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Most parents find it difficult to ensure that their child is ready for childcare in Auckland. You’ve done your research and found a facility that meets your family’s needs, offers a flexible approach to childcare, and has plenty of experience so you feel confident in your choice. It can be difficult to know how to prepare your child for such a significant change. We offer some suggestions below.
We have compiled a list of helpful tips and tricks to make the transition easier.
1. Take your child to the new center
You and your child should choose a day when you can both visit the center. You can get to know the caregivers and take some time to play with the toys. Do a trial run as described above at least twice before you accept full-time care. Many centers offer a transition period that lasts from two weeks to one month before full-time care begins.
2. Discuss childcare options with your child
Talk about childcare with your child, no matter if they are an infant, toddler, or preschooler. Look for books and TV programs that feature children in childcare centers. To help them get used to the idea, play school together at home.
3. Experiments outside of the home
Your child may be more comfortable being taken care of by family members and grandparents in your home than they are being cared to in an unfamiliar setting. As a way of building independence, you can allow your child to have a few short visits with caregivers other than parents.
4. Take plenty of time to drop off
You should allow yourself 20-30 minutes extra each time you drop off your child at the new center. As you adjust to your new routine, it may be hard for you and your child. Even though her child was very upset at drop-off the center staff noticed that her child was playing happily with other children within minutes. The center staff took a quick picture of the happy children playing parallel to reassure the parent that the transition was proceeding smoothly.
5. Ease into it
To ease the transition, you can start your child with a few days of care per week instead of a full week. Your child will feel less overwhelmed if they start with just a few days before moving on to full-time care. Do your best to get your child started in child care while you’re on parental leave. Your first day back in the office should not be the day your child starts child care. You can set yourself up for success by making sure your child is comfortable in their child care routine before you return to work.
6. Make sure your child has the right supplies
Your child will be successful! Many centers will give you a packing checklist to ensure that they have the right supplies. It doesn’t matter if it’s a blanket, snack, or favorite toy; sending your child a few items from home can make them feel more at home. If meals are not provided, check with your center team to confirm that snacks are allowed. Personal items should also be labeled with your child’s name.
7. Enjoy the time you spend together, besides child care
You can think of fun things you can do together when you have more time than child care hours. These activities can be brought to the child care center by your child as a story for Monday. You could go to the park, explore the neighborhood, or visit an indoor playground. These moments will give your toddler something to be proud of when they return to daycare, and something to look forward too if it is difficult.
Be kind to yourself. It’s not easy to transition and it can be difficult to separate from your child. You can be confident that many childcare center staff have years’ of experience in transitions to childcare and will help you get through. You can be sad at the beginning, but you will soon feel happy and fulfilled when your child sees all the fun and activities that they have at their new child-care center.
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