When your toddler is about to start daycare, you may not be quite sure about how they will handle it. That's why it's critical to do as much preparation as you can before their first day. Here are some things you can do to make the transition easier for you and your child.
Visit the Daycare Center More Than Once
If you are like a lot of parents, you might have already visited the daycare center once to see what the place was like and to walk your child through the center. However, if you can, try a few repeat visits. Drop off health forms and other paperwork and linger for a bit, pointing out things to your child that look fun. Drive past the daycare center every now and then and remind your child that they will be spending time there soon.
If possible, let your child join in with an activity a few times. This will make the daycare center more familiar to them, so that they worry less about being left in a strange place. If they have been there a number of times, they will recognise it and be more comfortable.
Recreate the Daycare Center's Schedule
In the days before you take your child to daycare, it is a good idea to attempt to mimic the schedule of the daycare center. That way, your child won't be surprised by unfamiliar activities. Get a copy of the daycare's schedule and try to stick to it as closely as you can.
Create a Goodbye Ritual
Saying goodbye to your child at daycare can be a stressful experience. To make goodbye time go more smoothly, it is a good idea to create a goodbye ritual in the days before your child starts daycare. It might be as simple as a hug and a kiss, or it might be singing a song together, for example.
Make sure that your child knows that you will be leaving after the goodbye ritual, but you'll be back later. If you already leave your child with a relative every now and then, start doing the ritual during those times so that when you do the ritual at daycare, your child is better able to accept that you are leaving for a while.
Use the ideas in this article to help you prepare for the first day at a daycare center. Talk to staff members from locations like A Child's View Learning Centre Ltd child care for more ideas about how you can make daycare a rewarding experience for your child.
Share7 August 2015
Welcome to my website. My name is Julia Linder. I’m the single mother of two young children ages two and five. I work full-time and have had to have child care for my babies since they were infants. I’m a firm believer in finding child care that provides a stimulating environment for toddlers. Of course, the number one thing I look for is a safe place. Then I observe the child care while children are present. I want to see how staff interacts with the children. Another important factor for me is that my children are well socialized. I’d like to share in more detail about finding the right day care for your toddler. I hope what I share proves to be helpful to you.