WELCOME TO DAY PREP

Three years ago we were struggling with our son. He was in fourth grade and not performing at grade level. He was also struggling making friendships and connecting with classmates. Some close friends recommended Day Prep and spoke very highly of Cara Day and her team and the results they had achieved working with them. We began with Miss Day (as referred to by our children) with counseling sessions for our son. We then added academic coaching and tutoring with one of her team members. With Cara’s resources, our son’s life has been transformed. He is now attending a private school in sixth grade and is taking pre-algebra which is an eighth-grade course. His social skills have improved significantly and he has gone from a child who struggled in his young life to a middle school student who is thriving in all respects. We also learned how to better and more effectively communicate with him and as a result, we all have a much more loving and fulfilling relationship. We cannot thank Day Prep enough for their help and guidance!

- Colleen, Mother of 2, La Jolla, CA

Included in this email is Cara Day, my parenting coach. As I mentioned she has changed my parenting more than any other person, book, seminar or other resources. The only thing better than her expertise, her coaching talents, and her wisdom on all things kids, is her generous spirit. I don’t know if she is taking on new clients right now, but here’s her number.

- Father of 4, La Jolla, CA

My daughter was suffering from severe separation anxiety for months. Transitioning out of Preschool and into Kindergarten brought on many emotions (worry/stress/fear/anxiety) for both she and myself, which led me to contacting Cara Day. My daughter attended a summer "kinder camp” held at Day Prep which was designed to get kids excited about school, build confidence in academic projects she was working on with her coach, while also practicing strategic daily drop-offs when separating from me. After two weeks of working with Cara and a wonderful teacher on her team, I noticed a significant improvement in her confidence to leave without tears and struggle. When school started in August, we relied heavily on the tools we learned from Day Prep and their coaching for parents and children—it helped us successfully start kindergarten off on the right foot. The first week of kindergarten was still a struggle, but Miss Day and her team were an amazing support and encouragement to us, and by the end of the second week of school she was no longer crying/clinging/avoiding school. She was excited to be there and get in the classroom, no more rough transitions. I am extremely appreciative of the coaching we received from Day Prep. The parenting tools and The Choice Chart system is now part of our daily approach to responsible kids and a happier household.

- Erika, Mother of 3, La Jolla, California

Before working with Cara, I was struggling to have a deep relationship and connection with my four daughters.  As my girls matured, my parenting style of command and control and strong rules and expectations wasn't working. I needed help to rebuild my connection and learn a new parenting style. I began working regularly with Cara six years ago. I had other parenting coaches, but Cara is so unique because she helped me shift my mindset and beliefs, and helped me realize that the problem is me, not my kids. I had the power to change it. She has an amazing balance of truth and grace, and I needed both. Not only did she help me reframe how I approached parenting and what my vision was, but she also gave me hundreds of practical tips and techniques that I could apply daily. Most coaches cannot do both. She also took a vested interest in learning all about my girls and became an extended part of our family. Today, I have healed the relationships with my daughters and I have a healthy loving relationship with each. I have Cara to thank for this. By changing my mindset, removing my limiting beliefs, and providing me with new skills, I am more confident than ever as a parent. I am well on my path to having lasting relationships with each of my girls that will last after they leave the home. This only was possible with the help of Cara. Every parent needs a coach and Cara is the most qualified, effective, and caring one I've ever met. I cannot recommend her enough.

- Jason Hartanov, Father of 4, ages 10, 14, 16, 18

When I look back over the past 24 months, all I can say is, ‘Thank You Cara.’ We retained Cara to help my grandson to become a better student. I made the mistake of thinking, ‘I’m hiring Cara to help our grandson get better grades.’ Boy, was I wrong!!! Cara takes a holistic approach to children. While grades are important, Cara wanted to improve our grandson’s self-esteem, and his attitude toward school, life, parents and, yes, grandparents. Cara insisted on making sure all levels of communication in my grandson’s life were working properly. That meant making sure all family members were involved in a healthy, supportive way. While we always thought my grandson was the best, Cara has helped mold his life into the person we all dream of calling Son or Grandson.

- David Malcolm, grandparent of 14-year-old

The Day Prep writing clinic Sienna attended this summer has paid off in spades. Her teacher is impressed with how Sienna structures her writing. It’s just fantastic this year for her. She has a newfound confidence.

- Heather Steer, mother of two, ages 8 and 10

The Choice Chart has created a peaceful environment in our home with less yelling and less lecturing. The time in the penalty definitely calms our kids down, and they are ready to join the family in a positive way.

– Kristin, mother of two, ages 8 and 10

Jackson: “Do you know what math’s full name is?”
Miss Day: “No … what is it?”
Jackson: “Mathematics.”

– Jackson, age 7

My family started working with Cara in 2012. She came highly recommended by my two close friends. We hired her because we were having problems with my eldest son’s ability to sit and do work independently, slowly and correctly. We saw Jackson’s reading and comprehension improve almost immediately. We also saw Miss Day giving him the tools to work independently. She now works with all three of my children, and she also works with me! Giving me fast and simple tools to help my kids not only with their schoolwork, but with behavior issues that arrive with young children. I honestly don’t know where we would be without Cara. She came at a time when we felt helpless. I now know that we can jump over any hurdle with her help and the tools we have learned.

- Marjaneh, La Jolla, mother of 3

My child did not like school or his teacher. Now his confidence is high and he knows he can do it. Although our initial issues have been resolved, it has been 3 years and we still see Cara. It’s just part of what we do.

- Lee Barnett, mother of 5th grader

And when I get to the end of the sentence, I do a peramint!

- Kianna, age 4

As a school administrator, it is sometimes difficult to get my staff or parent groups to listen, even when the information is important. When Cara speaks, you can hear a pin drop! Her presentations are dynamic and full of great information — motivating parents to action. About 54 people attended the first workshop. By the last class, 75 or so were coming — fathers, grandparents. It was wonderful.

- Elementary Principal, San Diego County

Cara Day is a practical genius at teaching not only parents, but students and her fellow practitioners. She has revolutionary, yet proven methods that transform lives. Her parenting philosophy and methods are in-depth, yet practical, tangible, and immediately usable. A breath of fresh air.

- Scott Barnett, San Diego Unified School District Board Trustee

My family started using the Choice Chart over a year ago. The Choice Chart gives the kids an understanding that even as children they have “a job” in our family, which is to be a cooperative member of it. The adults are counting on them, and the kids, and pets, are counting on the adults. Each night my children would put their sticker on the chart depending on whether they had made supporting choices throughout the day. The kids know the choice is theirs and they know what to expect now if they make a choice that doesn’t support our family. We celebrate with a monthly dinner at home so we can recognize their choices.

- Steve B., Father of 2, ages 7 and 9

I read to the bottom of the page. I just kept going and going and going and I didn’t even notice.

- Colten, grade 2

As a mother of five children who already know how to read, I was reluctant to commit to a workshop series about reading and writing. I was surprised when the first 3-hour class ended and I felt like it had just started! I have learned so much. I already told my child’s first grade teacher that I think every parent should attend Cara’s workshops.

- Clark Family

As a school administrator, it is sometimes difficult to get my staff or parent groups to listen, even when the information is important. When Cara speaks, you can hear a pin drop! Her presentations are dynamic and full of great information — motivating parents to action. About 54 people attended the first workshop. By the last class, 75 or so were coming — fathers, grandparents. It was wonderful.

- Elementary Principal, San Diego County

It is an understatement to say that Cara Day has changed my family’s life. In the first grade, my son was diagnosed with severe ADHD and an auditory processing disorder. From 1st thru 3rd grade, I paid for every possible tutoring to try to help him. In 4th grade, my son was struggling more then ever and he was failing several classes. My son was once a happy and social child, but not anymore. He started avoiding his friends, kept to himself and talked about hating school. Within weeks of working with Cara, my son was back to being the happy, engaged kid I knew. He started hanging out with his friends at school and was immediately doing better in school. Miss Day taught him techniques on how to study for his tests, organization of his work, and many other tools that allowed him to be successful. Eight months later, he is thriving and doing better then ever! He was being left to fall through the cracks, almost written off as not capable. Miss Day is about holding him to an extremely high standard and showing him how to reach it. He feels good about himself.

- Tracey Turgeon, mother of two, grades 5 and 3

My son was 5. His kindergarten school year started out well even though he did not begin the year reading. The teacher seemed happy with his progress and I was thrilled with how much he seemed to be learning. His report card reflected this positive beginning. Without warning, his teacher stated at our parent-teacher conference at the end of the year, your son “needs intensive tutoring”. “He’s just not getting it,” she said. My husband and I were blindsided. Kindergarten was too early for a child to be struggling. Did he have a learning disability? Was he dyslexic? We had our son evaluated by a very reputable, independent, learning center. Their recommendation was tutoring four hours a day, five days a week through the summer. I knew our son needed help, but 20 hours a week for 12 weeks? For a kindergartner? I didn’t know where to turn. Cara came highly recommended and suggested tutoring 30 minutes, twice a week, to achieve the desired result. Her standard is to have the child read at least two years above grade level, no matter what grade they are in. My husband and I decided to send our son to Cara. She met with him twice a week during the summer. Each time my son went to Cara he was greeted warmly at her beautiful center and she made him feel welcome. Cara was always so patient and positive. She equipped our son with skills to read and he progressed very rapidly. When it was time to leave, he had a smile on his face as he chose a prize from the treasure box. We read Cara’s recommended books and did what she asked us to do at home, even though she said it was ok if we didn’t have time. I saw progress within a few weeks. After three months, Cara and I had a parent meeting to discuss my son’s progress. When she showed me where he started and where he was in just 3 months, I cried. I was so relieved. My son was a confident reader in the first grade and enjoys reading today, in 5th grade. How amazing with the right teacher, tools and approach! I am forever grateful to Cara!
My daughter was accepted to two of the most prestigious private schools in the area. Thank you, Cara, for all your efforts with the test, essay, and interview preparation!

- Calli
B., father of two, grades 5 and 7

Where to begin? At the beginning. Starting school in the fall for Gabriel was not something he typically looked forward to. That is, until we were blessed with the introduction to Cara Day. We had known Cara for many years, but did not know she was in private practice and could be the one to give the confidence and enthusiasm for learning which Gabriel desperately needed. Cara was highly recommended by our cousin, Dan Malcolm. She had been working with his son, Zachary, and he couldn’t say enough about the positive changes in Zachary and his attitude towards school and himself. Cara has been able to do the same and much more for our family. Not only has she guided Gabriel to self-discipline, but also to us helped him to use positive affirmations and kindness. She challenges him and gives him actual tools he can use at a difficult moment. She is always available to have conversations, meetings and provide helpful counseling for Gabriel’s best interest. Her ability to effectively teach organizational skills has helped Gabriel to prioritize the school work which will be used throughout his life. A new level of confidence and pride has been given to Gabriel through the guidance of Cara Day. We will be forever grateful. We look forward to his future in high school and college and know that Cara will always be with us for help and guidance.

- Annie Malcolm, grandmother to Gabriel, age 15

Loved the class. I’m fascinated and want to learn more. Please let me know of upcoming workshops.

- Nichole, mom of four

We loved the Happy Kids class. You’re a fantastic communicator and your way will go far.

- James, dad of two