ConnectedDay Welcome to
INFO FOR PARENTS
Parent’s Guide
LEARNING JOURNAL
CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
Welcome to
C nnectedDay Dear Parent, 4
ABOUT CONNECTEDDAY Keeping parents in touch & involved with their children’s nursery
This is your introduction to the ConnectedDay service. This magazine briefly describes the service itself, what it can do for you and the various ways in which your childcare centre or nursery can benefit from using ConnectedDay.
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PARENT’S user GUIDE
As a parent, I’m sure you keep repeating the same dialog with your child...
Hints & tips about the service
What did you do today? – nothing,
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CATS IN THE ART GALLERY
What did you have for lunch? - don’t remember.
Drawings by Ginger, Leila, Anna and Samuel
Yes, this is so typical - no matter whether you live in Finland or anywhere else!
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Learning journal
What Learning Journal is and how you can participate in it
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YEARBOOK
A great way to make memories last
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magazine
Your nursery’s own magazine
However, it is important to know that it is not the child’s fault! Small children need to develop the ability to associate things that they experience in different surroundings. This makes it hard for us parents to ask much more as we really don’t know that much about our child’s day - what they did, who they played with, what they learned etc. And that is why we created the ConnectedDay service to give us parents, the chance to stay involved and in touch with our children! An important part of ConnectedDay is the private and safe picture & video sharing it provides. Using ConnectedDay’s service your childcare centre has an easy way to share some of the day to day activities of your child with you. Whether special moments or just everyday life, you will now have more insight and understanding of what goes on in your child’s life while at the childcare centre. And most importantly, your child will be reminded of the things they did and so will have a lot more to discuss with you! Most of this magazine is a short guide to all the basic functions of our service, so please keep it for future reference. You can also read about our other tools: Learning Journal, Yearbook and the ConnectedDay co-branded magazine - all available to ConnectedDay customers. I hope you enjoy ConnectedDay and appreciate the effort the staff at the childcare centre makes to bring you these memorable moments. Yours sincerely,
Founder & Editor in Chief Timo Airisto Art Director Meri Anna Hulkkonen Printed by MagCloud.com HP Indigo digital press
Timo Airisto, CEO & father of three! PS. In order to make the ConnectedDay service even better, we really appreciate all feedback and comments. You can send your feedback directly through the service or email info@connectedday.com.
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ConnectedDay k e e p i n g pa r e n t s i n t o u c h & i n v o lv e d
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INVOLVING AND ENGAGING
SECURE
ConnectedDay enables easy communication between parents and childcare providers. The key benefit is private and safe picture & video sharing that allows parents an insight into the day to day activities of their child. This creates a richer child-parent interaction and also a closer childcare centre to parent involvement. All in a fun and very approachable way.
The ConnectedDay service is only available by invitation from your childcare provider. All pictures are private and never available on the open Internet. You allow the childcare provider to invite you by giving them your email address & mobile phone number. They can then share a folder of pictures with you. This triggers the service to send you a text to your mobile phone that contains your unique PIN/ password that you can use to access
and view the shared pictures. That’s it - enjoy the view into your child’s day!
EASY ConnectedDay is very easy to use: there is no need to purchase or download anything. Just go to www. connectedday.com and sign in.
The ConnectedDay provides
can also share the pictures
taken. With a camera phone
and is extremely easy to
other family & friends, for
can take pictures at special
many benefits to parents
use. We provide a special
high-quality camera phone to your childcare provider. This enables them to take and
and videos of your child with example grandparents who
don’t see their grandchildren as often as they would like.
share pictures & videos with
The high-quality camera
that you miss. To view the
any digital camera. All they
you of memorable moments
pictures & videos at anytime you don’t need anything
special - just access to an
Internet enabled computer or Internet enabled mobile phone. You and the other
parents can also participate in the dialog with your
childcare provider by adding your own comments to the
pictures shared with you. You
phone is as easy to use as
do is to point and click - that’s it! But why use a camera
phone? The most important
benefit to you is that it allows us to transfer and safeguard all the pictures & videos taken by your childcare
provider. This means that we can protect them and only
allow the centre to actually
manage the pictures & videos
it also means that the staff events, from the nursery
and playgrounds, as well
as during offsite day trips.
Because of this automatic
transfer feature the childcare provider’s staff actually save
a lot of time because they no longer need to spend time
doing the frustrating and time consuming ‘technical’ bit of
using computers to connect cables or memory cards to manually upload pictures.
This means that they can use their time for their number
one task of caring for your children!
This is how it works...
The child care staff takes pictures & videos of the memorable moments or just everyday events when ever they see the need and opportunity to do so.
Every picture & video clip is saved securely & automatically over the-air to the childcare provider’s private account on the ConnectedDay server. This is because of our unique application that works continuously inside the special ConnectedDay camera phone. Periodically the authorised member of staff would access the private account and check all the pictures & videos. They can then delete out of focus and inappropriate pictures, but more importantly he/she has the opportunity to add comments to the pictures such as “This is Jonnie’s first time on the slide” before sharing a picture folder with you. You will receive a text message on your mobile phone alerting you that new pictures can be seen. The text also includes a reminder of your unique PIN/password. You can then log-on where-ever and when-ever to view & enjoy those memories that could so easily be lost for ever! You also get the chance to add your own comments such as “Its nice to see that Jonnie has his new protective clothes on too.”
www.connectedday.com
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It is easy... Here’s a few tips to quickly get familiar with the service. The full and latest manual is always available online at www.connectedday.com Click on About Us and For Parents, and then User Guide or enter this into your browser: http://corp.connectedday.com/Parents.html
ConnectedDay
ConnectedDay does so much more than just picture sharing or social networking. Here are some reasons that make ConnectedDay so unique: • • • • • • • • • •
ConnectedDay service is available only to childcare providers ConnectedDay automatically saves picture & videos taken Only ConnectedDay eliminates the hassle of uploading pictures ConnectedDay helps you avoid data-protection issues Only childcare providers can invite parents ConnectedDay treats videos just like pictures to make a richer service No limits to how long a video is or the number or size of pictures you can store Only parents can share their pictures with friends & family Only ConnectedDay has a child’s diary developed with parents for every child Only ConnectedDay offers hardcover yearbooks
Getting involved
To get involved simple inform your childcare provider of your email address & mobile number. They can then share pictures with you. This automatically creates a new private account just for you. To get started log into www.connectedday.com with your user name (your full International phone number, that is +447... ......) and the PIN/ password that we sent to you via a text message. That’s it, enjoy!
User name and password
Your personal mobile phone number is always your username for the ConnectedDay service. When your child’s daycare center invites you to the service, you will receive a text message that will contain your personal password. You can change your password anytime. 6
Logging in... Go to www.connectedday.com and enter your phone number (as if you were going to dial it from abroad – that is, +447………) and the PIN/password to the login box. If you have accidentally deleted the text message that contains your password, click on “Forgot your password?” link at the bottom of the “Login box”. Enter your full mobile phone as above, and your PIN or password will be sent to your mobile phone shortly. When you log in for the first time, you will be asked to accept the Terms and Conditions, read the terms and select continue. The first thing you should do is to check that the account has your proper details – only you can change these details once an account has been setup.. You should also check your
Viewing the pictures & videos After login to the ConnectedDay service, you will see at least two large blue boxes: • “My photos” box contains a number of smaller thumbnail pictures and folder names. • “Your childcare provider’s” box contains the folders that have been shared with you.
Viewing pictures and creating conversation Once you have opened the folder just click on a thumbnail and it be enlarged, click on the new picture and a slide show will automatically start. While viewing the pictures you can add comments. Your comments are visible to the childcare provider and to those who have the same shared folder. Making comments is a nice way to respond to, or start a conversation with your childcare provider. Any new comments in a folder will be shown by an orange sun with a number that indicates new pictures or comments not seen. 7
Copying images to your computer You can copy pictures shared with you to your own computer. Just open the folder and click on a grey toolbox “download images”. In a new window you can select all pictures or manually select some by clicking in the small square on the top of the picture. After selection, just click on “download selected”. Note that it will usually take longer the more pictures you request to be downloaded.
Sharing your favourite pictures and videos with others Before sharing a folder you need to create a new folder and copy pictures to it. You should also have the contact details in your Contacts list. Click “Create new folder”. Name your new folder and write a description (recommended but optional). This new folder will appear in “My Photos” box. Open any of the folders from which you like to copy pictures from. Click “Copy images” in the grey toolbox. Select the folder you have just created from the lower pull-down menu on the right. Check the small square above each image you want to copy and choose “copy” The copied items will appear in your new folder. If you have selected a lot of pictures then they may take some time to appear I the new folder.
You can also add pictures from your own computer Click “Add Photos” in the grey toolbox Browse the pictures from folders on your computer and select “Upload” If you already have entered their contact details then you can now share the new folder with grandparents or your friends by jumping to “Ready to share picture folders” below. If not, then read on… 8
Adding contacts In order to share folders with your family and friends, you need to add their contact details to the service. Click “Contacts” link on the front page. The link can be found from the toolbox on the left. After clicking the link your contacts list will open in a new view. Then you can add contacts by clicking “Add contact”. Fill in the contact information and click ”Add”. The new contact will appear in the contact list with a check mark.
Ready to share picture folders • Open the folder you like to share with your contacts from “My photos” box. • Select “Share folder with contacts” from the gray toolbox. • Choose the contacts you want to share the folder with, click “Next” and then “Share folder” - you can also change the default email text to anything you want.
How do I know that someone has shared pictures & videos with me? When someone shares pictures with you, you will always receive a text message and email. However, if the sharer adds pictures to existing folders that have already been shared with you, you will not receive a notification of that. This is not a big deal because next time you login, there will a large orange sun with a number that indicates the number of new pictures or comments added to any existing folder. Make sure you log in regularly to check.
www.connectedday.com
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The Art Gallery in the Magazine features art work by the children (See page 16).
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How can I participate in creating my child’s Learning Journal? We bring the children, parents and child care center people together to write a Learning Journal for each child. The Learning Journal will provide both support the child with the upcoming new challenges and store the memorable moments on the way. In the Learning Journal you can add all sorts of information about a child, gather pictures, document the child’s development and learning, observe a child and even add an early childhood education plan. A Learning Journal Each is really an Journal online diary or tool The use of the Learning Journal is free of charge and entirely voluntary. Learning is privately for planning, capturing shared between the child care center staff and the child’s parents. We hope the observations, Learning Journaldocumenting proves to developmental goals and progress for each child in a be both useful and enjoyable experience. childcare centre. The childcare provider will share your child’s Learning Journal with you so that you can collaborate Where do I find it? in developing Start the Learning Journal by selecting the tab on the top of homeyour page.child’s learning and social skills. Not only is this an extremely useful document when your child moves to primary school, but is a concise record of your child’s progress which will enable teachers and nurses to know your child better. Parents are central to their child’s wellbeing and development and, as many If child care center has created a learning journal for your child and given you privileges to seeactivities and fill itinin,the childcare go unseen you will see the name of your child at a name list. Select yourcentre child’swill name from theby listyou, and the the journal learningoffers a wonderful insight into your child’s learning as well as journal will open. offering you an opportunity to contribute to it. How can I add information?
Learning Journal
By clicking the headings on the left you can add information about the child. Some information can be The learning journal can be complemented with pictures to added by both the child care center staff and the parents of the child. illustrate the child’s development. Learning Always remember to click “Save” when you have added something to the journal andConnectedDay before you start to Journal is oneormore way for youlater. and your childcare enter details to another page. You can always correct any errors add great more information provider to partner in providing the best possible care for How can I add pictures? child. By clicking “Upload media from this computer” you your can add a picture from your computer. By ConnectedDay’s Learning Journal is private and confidential, and is accessible only to the childcare provider and the child’s parents. Because it can only be accessed via our secure online service, it can be reviewed, updated and edited by staff and parents. You can even add comments and pictures from your own computer. The Learning Journal is divided into several chapters, some common for all children in the same childcare centre, but most pages are dedicated to the child. There is plenty of space to add information about a child’s memorable moments, creativity and skills – as well as address behavioral and developmental topics. Together with pictures, artwork and observations from both you and the childcare staff, the ConnectedDay Learning Journal provides a personal history of learning and growing up – and can also be easily printed out! 12
Child information
Day Care Center Day Care Center events and notifications Personal page of the child Child at the day care Child at home Milestones in child’s developement
Y USERS A D D E T C E ALL CONN FREE FOR E D PRIVAT N A E R U C E HIGHLY S ACTION R E T N I AFF E MOR YCARE ST A D D CREATES N A PARENTS BETWEEN SPECIFIC D L I H C ES EMENTS R I U SATISFI Q E R TATION DOCUMEN UT RINTED O P E B Y L I CAN EAS
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Yearbook Every single year is full of unforgettable moments and experiences. The ConnectedDay Yearbook is an easy way for your child care center to provide you with a 24-page, hard cover picture book. The Yearbook is the perfect way to preserve the memories for everyone as a permanent keepsake - or ultimate Christmas gift! So here is how it happens. The child care center is using ConnectedDay service to capture all those precious memories that you and the other parents would in another case never see. Every once in a while the child care staff spots an extraordinary great picture among the others and when they share it with you, they will also copy it to a folder
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called “Yearbook�. At the end of the year this folder is hopefully full of great pictures of all the children and the child care center can order a proof from us. We deliver the proof to the child care center where you can admire it in nature. Remember that you can always suggest the pictures you really like to feature in the yearbook! Parents who like the book can order their own copy via a simple web link.The price always includes postage and package. The ConnectedDay yearbook is an all in one limited edition, permanent keepsake that you will absolutely adore.
The Magazine for Good News In partnership with HP, we are able to produce several, highly personalized versions of the ConnectedDay magazine. In practise this means that all the ConnectedDay child care centers can have their own magazine, complete with their own content! The content can be created by both the child care staff and the parents. As the magazines are printed to order, we can be very flexible and create exactly the kind of magazine you want.
About half of the pages are made by us here at ConnectedDay. Our pages will feature our customer child care centers, useful tips on how to use our service and topics of interest related to children and the early years. The content of the child care center can be things like an events calendar for the coming month, the lunch menus, important announcements and of course photos of the children and their activities and artwork from past month.
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www.connectedday.com