This document provides guidance for holding a child safety seat check event with a daycare center. Key points include: 1) Partnering with a daycare builds your brand in the community by associating you with a positive cause and allows you to meet families outside your normal market. 2) Target daycares with families of average to above average income located near newer homes to reach your ideal customer base. 3) Carefully plan the logistics of the event including securing certified inspectors, obtaining safety seats, and coordinating with the daycare on publicity and logistics. 4) Work closely with the daycare to promote the event through posters, flyers, and notes to maximize parent participation

1. AGENCY COMMUNITY
EVENTS
HOLDING A
CHILD SAFETY SEAT
CHECK

2. Why do this?
• Build brand
– You/company associated with positive community event
– Involve your employees in community events; encourage them
to look for additional opportunities to give back
• Meet people & families outside your natural market
– Meet families in a positive environment where you are serving
their children’s safety needs
– Meet business owners where you are viewed as a positive brand
and an involved business owner

3. SELECT YOUR TARGET
AUDIENCE/CUSTOMER
• DAY CARE CENTERS
– Serving average to above average income households
– Located in or near neighborhoods with newer (age of home 20
years or less) and average to above average home values
– Day Care Center has good reputation and is known for above
average services
• CHURCHES WITH DAY CARE CENTERS
– Same criteria as above

4. PLANNING
•
•
•
•
•
•
You must have an area large enough to accommodate stopped
vehicle inspections without impeding the flow of traffic in/out of the
Day Care Center.
The Day Care Center management and staff must be enthusiastic
about the event and willing to publicize and motivate the parents to
participate.
A qualified, Certified Child Safety Seat Inspector must be available
(more than 1 is preferred) – more about this later
You will need at least one banner, several posters and flyers to
publicize the event.
Purchase 1 or 2 safety seats, in case one of the inspected seats is
considered unsafe by the inspectors. You do not want someone
driving away with an unsafe seat.
Pick a date when good weather is probable.
Potential cost for this event is typically under $100, depending on the
cost of the safety seats.

5. PLANNING,
cont’d
DAY CARE MANAGEMENT & STAFF
It is critical to the success of your event to have the management and
staff be willing to help publicize the event and encourage parents to
participate by having their child safety seats inspected. The event
must be seen as being organized and endorsed by the Day Care
Center, with you as a sponsor/helper.
The Day Care Center must be willing to allow posters of the event to be
displayed at the Center and flyers about the event distributed to the
parents multiple times prior to the actual date of the event.

6. PLANNING,
cont’d
CERTIFIED CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSPECTOR
You must have a Certified Inspector to perform the
inspections. Recruit participants from the following
talent, depending upon your area:
• State Police
• Local Police/Sheriff’s Department
• Local Fire/EMS Personnel
• Check with your local Public Safety Departments

7. PLANNING,
cont’d
Publicize the Event
•
Display posters in the Day Care Center where parents will see
them
– Have children enter a “Child Safety Seat Poster drawing” contest for a
prize (Happy Meal, movie tickets, etc.)
– Display all the drawings entered in the contest at the entrance and the
hallways and the classrooms
– Display a Professional-type poster at the entrance
•
•
Send flyers home with the children at least 2 – 3 times,
beginning 1 month from the date of the event: ideal – 1 month,
2 weeks, 2 days
Make certain to put a note on the poster stating that “No
citations will be issued that day for any faulty or improperly
installed safety seats,” and make certain the Law Enforcement
people will adhere to that policy

8. PLANNING,
cont’d
PICK THE DATE FOR THE EVENT
• Spring and Fall are best
• Make certain you are not in conflict with another
event the same day (Election Day, Halloween,
etc.) that would make it difficult for parents to
participate
• Have a backup date
• Expect problems such as Inspector no-show
(that’s why you schedule more than 1)

9. THE EVENT
• Set up a traffic plan for the inspections
SPONSORED
BY:
YOUR NAME
Day
Care
INSPECTION
AREA

10. THE EVENT
• Set up inspections at two different times if possible
• Work with the Day Care Center to determine ideal
drop-off and pick-up times
– Example: 7 AM – 9 AM
– 4PM – 6 PM
• Thank the Inspectors and provide a small gift (gas
gift card, restaurant gift card)

11. FOLLOW-UP
• Follow-up with the Day Care Center Management to
get their opinions on success of the event, plans for
additional future events
• Measure the leads and referrals that you
received