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What happens when two sisters each run their own family child care program? You get honest conversations, plenty of laughter, real-life lessons, and a passion for supporting the profession they love.

In this special podcast swap episode, Erica Saccoccio, host of The Child Care Director's Chair, sits down with the hosts of The Daycare Sisters Podcast to talk about the unique journey of owning separate family child care businesses while leaning on each other every step of the way. Together, they share stories from the field, discuss the realities of running a home-based program, and explore how building relationships with family child care providers across the country has created a powerful community of support.

Whether you're a family child care provider, center director, owner, or early childhood educator, this episode is a reminder that leadership doesn't have to be lonely. Through shared experiences, authentic conversations, and a commitment to lifting one another up, we can strengthen our profession—one story at a time.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• The unique bond of being sisters in early childhood education
• The realities of owning and operating family child care programs
• Why community matters more than competition
• Lessons they've learned from providers across the country
• How sharing our stories helps elevate the entire early childhood profession

If this conversation inspired you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another early childhood professional who believes we're stronger together.

Support the show

The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education.

WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day.

To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com.

Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.

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After spending time with incredible family child care providers at the National Family Child Care Association Conference in Chicago and the Florida Family Child Care Home Association event, I've found myself reflecting on just how much we have in common.

As a center owner, I've always admired the heart, dedication, and resilience it takes to open your home to children every single day. While our businesses may look different on the outside, our mission is exactly the same—we're building relationships with families, supporting children, leading educators, navigating regulations, solving problems, and advocating for a profession we all love.

In this solo episode, I'm sharing some of my random thoughts and appreciation for family child care providers. We'll explore where our journeys overlap, where our challenges are different, and why it's time to stop seeing ourselves as separate parts of early childhood education.

Whether you own a center, operate a family child care program, or lead a team of educators, this conversation is an invitation to collaborate instead of compete. Because when we speak with one voice, advocate together, and celebrate one another's successes, our entire profession becomes stronger.

Our children don't care what type of program we operate—they simply need passionate, qualified educators who show up every day ready to make a difference. Let's raise each other's voices and continue building an early childhood profession that is stronger because we stand together.

In this episode you'll discover:

• What center owners and family child care providers have in common
• The unique strengths of family child care programs
• Why collaboration is more powerful than competition
• How we can better support one another across our profession
• Why every early childhood educator deserves a seat at the table

If this episode resonates with you, share it with another early childhood leader. Together, we can continue elevating the voices of everyone who makes a difference in the lives of young children.

#ChildCareDirectorsChair #FamilyChildCare #ChildCareOwner #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ECELeadership #Leadership #ChildCareBusiness #ChildCareDirector #Advocacy #Collaboration #EricaSaccoccio

Support the show

The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education.

WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day.

To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com.

Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.

Send us Fan Mail

Finding your way as a leader isn't always a straight path—and in early childhood education, every experience shapes the leader you become.

In this episode of The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast, Annie Watkins joins Erica Saccoccio to share her leadership journey, from unexpectedly entering the childcare profession to becoming a confident childcare director. Together, they discuss finding your voice, overcoming self-doubt, building confidence, and leading with purpose, even when the path isn't always clear.

Whether you're a childcare director, preschool director, childcare owner, assistant director, teacher, or aspiring leader, this conversation offers practical leadership lessons and encouragement to help you grow into the leader your team deserves.

In this episode, you'll learn:
✔️ How to find your leadership voice
✔️ Why confidence is built through experience
✔️ How to navigate challenges and uncertainty as a leader
✔️ The importance of mentorship and lifelong learning
✔️ Ways to build trust and support your team
✔️ Why every leadership journey is unique

No matter where you are in your leadership journey, this episode is a reminder that you don't have to have all the answers to become an impactful leader—you simply have to keep growing.

💬 We'd love to hear from you!
What has helped you find your way as a leader in early childhood education? Share your story in the comments below.

👍 If you enjoyed this episode:
• Like this video
• Subscribe for weekly childcare leadership content
• Share this episode with another early childhood leader.

#ChildcareLeadership #ChildcareDirector #EarlyChildhoodEducation #LeadershipDevelopment #PreschoolDirector #ChildcareOwner #LeadershipJourney #ECELeadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #ChildCareDirectorsChair

Support the show

The Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education.

WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day.

To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com.

Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.