Preparing Your Child for Positive Daycare Experience
It was a mixed feeling when I dropped my two year old at the day care for the first time. I had imagined that he would start crying as soon as I dropped him at the center. To my big surprise, as soon as we got there, he ran away from me and joined the other kids in excitement. It didn’t seem like it was his first day at the childcare. I stayed there talking with other parents who were dropping their kids for the first time. Most of them looked worried and were struggling to console their kids. As for me, I had other problems that troubled me.
Every parents have their own problem as their kids goes through the transition period of joining the daycare from being at home with the family. I hope the tips below will help you ease the transition for your children and also make the process relatively easier for you.
Enquire and Apply As Early As Possible
You might find some day care more convenient to drop off and pickup your children. However, depending on the location and number of seats, childcare centers can have a waiting period of over an year. So, it is important that you enquire and submit your application as early as possible. Having a day care center close to your home can surprisingly help your kids to become more settled even from the first day. They might have seen or passed by the day care many times before and wouldn’t find the center somewhat familiar.
Take Your Baby to the Community Daycare More Often
Many new parents out there might not know about these community day care centers. They are absolutely free but you can’t drop your baby there. Parents have to stay there with the baby. So, before your child is ready to join the childcare, you can take him/her to these community daycare. The environment is similar to that of the childcare so it will help them with their early learning activities and also in their transition to the daycare.
Take Advantage of the Trial Visits
Most childcare allow parents to have 3 trial visits to the center. The purpose is to let kids become familiar with the new environment with their parents around. You can plan these visits when you have a day off so you can let your kids stay there for as long as possible. Also, during these visits, you can get some tips from the educators. Further, you can encourage your children to follow these tip even before starting the day care so they will not find the routine at the child care strange or unfamiliar.
Start With Short Days If Possible
During the first few weeks or days, try avoiding leaving your kids for longer period of time. They will find themselves in new and unfamiliar environment, surrounded by strangers, and may take some time to adapt. Also, in the early days, be prepared to pick up your kids if they remain unsettled for long period of time. Normally in this situation, the educators at the day care will call you and ask you to take the baby home.
Once your children start adapting to the routine at the childcare center, then you can leave them for the entire day or longer period of time. You will know that they have adapted well based on their willingness to go to the daycare and also by communicating with the educators at the center.
Start Early and Let Them Try More Finger Foods
My son started going to daycare as soon as he turned two. He hadn’t started eating finger foods on his own and didn’t really have much chewing practice. I was sure that he wouldn’t eat or even try any of the food at the daycare. As I had suspected, he did not eat anything for first three days. I regretted not introducing finger foods to him sooner and from early stages. Kids learn fast but still it bothered me a lot knowing that he would be staying hungry all day.
This feeling is worse than knowing that your child might be missing you and looking for you at the day care. So, if you are planning to send your child to the day care, you can make the transition easier for him/her by encouraging him/her to eat finger food at home. It took my son almost two whole months until he finally started eating at the day care. You can make them similar baby foods that they serve at the day care and help the baby become familiar with the foods.
Bring Their Favorite Toy to the Daycare
Children may be unsettled at the childcare because they find everything and everyone at the center unfamiliar. If they can have their favorite toy with them then it will help them settle down during the nap time. It is important for them to get a good sleep to adjust themselves in the new environment. Once rested well, they can observe and learn more by participating in different activities at the day care center. It will help them to make the process of transition to childcare more smooth.
