Your local Early Learning Centre shares tips to help you and your child settle into childcare
Sending your child to childcare is a daunting but exciting milestone for your child and family. All of you will be experiencing changes as your child settles into new learning environments, develops new friendships, and spends time with educators. To help with the transition, we have put together a list of tips.
Make Sure You Communicate
Although it can be daunting, it’s important to talk to your child and manage their expectations. A great way to ease your child into this transition is to mention all the fun activities they will be experiencing and the friends they will make. Talk about their feelings and that it is okay to miss home. The most important thing to remember during this transition is to stay positive and view childcare for what it is – a fun, nurturing and caring environment!
Build Connections
Another way to ease the transition is to visit the centre with your child a few times before their start date, This allows your child to get to know the different learning spaces, play with our current centre children and meet our educators. This creates a sense of familiarity even outside of home and makes the transition from home to childcare a little easier.
Practice Routines
Another helpful tip is to request the daily activities schedule from one of our friendly educators. Familiarising yourself and your child with the daily routine makes it easier for the transition. Consistency is key and helps your child know what to expect. Start practising waking up according to the childcare start times and taking naps according to the schedule.
Goodbyes Become Easier
Once you follow these simple steps to build your child’s courage and your confidence, the experience becomes a much more enjoyable one. Remember to be firm when saying goodbye, reassure your child that you will see them soon and leave them safely with our educators. A comfort item from home like a toy or blanket can also help ease your child’s transition and help them to feel less anxious.
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