Articles on: Parents Orientation

How to Use the Parent App


TABLE OF CONTENTS



How to Use ChildFriendly - Guide for Parents/Caregivers


Before going through this guide, ensure you have first watched the video or read the guide on how to set up your ChildFriendly account.

This training guide will teach you how to use the ChildFriendly parent app, including how to view your child's registration, daily activities, and payment information. You can also add or edit necessary information including allergies, medications, and food restrictions. Payments, billing, and tax slips are readily accessed here.



Logging In and Viewing the Dashboard


Once your center has confirmed your registration status, you can then view and submit information on the ChildFriendly app. 


  • Login to your account. 


NOTE**: If you have forgotten your password, click “Forget Password?***” and follow the prompts. 




If you need to change your password, once you are logged into the app: 


  • Click the family name in the top right and select “Change Password.” 



  • If there are any outstanding agreements to sign, or reports (health or incident) to view and sign, a notification will appear in a blue bar at the top of the screen.
  • Once your child is registered, the Dashboard will display current registration program information.
  • Current Activities will show any real-time child activity at the center. If your child is signed into a room, this will display here. 

*NOTE: If you have multiple children at the center, they will display separately.




Communication - Daily Journals and Agreements


  1. Click the Communication tab. If you are on your phone, the tabs will be on the lefthand side. 

The Communication module shows all journal entries for your child, as well as any agreements. Here you can view any activities or other journal entries sent to you by staff. 



  • If you want to view by journal type, click the Filter icon. Now you can select by type, such as Nap, or Activity.
  •  If you want to view journals by date or a date range, select the Calendar icon and select the date range you want to view by. 




  1. Click the Agreements tab at the top to view all signed agreements for your child/ren.
  2. Select your child’s name and click the arrow. The drop-down menu will show any signed agreements.




Signing Off on Health and Incident Reports


If there has been a health or incident report for your child at their daycare center or preschool, you will be able to view the report in the Sign Offs tab of the Communication section.



  1. Click the Sign Offs tab.
  2. View the report. When you have finished reading it, click the Acknowledge button. You also have the option to download a PDF if desired.


  1. A screen will open to confirm your acknowledgement of the report. Click the Acknowledge Report button.




Financial - View Finances


  1. To access financial information, click the Financial tab. 
  2. Select the Ledger tab. Here you will find an outline of your balances, invoices, and a breakdown of payment information, including any subsidy or grant  information.



  • The Finance tab displays a monthly breakdown of invoices and receipts. You can search and filter by date here as well.



  • If you are not set up for pre-authorized debit (PAD) or pre-authorized credit you can make payments here for any outstanding invoices. For instance, to make a credit card payment, click Select Payment and then select Credit Card payment.  



  • You can also download any receipts for invoices paid by pre-authorized debit or credit card. 




Download Tax Receipt


  1. To find your yearly tax receipts, click the Year End tab. 
  2. Select the tax year in the top right and then click “Get Tax Receipt.” You will receive a PDF to download and print. 

*NOTE: Tax receipts will automatically be generated as soon as you have made a payment to the center.  



Students - Add Health Information


Now we will look at the information in the Students tab. Here, you can view all information about any children registered in the center’s system. If you need to update details, this can be done here. You can login at any time to add a new medication to your child’s file, as well as any allergies and medical conditions, or special needs.  


  1. Click the Students tab at the top.
  2. Enter your child’s health care number. If it is already entered, ensure it is correct. 
  3. Under the Immunization section, if you would like to add your child’s immunization records, click "Upload Immunization File." Attach any images of the child’s immunization records.
  4. If you need to add any new immunizations:  
  • Under the Records section, click New to add dates of specific immunizations. 
  • Click the drop-down arrow to select the specific type. 
  • If the child requires more than one, select the next due date.





Add a New Medication


To add a new Medication:


  1. Click the "+ New" icon.
  2. The screen will expand to enter necessary information, including the type of medication, purpose, dosage, and whether this is a regular medication or an emergency medication (i.e. an inhaler to be used in the case of an asthma attack). If this is a regular medication or a short-term daily medication or cream, ensure you enter the date the medication is to be started and stopped, as well as any administration times. 
  3. The toggles at the bottom are used to select if this has been prescribed by the doctor and if the medication is in the original container with the child’s name on it.
  4. Your digital signature and date will save and display on the PDF.





Add an Allergy to a Child's Profile


To add an allergy:


  1. Click "+ New". 
  2. In the Name field, enter the type of allergy – i.e. Bees or Dairy. 
  3. In the Description field, enter a description of the allergy, such as symptoms and severity. 
  4. Fill out the rest of the fields to help staff members best manage the allergy so they know what to do. 
  5. If Follow up is required, add this here.




Special Needs


If your child has any special need, click the plus sign and enter the information. 




Meal Restrictions


If there are any meal aversions or allergies, these can be selected under the Meal section. 


  1. Click the drop-down menu to view options. 




Custom Information


Review the information in the Custom Information field.

For example, select Yes if you would like to add the supplemental meal fee.  





When you have finished adding or editing any information in your child's profile, it is very important that you scroll back and click the "Save" button in the top right of the screen.

To undo any changes, click the “Undo” button. 




View Child's Attendance and Report an Absence


Next, we’ll look at the Attendance area of the Students module.


  1. Click the Registration tab in the Students module to view current registrations for the child. 

Also note that if your center allows current families to register for programs in advance, you can click the plus button at the top to add a new start date and then continue registering. 



  • The Attendance tab shows the child’s attendance to date. 
  • You can filter by month by clicking the calendar at the top. Select the drop-down arrow under each day to display the attendance log of how long your child spent in each space. 




Report a Child's Absence from Daycare


  1. First, select the child you want to mark as absent, if you have more than one child at the center.
  2. Click the RSVP tab. The RSVP tab is used to report an absence from the center or to report an absence for school pick-up. 
  3. To report an absence for the child from the center: Ensure you are in the Absence section at the top. 
  4. Click the + icon.
  5. In the From field: Select the date the child is absent. 
  6. In the To field, select the end date of the absence. If the absence is for an illness, both dates will likely be the same. If you know your child will be away for more than one day, such as for a holiday, enter the entire period here. 
  7. Select the Reason for Absence drop-down menu and select your reason. 
  8. Add any Notes if necessary. 
  9. If this is a recurring absence, you can select the Recurring Weekly toggle. 



Report an Absence from School Pick-Up


  1. To report an absence for the child for a school pick-up: Click the School tab.
  2. Select the date the child will not need a school pick-up. 
  3. Add any Notes and use the recurring absence toggle if required. 

This will ensure the driver or pick-up caregiver is aware the child will not be picked up on this specific date. 




Members


The last section we will go over is the Members tab. This section displays any parents and their necessary information. 

Each parent or guardian is listed at the top.


  • You are able to edit certain fields here, such as your name and address, occupation and work information. All other fields are locked. 

*NOTE: Only authorized sponsors can make payments. Portal members are ones that have access to use the app.




  • The Kiosk PIN is used if the center allows the member to sign the child in. To view your pin, click the eye to reveal the pin. This is what is used to sign in your child at the center kiosk.



Add or Edit Payment Information


  1. If you need to change your payment information for any reason, ensure you are in your own name, if there is more than one parent or portal member listed.  
  2. Next, click the Payment info tab at the top. 
  3. Now you can change or adjust payment information for your bank or credit card.  Select Add Preauthorized Debit under the Bank Account section, if you want the payment to be taken out of your bank account automatically. You can then enter details. This option is highly convenient as it avoids needing to remember to make payments each month as well as potential late penalty payments. 
  4. Alternatively, select Enable Pre-Authorized Credit Card Payments under the Credit Card section to use a pre-authorized credit card payment. 
  5. When you have finished adding your information here, click the Save button in the top right. 




Add a New Member


To add a new member, such as a grandparent:


  1. Click the + (plus) symbol beside Member at the top. 
  2. Select the Portal Member toggle if you would like the member to have access to the ChildFriendly portal. You will need to add an email address and phone number for any new member. IMPORTANT: Each portal member will need a separate email address.
  3. Under the Authorization section, specify if the member has Full, Limited, or No pick-up authorization.


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Instant Messaging


If you need to message staff at the center for non-urgent issues, you can use the instant messaging feature. 


  1. Select the Message icon in the top left. Type your message and click the Send arrow. You will receive notifications of any messages or replies.



Updated on: 10/09/2025

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