The Complete Guide to Childcare Program Marketing in Canada
Fill your before/after school, summer camps, and enrichment programs with smart registration and parent engagement.
Childcare programs face a unique challenge: seasonal registration windows with intense competition. The programs that win aren't just the most fun—they're the ones who make registration easy and keep families coming back year after year.
What You'll Learn
Streamlining Registration
Registration periods are chaotic for childcare programs. Summer camp registration opens and suddenly you're fielding hundreds of calls, emails, and walk-ins. Online registration with automated confirmations transforms this chaos into an organized system.
Registration System Components
- 24/7 online registration forms
- Instant confirmation emails with details
- Automated payment reminders
- Form collection (medical, emergency contacts)
- Waitlist management with automatic notifications
Bringing Back Families
Returning families are your most valuable registrations. They already trust you, their kids are excited to come back, and they require less selling. A proactive outreach system brings them back before they book elsewhere.
Returning Family Campaign
- 4 weeks before registration: "Coming back?" early access announcement
- 2 weeks before: Early bird discount offer
- 1 week before: "Last chance for priority registration"
- Registration day: Direct registration link
Parent Communication
During programs, parents want to feel connected without being overwhelmed. A structured communication system keeps them informed about daily activities, schedule changes, and special events.
Communication Rhythm
- Daily: Quick highlights or photos (for camps)
- Weekly: Summary of activities and upcoming events
- As needed: Schedule changes, closures, announcements
- Program end: Thank you and feedback request
Building Your Reputation
Parents research programs heavily before registering. Reviews from other families build trust and differentiate you from competitors. The key is asking at the right time.
When to Ask for Reviews
The best time is at program end—last day of camp, end of the school year—when positive experiences are fresh and kids are sad to leave. A simple text with a direct link gets results.
Sibling & Friend Referrals
Current families are your best marketing channel. Sibling discounts and friend referral rewards encourage them to spread the word and bring more registrations.
Referral Program Elements
- Sibling discount (10-15%)
- Refer-a-friend credit ($50-100)
- Easy referral sharing (link or code)
- Thank you for every referral
Ready to Fill Your Programs?
Get a free consultation and see exactly how we'd implement these systems for your childcare programs.
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