Has anyone else tried both and have a preference? I have been using tadpoles for a few months and like it. Today I am using Brightwheel for first time and feeling like it is lacking some things tadpoles has but I remember I didn't love Tadpoles at first either so I am trying to give it some time. If you've tried both can you tell me what you like/dislike about each of them??
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Tadpoles vs Brightwheel for Daily Reports??
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I just downloaded and started using Brightwheel.
I have NOT invited any of my families yet because I really dont know what I am doing yet...
I think I need to play around with it first before I invite parents but I too am interested in hearing other provider's experiences and feed back about either Brightwheel or Tadpoles or any of the software that does this stuff...
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Originally posted by Blackcat31 View PostI just downloaded and started using Brightwheel.
I have NOT invited any of my families yet because I really dont know what I am doing yet...
I think I need to play around with it first before I invite parents but I too am interested in hearing other provider's experiences and feed back about either Brightwheel or Tadpoles or any of the software that does this stuff...
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Originally posted by Crazy8 View PostI put my own son in Brightwheel just so I could check it out and see if I can tell what my parents can see. One thing I am not sure I like about BW is parents can log in any time of day to see the report, Tadpoles they get the report at the end of the day when I check them out. Sometimes I don't get a chance to do many updates until nap time.
Maybe I will try them both out a little bit and then ask the parents of my infants which one they seem to like best....only as feedback though...not as a deciding vote.
It's got to be fairly pain free for me to enter stuff or I don't want to do it as we have our hands full already with everything we have going on during the day.
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Originally posted by Blackcat31 View PostOh, that makes a big difference to me too.. I have a mama with MAJOR anxiety and if she logged in just to check and I hadn't have updated it, I can totally see her freaking out and getting worried.
Maybe I will try them both out a little bit and then ask the parents of my infants which one they seem to like best....only as feedback though...not as a deciding vote.
It's got to be fairly pain free for me to enter stuff or I don't want to do it as we have our hands full already with everything we have going on during the day.
I want to use some type of app like this because then pickups would be quicker. I try to keep it short but a convo is always started or it leads to other things.
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Originally posted by MunchkinWrangler View PostThat was my qualm about Brightwheel also. We have busy mornings and I don't think I'd be able to put anything on the schedule until naptime.
I want to use some type of app like this because then pickups would be quicker. I try to keep it short but a convo is always started or it leads to other things.
As far as the logistics, I update at nap or if I have a moment of downtime during free play. Since I don't have infants, I don't update every potty break after they potty train or if they haven't started truly training. We just all understand no news is good news/things are routine. For things like meals, I don't say much unless they didn't eat much or did great trying something new.
I like that I can send mass updates to all of the families, which makes it so much quicker if I'm adding a note that applies to all of the kiddos. Truthfully, I have days I'm better at updating and days I'm not as great. If I'm super tied up I just send updates during nap.
I can definitely see how that would be a pain for an infant that requires more updates or if parents expected live updates.
To your point, I do love that there isn't much at all to report at pick up. I actually get to catch up with the adults at pick up, which I love.
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another difference I noticed yesterday is Tadpoles lists all meals, then all diapers, then naps (maybe not in that order, but it groups them). Brightwheel lists chronologically - so am snack, diaper, lunch, diaper, pm snack. Its harder for me to see that way if I forgot to input a diaper change or something.
I also like that tadpoles has a "past" choice - so if a child has the same lunch every day I don't have to retype it every time.
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I'm currently using brightwheel. So far I like it. I wish it saved the meals though so that I didn't have to retype meals that we have often.
I tell all my parents that I'm not always able to update in real time and will update when i have a chance. No one has issues with this.
I also really love their billing and that it's completely free.
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I just started using Daily Note by Kaymbu. So far I love it because it is easy to use. I can send the same notes for multiple children and just type it once. I am using the free version so I don't have the ability to take pictures and attach those like the other two apps, however that is ok for me since I have a website and Facebook page where I post pictures of what we are doing. I send it at the end of the day and parents can choose to have it texted or emailed to them.
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Originally posted by jenboo View PostI'm currently using brightwheel. So far I like it. I wish it saved the meals though so that I didn't have to retype meals that we have often.
I tell all my parents that I'm not always able to update in real time and will update when i have a chance. No one has issues with this.
I also really love their billing and that it's completely free.
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brightwheel is still free, only you don't get some premium features (like video)
I have used it daily for almost 2 years now and I still love it. I don't use the payment feature, as I found that a little muddled (payments would take up to 5 business days to transfer to my account)
But otherwise it's great, I get great feedback on it, and it's easier to 'mass update'. I DO NOT 'individualize' each child when it's a group activity.
Eg. meals- one group photo sent to everyone, I don't list what we are having (look in the picture- I serve family style) or look at your menu.
Centers- group shot of the room/where the kids are at the beginning.
Recess- same
I only update the app if needed- like ate nothing, or actually tried something, etc.
I do take more pictures, but those are posted on social media (with a release)
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I have been using Brightwheel for a year now... parents like it once they get over the initial hesitation however I have come to not like it.
PROS:- I like how easy it is to set up invoices and track payments. It sends email reminders 7 days prior to the monthly payment being due.
CONS:- It can take longer than I like for funds to hit my account, easily 3-5 days.
- Updates have to been done on the app and cannot be done from my mac laptop. Doing individual updates from an app takes more time than I could imagine when dealing with multiple children - I could do it much faster on my laptop.
- Some billing/employee related items can only be done on the website vs the app
- The "feed" for each child is more like an instagram feed feel vs a portfolio feel
Parents in my program want to see photos and documentation of their children's day so I am still seeking something for that. I might go with the Shutterfly Share Classroom site and adjust the expectation from being individual to class updates.
I will also need something new for tracking funds but I know I'm over Brightwheel. My parents currently using it for billing (3 of 5) can continue the others and any new families will have to do e-pay or checks.
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Brightwheel for me
Would it be completely unheard of if i did not use an app that gives a report? -Gasp!!!-
I currently use brightwheel. However, I feel like I have to have my phone in my hand constantly to send updates. It's getting old. I like brightwheel and the parents love it but I wonder if I told them in a positive way that
it would be better for their child if I'm not busied by the constant phone interruption, or would that be a completely awful decision?
Or maybe I need to switch to tadpoles so that I just have one time I need to remember to enter things before the end of the day.
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