A daily report template that covers the whole day
A good daily report answers every question a parent would ask at pickup — before they ask it. Here is the structure, section by section. Use it on paper today; automate it whenever you're ready.
The template
1. Meals & snacks
What was served, and how much the child ate — all, some, or very little. Note anything refused or substituted, especially where allergies or dietary restrictions apply.
2. Nap
When the child fell asleep, when they woke, and how they settled. For infants, note sleep position checks per your centre's safe-sleep policy.
3. Toileting / diapering
Times and notes — dry, wet, BM — plus any progress notes for children toilet learning. Keep it factual and brief.
4. Activities
What the room did today, in real words — not “free play” on repeat. One or two specific activities with a line about what the child enjoyed.
5. Mood & general notes
How the day went overall. One honest line beats a paragraph of filler — and flag anything the parent should know before tomorrow (a bump, a rough drop-off, a new tooth).
6. Supplies needed
Diapers, wipes, cream, spare clothes running low? This is the line that saves the 8am “we're out” conversation.
7. Photo of the day
One photo does more than six sections of text. Parents keep these — make sure photos go to the right family, every time.
Why paper templates break down
The template is sound — the medium is the problem. Paper sheets get filled out from memory at day's end, live in a cubby, and can't enforce anything: nobody stops an educator from writing the wrong meal next to the wrong allergy. Digital reports are logged as things happen, carry photos automatically, and — in MimiGrow's case — refuse to record a child eating something their dietary file forbids.
See how the whole thing works in our digital daily reports page.
Or skip the paper entirely
MimiGrow produces this report automatically, every day, with photos. Free 7-day demo.
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Updated October 2026. Free to use and adapt for your centre.