Hello everyone!

Just wanted to introduce myself.  My name is Tamara and as Carly has announced I am the new owner of Durham Region Daycare.  I would like to welcome all of you and ask that if you have any questions or problems to please feel free to contact me. I look forward to working with all of you and hope you look forward to some new and exciting changes that will be coming soon!

Tamara

Everyone has been hit hard by our slumping economy. So, this summer we had a HUGE sale on a 6 month listing on Durham Region Daycare: Just $20.

Almost 30 providers signed up, or renewed their current ad.

You sent us a not-so-subtle message: Our prices were too high for today’s times.

We listened.

Although the summer sale is over, we have permanently reduced our already low rates:

• 6 months: $35
• 1 year: $65
• 2 years: $110

It’s now easier (and cheaper!) than ever to reach potential families. Click here to join (or renew) today: http://durhamregiondaycare.com/members/

Take advantage of the busiest time of the daycare season with our summer special!

It’s just $20 for a six month listing — new or renewal — on our busy site.

Simply enter coupon code Summer09 to build your custom, searchable, photo-enhanced ad on DurhamRegionDaycare.com.

Click here to join!

This Saturday we’re at the first of two big parent shows in Durham this month: The Durham Parent Baby & Toddler Show.

Stop by and say hi! We’ll be promoting the site to parents by handing out Durham Region Daycare business cards and raffling off some great gift baskets.

If you’re a childcare provider, now is the time to sign up: Because we’ll be seeing hundreds of parents the next few weeks, we’re offering a 30% discount to list or renew your daycare!

Click here, and enter coupon code Show09.

Want more info? Email me at info@durhamregiondaycare.com

Look forward to seeing you!

We’ve been hard at work behind the scenes on the site the past few weeks, making a bunch of changes.

The most noticable is the addition of provider photos on the front page. These are randomly generated, and changed each time the page is refreshed.

It’s a great, visual way to highlight providers, and give extra exposure — clicking on the photo/link brings users to that listing.

And it certainly freshens up the home page, something I’ve wanted to do for ages.

On the inside of the site, we’re working hard to get automatic renewals going this week, and the ability to use a coupon for special promotions.

Enjoy!

My 2.5-year-old, Lucy, goes to a wonderful home daycare three days a week, spends one day with her Nana (my Mom), and one special Lucy-Mama-House-Day.

We try to either get out for some shopping or lunch or special snack (she loves “Hortons” for a muffin!) or do a craft together.

The Internet is a goldmine of arts and crafts sites, and I’ve shared our favourites on a new links page called Crafts & Blogs. Check them out!

MaryP’s recent craft post on making trees using all the beautiful falling leaves inspired Lucy and I’s creation yesterday. My tree trunk and sky aren’t as pretty as hers, but we love it just the same!

Spent some time today updating our resource pages, an ongoing mission.

There’s a brand new page with interesting day care reads, including a recent CBC report and Statistics Canada numbers.

Under links for providers, look car seat safety websites for traveling with kids.

And there are tons of places to play and visit under local stuff to do.

Enjoy! And please email or leave a comment with any of your favourite and regular sites.

The idea came more than a year ago, when we decided to move.

A new town meant finding new daycare for Lucy: The second search in just over a year. Outdated listings from a local resource centre (no fault of their own…just understaffed to update it!), scrawling names and numbers off tattered, hand-written ads on mailboxes and grocery store bulletin boards.

Ugh.

But from that grunt of displeasure – like all great ideas – sprouted a wistful dream.

And now, this. We’re here. Not just I, because Durham Region Daycare would not be without a husband fed up with bitching (“Do something about it, then!”), a tech-savvy sister (“Do it! I can build it!”), blindly optimistic parents (“You can do it, Honey! But what will it do?”), and the most supportive and honest batch of Mom Friends ever (“That slogan is good, but…”).

I sincerely hope this site makes it easier for everyone: For parents to find the special “faux Mom” (as I’ve dubbed the two wonderful ladies who’ve watched my daughter) or enriching centre to look after their child(ren), and for providers to quickly and proudly advertise their businesses and fill openings.

Today we’ve launched the first half of Durham Region Daycare.

Before we unleash the site – and search function – to parents, we need providers! So, now begins the task of spreading the word to them. You can help by passing our website on to your provider, to other parents and family members. Oh, and signing up for the newsletter here.

Tell them that daycare centres, home care providers and nannies who join this month – before we fully launch – get in for half price. That’s six months, a year or two years of advertising for, well, peanuts.

Their listing goes live when we do: Mon., Sept. 8 (or earlier, if possible…).

Let the countdown begin…