E224 Competing with “Free”: How Private Child Care Can Stand Out with Michael Braswell
Release Date: 09/09/2025
Child Care Genius Podcast
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Growth often starts with a hard moment—and what you do next can change everything. In this episode of the Child Care Genius Podcast, Sindye Alexander, COO of Child Care Genius, sits down with Christine McNally, owner of Under the Magic Pine Tree in Nevada and business coach with Child Care Genius University. Christine shares how a personal experience as a parent led her to open her first center and how her passion for the Reggio-inspired approach has shaped her leadership and fueled her expansion to three thriving schools. Tune in as Christine discusses navigating COVID shutdowns,...
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info_outlineWhat happens when universal pre-K expansion collides with the private child care industry? That’s the question Brian and Carol dive into with returning guest Michael Braswell in this week’s Child Care Genius Podcast. If you’ve ever wondered how owners can survive—and even thrive—while competing against “free” programs, you won’t want to miss this conversation.
Tune in as Michael shares his own recent struggles with sudden enrollment shifts, the impact of government policies, and the law of unintended consequences when subsidies and universal pre-K pull children out of private centers. Brian and Carol weigh in with their perspective on what this means for the future of child care, from skyrocketing infant rates to the pressure of frozen subsidies.
Listen in as the three of them explore how child care owners can reframe the conversation with parents—showing the real differences between a loving, low-ratio early learning environment and an overcrowded public classroom. They discuss practical strategies for messaging, the power of parent testimonials, and why marketing your center as a high-quality education provider (not “just a daycare”) is more critical than ever.
Join us for an honest, eye-opening discussion filled with both challenges and solutions. Whether you’re dealing with enrollment dips, worried about government competition, or simply looking for fresh ideas to strengthen your messaging, this episode will give you insights and encouragement to pivot, adapt, and position your center for long-term success.
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Need help with your child care marketing? Reach out! At Child Care Genius Marketing we offer website development, hosting, and security, Google Ads creation and management, done for you social media content and ads management. If you’d rather do it yourself, we also have the Genius Box, which is a monthly subscription chock full of social media & blog content, as well as a new monthly lead magnet every month! Learn more at Child Care Genius Marketing. https://childcaregenius.com/marketing-solutions/ Schedule a no obligation call to learn more about how we can partner together to ignite your marketing efforts.
If you need help in your child care business, consider joining our coaching programs at Child Care Genius University. Learn More Here. https://childcaregenius.com/university
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