Ensuring that your child is emotionally, socially and physically prepared to enter into childcare can seem like a daunting task for most parents. Since you’ve done your homework, you’ve already chosen a care facility that matches the unique needs of your child and family, has an approach to childcare that works with your parenting style, and plenty of experience that allows you to feel comfortable with your decision. Even still, it can be hard to pinpoint exactly how you can best prepare your child for this big change, so we’re offering a few ideas below.
Here’s our list of tips and tricks for making the childcare transition much easier!
1. Visit your new center with your child
Choose a day when you and your child can visit the center together. Familiarize your child with the caregivers he or she will interact with on a daily basis, take time to play with the toys and get used to the overall atmosphere of the daycare. If possible, conduct a trial run like this more than once before full-time care begins. Many centers offer a formal transition period from 2 weeks to a full month before your child starts full-time.
2. Talk about childcare with your child
No matter whether your child is an infant, toddler or preschooler, begin talking about the idea of childcare. Find books or TV shows that involve children attending childcare centers. Emphasize that school is a “fun” place for learning, and practice playing school together at home to get them familiar with the concept.
3. Practice experiences outside the home
While your child may be comfortable being cared for by grandparents and family friends while in the comfort of your own home, they may feel differently about being cared for in an unfamiliar environment. Expose your child to a couple short visits with non-parent caregivers as a way to build independence.
4. Give yourself lots of time for drop off
The first few times you drop your child off at their new center, ensure you give yourself an extra 20 to 30 minutes than you think necessary. It could be difficult for both you and your child to separate in the transition process until both of you get used to your new routine. This is totally normal!! If it helps, we heard from one of our Centers that during a difficult transition period, one mother found checking in with HiMama incredibly comforting. Even though her child was upset at drop-off, center staff saw that within a few minutes her child was happily playing with the other children. Center staff snapped a quick photo of the happy parallel playing children to reassure the parent that transition was going well!
5. Ease into it
If at all possible, start your child with just a few days a week rather than a full week of care to ease the new transition. Starting with a few days of care can help your child feel less overwhelmed before progressing to full-time childcare. If you are on parental leave, do your best to transition your child into child care before you go back to work. Do not have your first day back at the office the same day they are starting child care. Set your self up for success by ensuring your child is settled in the child care routine before you go back to work.
6. Ensure your child has proper supplies
Set your child up for success! Most centers will provide a packing list so that you can ensure you are sending them with the proper supplies (cue extra clothes, shoes, outdoor gear etc!). Whether it’s a favorite toy, blanket or snack, sending a few of your child’s favorite things from home with them can help them feel more at home. Check with your center team first to be sure bringing snacks from home is permitted (if meals are provided) and make sure that personal items are labeled with your child’s name!
7. Celebrate the time together outside of child care
When you have more time together outside of child care hours, think of some fun activities you can do as a family that your child can bring to their child care center as a story for Monday! Maybe you take a trip to the park, visit an indoor playground, or even explore the neighborhood on foot. These memories will give your toddler something to celebrate when they return to their class and something to look forward to if daycare transition is more difficult in the first few weeks.
Finally, be kind to yourself. Transitions are always difficult and separating from your child isn’t easy. Luckily, you can rest assured knowing many center staff have years of experience with childcare transitions and are there to help you through. Give yourself permission to be sad in the beginning and hopefully happy when you see all the new fun relationships and activities your child receives at their new child care center!
I didn’t know that many centers offer a phased start before our child begins full-time care. I also appreciate what you mentioned talking about childcare with our children to get them more familiar with the whole thing. I will definitely look for books that involve these scenarios before enrolling my kid in a center. Thanks for these great tips!
What center can I go to for my child
I love your tip to plan extra time to drop off your kid as it can be a difficult process. My sister is going to have to go back to work as her husband recently got demoted. I know it is going to be hard for her and her little boy to be apart so I think they should spend lots of time looking for great places and get used to spending time apart.
My son is only 8-month old. I loved your ideas. Thank you for sharing such a nice post on child-caring tips!
I am battling a health crisis right now. It is difficult enough that we are looking for some child care for our toddler. I loved your article about how to help a child feel comfortable during this transition. Since ours is so young, what a good idea to give yourself an extra 20 or 30 minutes to deal with the separation process.
It really helped when you elaborated on daycares and how to help our children during their transition. Last week, we started talking about finding a childcare center for our son. My wife and I are still nervous about taking our child to a daycare, so I think your tips will help us. Thanks for the advice on visiting a daycare with our child before their program starts.
It made sense when you mentioned visiting a child day care center with your kids will allow them to get familiarized with the overall atmosphere. My sister should know this since she’s planning to enroll her daughter in daycare. I should advise her to look for a center that provides a learning environment designed to stimulate her child’s creative learning abilities
I barely have the time to take care of my son due to my busy schedule, which is why I’ve decided to start looking for a child care center. I also agree with you that it will be best to bring his favorite blanket and snack because this may ease his anxiety. I’ll keep in mind to check the facility too.
I like your child care tips. I need to put my kids in daycare. I can’t be with them while I am at work.
How do I get my child in daycare and is it a possibility that if I make too much money I can’t let my kid go to daycare what’s the requirements? I live in Milwaukee WI
Thanks for the reminder that some initial visits should be planned out first when planning to get childcare services. I’d like to look for a good facility soon because I want make sure that my daughter will be more comfortable playing with kids her age. That will surely help her development despite not having siblings.
Easing the child into it instead of forcing it upon them might be the best way to handle day care. Since my son is so attached to home, it might be extremely scary for him to go somewhere else and stay there for an extended period of time. I’ll make sure that we take some time to help him get used to that first before we settle him into a day care from the area.
Thank you for the valuable tips on transitioning into child care. As a parent, I understand the challenges involved. I discovered a trusted platform that empowers parents with tools and services to ensure their children’s safety in the digital age. Your blog is a great resource, and I look forward to more insightful content from you!
Thank you for sharing these insightful tips on easing the transition into childcare! It can be a challenging time for both parents and children, but these practical suggestions can make the process smoother.
It really helped when you said that taking our child with us when visiting the daycare service center to familiarize them with the staff there as well as get used to the atmosphere and see the toys there. This tip is going to help us a lot to ensure that the transition is not that hard for our daughter when we send her to a daycare facility. It will be the first time that she will be on her own and with other people, so we also need to be gradual about this to prevent any causes of separation anxiety.
I like that you suggest going to the daycare center with our child so that they will be familiarized with the caregivers, the toys there, in the overall atmosphere of the facility. I think that is a great way to help my daughter feel that sending her to a place like that is going to be fun and safe even when I will not be with her. It will be the first time that you will be away from me for a couple of hours which is why i want to do this right and i want to find the right facility for my own peace of mind and for her own comfort.
The peace of mind that comes with knowing your child is in a safe, nurturing, and educational environment is priceless. Baby daycare centers are staffed with experienced and caring professionals who genuinely love what they do.