Glossary
A comprehensive guide to KangarooTime terminology and childcare industry concepts. Use this reference to understand key terms used throughout your onboarding and daily operations.
A
Account
A user profile that contains personal information, login credentials, and access permissions. In KangarooTime, accounts can be for parents, staff members, or administrators.
Administrator
A user role with full system access, including the ability to configure settings, manage other users, and access all features and data.
Age Group
A classification system for organizing children by developmental stage (e.g., infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school-age).
Attendance
The record of a child's presence or absence from a program on a specific day. KangarooTime tracks daily attendance for compliance and communication purposes.
Authorization
Permission granted to specific individuals to make decisions for a child, including pickup authorization, medical decisions, and emergency contacts.
B
Business Profile
The complete set of information about your childcare business, including legal name, address, contact information, and operational details.
Billing Cycle
The recurring period for which families are charged (e.g., weekly, monthly, quarterly). KangarooTime supports flexible billing cycles to match your business model.
Booking
The process of reserving a spot in a program or class. KangarooTime handles both advance bookings and same-day registrations.
C
Capacity
The maximum number of children that can be enrolled in a program or class, based on licensing requirements, staff ratios, and physical space limitations.
Class
A specific educational or care session within a program, typically defined by time, location, and instructor.
Communication Preferences
Settings that determine how and when families receive notifications, including email, SMS, and in-app messaging preferences.
Compliance
Adherence to state and local regulations governing childcare operations, including licensing requirements, staff-to-child ratios, and safety standards.
Contact
A person associated with a child's care, including parents, guardians, emergency contacts, and authorized pickup persons.
D
Dashboard
The main overview screen in KangarooTime that displays key metrics, recent activity, and quick access to important functions.
Discount
A reduction in program fees, which can be applied as a percentage or fixed amount. KangarooTime supports multiple discount types including sibling, early enrollment, and scholarship discounts.
Drop-in Care
Flexible childcare services that don't require advance registration, allowing families to use services on an as-needed basis.
E
Emergency Contact
A person designated to be contacted in case of emergency when parents cannot be reached. Multiple emergency contacts are typically required for each child.
Enrollment
The process of officially registering a child in a program, including completing required paperwork, making initial payments, and establishing the care relationship.
Event
A scheduled activity or occurrence, such as field trips, parent meetings, or special programs, that may require registration or affect regular operations.
F
Family
A group consisting of one or more parents/guardians and their children who are enrolled in your programs.
Fee Structure
The pricing system for your programs, including base tuition, additional fees, discounts, and payment schedules.
Form
A digital document used to collect information from families, such as enrollment forms, emergency contact forms, or permission slips.
G
Guardian
A person legally responsible for a child's care and decision-making, including parents, legal guardians, and court-appointed custodians.
Group
A collection of children who participate in activities together, often organized by age, program, or other criteria.
H
Holiday Schedule
Pre-planned closures and modified hours for holidays, staff training days, and other special circumstances that affect regular operations.
I
Invoice
A formal request for payment that details services provided, amounts due, and payment terms. KangarooTime automatically generates invoices based on enrollment and fee structures.
L
Late Fee
An additional charge applied when payments are not received by the due date. Late fees help encourage timely payments and can be automated in KangarooTime.
License
Official permission from regulatory authorities to operate a childcare business, typically requiring compliance with specific standards and regular inspections.
Location
A physical site where childcare services are provided. KangarooTime supports multiple locations under a single business account.
M
Manager
A staff role with administrative responsibilities, including program management, staff supervision, and parent communication.
Merchant Account
A business account with a payment processor that allows you to accept credit card and electronic payments from families.
N
Notification
An automated message sent to inform families or staff about important events, changes, or reminders. KangarooTime supports email, SMS, and in-app notifications.
O
Onboarding
The initial setup process for new KangarooTime users, including business configuration, program setup, and staff training.
Operating Hours
The scheduled times when your childcare facility is open and providing services to families.
P
Parent Portal
A secure online area where parents can access their child's information, make payments, communicate with staff, and manage their account.
Payment Plan
A structured approach to paying program fees over time, rather than in a single payment. KangarooTime supports flexible payment plan options.
Permission
Authorization granted by parents for specific activities, such as field trips, photo usage, or emergency medical treatment.
Program
A structured set of activities and services offered to children, typically organized by age group, schedule, or focus area.
R
Registration
The process of signing up for programs or services, including completing required forms, making payments, and securing enrollment spots.
Report
A summary of data and information generated by KangarooTime, including attendance reports, financial summaries, and enrollment statistics.
Role
A defined set of permissions and responsibilities assigned to users, such as Administrator, Manager, Teacher, or Assistant.
S
Schedule
A detailed plan of when programs, classes, and activities occur, including times, locations, and assigned staff members.
Scholarship
Financial assistance provided to families who cannot afford full program fees, typically based on income or other qualifying criteria.
Staff-to-Child Ratio
The maximum number of children that can be supervised by each staff member, as required by licensing regulations and safety standards.
Student
A child enrolled in your programs. KangarooTime maintains comprehensive student profiles including personal information, enrollment history, and family connections.
T
Teacher
A staff member responsible for direct care and education of children, typically with specific qualifications and training requirements.
Term
A defined period during which programs operate, such as a semester, quarter, or school year. Terms help organize enrollment and billing cycles.
Time Tracking
The process of recording when children arrive and depart, used for attendance purposes, billing calculations, and safety compliance.
U
User
Any person who has access to KangarooTime, including parents, staff members, and administrators.
User Interface (UI)
The visual elements and design of KangarooTime that users interact with, including buttons, forms, menus, and displays.
V
Voucher
A form of payment assistance provided by government agencies or organizations to help families afford childcare services.
W
Waitlist
A queue of families waiting for enrollment spots to become available in programs that are currently at capacity.
Website Integration
The process of connecting KangarooTime with your business website to provide seamless registration and information sharing.
Y
Year-End Reports
Comprehensive summaries of annual operations, including enrollment statistics, financial performance, and compliance documentation.
Looking for a term that's not listed here? Contact our support team and we'll add it to our glossary.