business and personal tax records — and why it makes preparing a complete and accurate tax return easier. He also shared tips on how to avoid errors that lead to processing delays and increase in taxes owed. For more in…
…
continue reading

1
Episode 1 – From High School Singer to Tech Co-Founder to Assistant Professor at Berklee
51:37
51:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:37Sherry Li got into music because of her school crush, and ended up as an Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music and Co-Founder of ICTUS Audio, a full-service audio production house. In this Bits & Bytes episode, she talks about her journey from a high school student to an award-winning music producer and sound designer who has written for …
…
continue reading

1
Season 3, Episode 2: Highlights of the 2023 Child Care Management Software Industry Trends Report, with Jon Pollock
46:24
46:24
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:24The child care industry is at a crossroads. Many programs are resisting technology to help educate the children in their care and simplify running their businesses. That's why Procare Solutions surveyed over 100,000 stakeholders to gain a deeper understanding of their child care management software usage, as well as other technologies in place for …
…
continue reading

1
Caring for yourself as a Childcare Provider
34:05
34:05
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:05You're a childcare provider, which means you run your own business. You understand the importance of taking care of yourself to avoid burnout. Caring for children is hard work and takes a lot, but because it's such important work you don't want to stop, but if you don't take care of yourself, who will? In this webinar with Joni Levine of Child Care…
…
continue reading

1
Building an Effective Insurance Program for Schools & Child Care Facilities
46:22
46:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:22Developing an effective insurance program for your childcare facility involves coverage that protects your business against the many risks faced in this industry. In this podcast with Andrew Massie from Plastridge Insurance, he shares information and what you need to know about: · Property Coverage, · Different Liabilities, · Workers Compensation, …
…
continue reading

1
Simple Tax Strategies That Will Lower Your Tax Liability
45:23
45:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:23The tax season is almost upon us, and this time is always quite stressful for everyone. Daycare owners face several unique challenges that are unlike those most other small businesses face. However, there are ways to lower your tax burden, and a few simple tax strategies that will lower your tax liability. In this podcast David Encarnacion from Day…
…
continue reading

1
Why This Young Person Left Child and Youth Care To Work in Tech
52:54
52:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:54Starting his career in sound design and then moving to child and youth care, Samson Li didn’t expect he would land a job in tech. In this episode of Bits & Bytes podcast, our community manager shares what his job looks like and participates in Jean’s trivia, revealing the facts you probably didn’t know about Launch Academy. About Bits & Bytes: Host…
…
continue reading

1
Season 3, Episode 1: Introducing Gen Z! Strategies to Engage our Newest Generation in the Child Care Workforce
57:00
57:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
57:00Child care centers are seeing five generations of employees working together: traditionalists, boomers, generation X, millennials and now generation Z, who are ages 10 to 24 years old. As this group becomes a larger part of the workforce, it’s important to understand how they’re different from other age groups, says Kathe Petchel. She has been in e…
…
continue reading

1
Creating an Engaging Early Childhood Curriculum
47:29
47:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:29Creating a curriculum that is engaging, developmentally appropriate and well-rounded takes time and intention. However, it does not have to be overly complicated! In this podcast hosted by Cynthia Parker (M.Ed.) from Nion Early Education, she discussed: What a developmentally appropriate curriculum means Ensuring curriculum is hands-on and flexible…
…
continue reading

1
Season 2, Episode 13: Thirty Years of Growing Together: Procare's Founder and an Early Customer Recount the Early Days
47:17
47:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:17The story of Procare Solutions begins with a dad who saw a child care center needed help. That dad was Jeff Blum, and he remembers dropping off his 2-year-old son and watching the center’s owners struggle with their accounting system. So he wrote them a computer program to help. That program — limited, yes, but incredibly innovative for its time — …
…
continue reading

1
How to Prepare your Childcare Business for Tax Season
1:03:14
1:03:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:03:14As an early childcare provider, you are constantly busy running your business. But in addition to managing the day-to-day operations of your center and providing quality care for your families, you must also prepare for tax season. Have you ever wondered what you need to know to prepare your childcare business for tax season? In this podcast David …
…
continue reading
The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential is an achievement that any ECE educator can be proud of. In this webinar recording hosted by Jennifer Pasteur from Prosperity Childcare Training Network, she discussed how early childhood educators can get their CDA Credential, and how to help their entire staff obtain their credentials. She also dis…
…
continue reading