Recognizing Working Families on Global Day of Parents

Global Day of Parents takes place on June 1st and now is the perfect time to recognize the role parents play in a child’s life. From the first moments to the big milestones, parents are the guiding stars, providing love, support, and invaluable lessons along the way. Global Day of Parents became a day of observance by the United Nations in 2012. It’s a day aimed at raising awareness of the importance of parenthood and its role in providing protection and the tools needed for a child's overall development.

In today’s modern family, the many stresses placed on busy working families make it difficult to maintain engaged relationships with those they love most... their children. No matter the challenges, loving families always find ways to stay connected at home and work. Educational child care provides a unique opportunity to combine personal and professional aspirations under one roof. An example of this can be seen with multi-generational franchisees that have created a legacy for their family by fostering a workplace where their adult children can pursue their dreams in the education industry while providing exceptional care for their community.

By embracing multi-generational franchises and empowering our franchisees to offer employee benefits that enable them to receive quality care and education while also enjoying a fulfilling career in early childhood education, we're fostering an environment where work and family seamlessly intertwine. Here’s a bit more about how we celebrate the remarkable journey of parents in the workplace and the strides we're taking to support them every step of the way.

Redefining Work-Life Balance

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, achieving a work-life balance can often feel like an elusive dream for working parents. Many families are incorporating an extended family structure by enlisting the support of grandparents, aunts, uncles and more to navigate the delicate balance between career and family responsibilities. A recent survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Lightbridge Academy asked 2,000 working parents of children under the age of 10 about their parenting needs and found the average working parent relies on six different people to support their child’s growth and development.

At Lightbridge Academy, we understand the intricate dynamics of modern families and embrace this reality wholeheartedly. For this very reason, we make it simple for our franchisees to offer employee benefits that help to ensure they have access to quality educational childcare while also pursuing their career goals. By integrating family needs into the workplace environment, we're eliminating the traditional divide between career and family life. Our innovative approach allows the parents on our staff to pursue their professional ambitions without sacrificing precious time with their children. With flexible schedules, supportive policies, and a nurturing atmosphere, we're empowering parents to thrive both personally and professionally, proving that work-life balance is not just a concept but a tangible reality within our organization.

Multi-Generational Franchises: A Testament to Success

Multi-generational franchisees within our network exemplify a remarkable testament to success, where family bonds intertwine seamlessly with the child care industry. A great example of this is the Parkash family. Raj and Veenu Parkash have been multi-unit franchisees since 2004, after their daughter, Sanya, was enrolled as a student at our Iselin center. Now, 20 years later, Sanya is the Center Director at her parent’s location in Edison, NJ. Our franchise locations are more than just businesses; they've become cherished family enterprises.

In some heartwarming instances, we've seen children stepping up to take over the reins of the business, allowing their parents to retire and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Will Minnebo recognized that his parents were ready for retirement and, having been a part of his parent's business for many years, took it over and is now running the Garnet Valley, PA location. This not only allowed his parents to retire but also allowed Will to take on a larger role in his community, helping to be the solution for his neighbors in need of quality early educational child care.

Another unique example is the Friedman family. Alison and Joe Friedman stepped into the child care industry after their daughter Dana recommended it, as she’s been ingrained in early child care for over 17 years. Alison, being a savvy businesswoman herself, fell in love with the idea and has launched another chapter of her life through multi-unit ownership and gets to work alongside Dana who is the Center Director at their Huntersville, NC location. These stories underscore the enduring legacy of our brand and the deep-rooted commitment of families to our shared vision of providing exceptional child care services.

Employees Bringing Their Children to Work

Lightbridge Academy’s business model also fosters a nurturing environment where employees can seamlessly integrate their work and family responsibilities. While many company leaders may no longer have young children, it’s important for them to understand the needs of working parents in order to stay competitive in their recruitment efforts and create a valuable benefit to foster retention. Through this recognition, employers can help lighten the load by offering a variety of flexible benefits to workers in the form of child care discounts, back-up care solutions, or other community partnerships. This not only fosters a sense of reassurance and connection for both parents and children but also underscores a brand's unwavering commitment to supporting working families at every level of its organization.

As we celebrate Global Day of Parents, we reaffirm our commitment to honoring and supporting all the incredible families within our franchise network and beyond. Multi-generational franchises and accommodating our employees who are parents reflect our dedication to redefining the workplace for working parents. Recognizing the invaluable contributions of moms and dads, not only as employees but also as nurturing caregivers and inspiring leaders, we remain steadfast in our mission to create an inclusive and supportive environment where parents can thrive professionally while cherishing precious moments with their children.