What To Know Before Your Child Starts Childcare

It’s important to take the time to consider what you and your child want from your childcare centre education journey. Deciding to enrol your child in childcare is a deeply personal choice that takes careful consideration. Nurturing and developing your child’s best self is important to us, and to help us build a meaningful connection with your child, here are some things to know, before your child starts childcare.

The weeks leading up to your child starting childcare:

We want you and your child to feel at home with us, and to feel confident and supported by our dedicated carers and educators. We know the many benefits your child will gain from starting childcare, and want you to feel completely involved and welcome in the process. We also understand that every child is different and that each child will adjust to being cared for differently.

We have an open-door policy. So you and your child know what a day in one of our boutique centres is like, we invite you to come and visit us!

Take a tour – we offer tours of all our education centres and invite you come along and see inside our ‘home’.

Meet the educators – It’s important to us that your child feels supported, included and secure at our centres. Introducing your child to their carer and educator before their first day will help ease any nerves, by letting them know there is a welcoming and familiar face watching over them.

See the room – We all feel more confident in familiar surroundings and we want you and your child to feel the same in our centre’s rooms. By introducing your child to the space they will be spending time in at the centre, your child will feel more confident and excited about all the new activities they will be able to be part of.

Have the conversation – Talking to your child about starting childcare helps them to become confident with the idea beforehand. Talk about things like the friends they can make, the fun activities they can do and how you will be excited to hear all about it when they come home will help your child feel less apprehensive.

Some information your childcare educators and carers need to know about your child:

• Wellbeing – Does your child have any social or emotional preferences, sleep patterns, or comfort items such as a special toy.
• Allergies or medical conditions
• Toileting – Does your child need any help with using the bathroom, is there anything you are working on
• Special Interests or learning activities your child enjoys (eg: dinosaurs or nature, puzzles, drawing, building things etc.)
• Specific custody arrangements or family circumstances
• Immunisation status

Other helpful tips:

• Name and label everything
• Allow extra time for pick up and drop off in the early weeks
• Have a daycare wardrobe
• Pack a spare pair of clothes.
• Try to ensure your child has a good night’s sleep beforehand
• Talk to us!

If you have any questions at any stage, we are here and ready to help. We understand starting childcare can be an emotional time and endeavour to help you feel as supported and informed as possible. You can always reach out and speak to us by phone, email or visiting us in person.

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