4 Easy Ways To Prepare Your Child For Daycare And Ease Those First Day Jitters
Posted on: 23 May 2016
Sending a child to daycare is something many parents across the country have to do while they go to work because they do not have anyone else to watch their little ones. In fact, the daycare industry will likely continue to see an increase in available employment opportunities for the coming years or more because of the demand. If you are getting ready to send your toddler to a child care center, both you and your little one may feel a bit nervous about the upcoming change. However, there are a few ways to prepare your child for daycare.
Start Reading Encouraging Books
Do you often read to your child during the day or right before bedtime? If so, you can take that extra time to read a story about going to daycare. One of the many options available is "Cailou: My Day Care Friends." The sole purpose of the book is to help children feel at ease about making the transition from staying at home with a parent to heading out to a child care center where they will spend several hours with other kids.
Children can learn a lot from the books that get read to them. If your toddler is listening to you read about a familiar television character who was willing to give the day care center a try despite feeling nervous and a bit jittery, he or she may feel more comfortable with the change. Your child can easily relate to Cailou and other characters in stories about going to daycare.
Take a Tour of the Facility Together
You may have already visited the facility to see what it looks like while you were trying to choose a specific center in your area. If your toddler did not get a chance to see what it looks like inside the building, you can ask the staff members to allow the two of you to take a tour together. During the tour, your child will get to see other children who are learning and having a good time while taking a look at some of the other neat amenities offered to the kids. For example, there may be plenty of learning toys and an outdoor playground available for the kids to use when the weather is nice outside.
Ask to Bring a Comfort Item
Some toddlers are attached to specific comfort items, such as their blanket or a small plush toy. If your little one does not like to go anywhere without his or her blanket or stuffed animal, talk to the employees at the child care facility to make sure they have no problem with kids bringing in their own comfort items. When children have that special item with them throughout the day, it may remind them of home and make it a bit easier for them to feel comfortable in a new environment.
Hide Your Own Fears
It is normal to worry about leaving your child behind with someone else, but you cannot let your little one see how nervous you are feeling. Instead, you should act positive about the transition and talk about it in a good way to get your child excited. If you are in panic mode, your toddler may sense that, and it could cause him or her to feel just as panicked.
You have to return to work and you need a responsible person to watch your little one, but you and your toddler still feel a bit nervous about the change. The best way to resolve those first day jitters for your child is to read books about this kind of transition, take a tour of the facility, and bring a comfort item to the facility. Before you know it, your little one will love spending time learning with the other children.
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