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For
Families > Using Child Care
- Making
the Transition into Care
Preparing
Your Child for Care
Consider your
child’s temperament, age, and prior child care experience when looking at ways
to prepare her for child care. Some ideas to help prepare your child include:
- Visiting the program with your child before care begins to meet the
teachers, see the rooms and playground, and play with the toys and other
children
- Finding out as much information as you can about the program beforehand,
so that you can answer your child’s questions about what to expect
- Talking to the provider/teachers about how they transition children into
the program, and telling your child exactly what will happen during the
transitional days
- Reading books with your child about starting child care, or about new
experiences in general
- Making a family photo book with your child that she can take with her to
child care for comfort and reassurance
- Talking to other parents who have recently transitioned their children
into care for ideas on how to make it as smooth as possible
If you are
leaving one program to begin care at another, make sure your child has the
opportunity to say goodbye to the provider and the other children. Decide how
you’ll stay in touch with them, through photos, letters, etc.
Adjusting
to Child Care
Both children
and parents will feel the hardship of separating from one another, and feelings
of fear and loss are common during this period of adjustment. Here are some
things to consider as your child begins a new care experience:
- Always say goodbye to your child before leaving her at child care.
Reassure her that you will be back at the end of the day, or let her know
who will pick her up, and at what time. Try not to drag out your goodbye --
and never try to slip out without
- It’s common for children to adapt to a new provider or program quickly,
then later have feelings of separation anxiety.
- Understand that it may take a few months for your child to adjust
completely. You may see signs of “regression” during these months (for
example, with toilet training or thumb-sucking). Soon, it will all become
routine!
- Your child may experience disturbances in sleep or eating patterns.
- Older infants (6 to 12 months old) may have heightened stranger-anxiety at
this stage of development; just be aware that the adjustment may be more
difficult at this time.
- Make sure your provider or teachers have a number to reach you at during
the day. Talk to them about the best time for you to call them to check in
during the first few days or weeks of care.
- Place a short and sweet note in your child’s backpack or lunch bag.
The End of
the Day Transition
The end of
the day can be a hectic time for everyone: parents are thinking about dinner
preparation, providers and teachers are helping with goodbyes and clean up, and
children are involved with activities. Here are a few things you can do to
manage the transition from child care to home:
- Greet your child first thing! Show her that you’re happy to see her,
perhaps with a big hug.
- Greet your child’s teachers and check in with them on how your child’s
day went. This will give you a good sense of her general mood, if she is
feeling well, and if there is anything you need to know.
- If your child is in the middle of an activity, or if she’s playing with
other children, give her a few minutes to finish up. Tell her how long she
has before she needs to say goodbye to her friends and go home.
- Some children may be reluctant to leave, and may even ignore your arrival.
If your child refuses to leave, stay calm and be firm; sometimes this may
entail picking her up and bringing her out to the car.
- Have a small snack in the car for the ride home, especially if it’s a
long ride.
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