Preparing for the first day of day care.
As your little one is about to start child care you might all be feeling excited, curious and maybe a tad nervous too. Don’t worry, these are all perfectly normal feelings and we’re here to support you and your child at every step, starting with some information that might help make day one a little smoother.
Talk with them before the day to prepare and encourage them.
The more your little one knows what to expect, the easier the change will be. Tell them what is happening and why and be straight-forward and honest that you won’t be there with them. Remind them that everything will be okay and you’ll be close by if you need. Make sure to focus on the positive aspects of their stay, like all the friends they will meet and all the fun activities they will get to do.
Organise a visit to get to know the space.
To help make the transition easier, you can book a short some orientation visits before your officially start date. This is a great way for you and your child to get to know the centreservice, meet our friendly educators, and start feeling more at home. You’re welcome to stay during orientation as having you nearby often helps your child settle in more comfortably.
Support them on day one by being calm and confident yourself.
How you behave on day one can greatly impact how your child feels. No matter how you feel inside, try to be confident and excited – they will mimic your energy. Say goodbye confidently and remind them you will be back later to pick them up and take them back home. It’s also good to give yourself plenty of time in the first few days and weeks so you aren’t having to rush off if your child feels uneasy.
How our team help your little one settle in.
Our team know what you’re going through and have helped many families to make this transition as smooth and positive as possible for everyone. Rest assured we’ll give your child special attention and do everything we can to make sure they are happy and having a great time. Here are some of the things we do to help new starters settle in.
- We’ll make sure to do things they love. We’ll be guided by them in these early days and spend time doing the activities they enjoy the most. This helps them feel safe and secure and begin to enjoy their time with us.
- We can use a gradual introduction process. To help your child feel at ease, we offer a gradual introduction period. This includes shorter orientation visits that gradually increase in duration, allowing your child to become familiar with their new environments, educators and friends.
- We’ll talk to each other to make sure everything is on track: We encourage open and ongoing communication. Please share any concerns or specific information about your child that could help us provide the best support, and if we notice something that might help them settle in, we’ll pass that on for you to consider.
- We’ll use positive reinforcement: Our Educators use positive reinforcement to encourage your child’s confidence and social interaction. We celebrate small milestones and support your child in building new friendships.
Staying Connected
We know how important it is for you to stay connected. That’s why we’ll send you updates and photos through Xplor so you can see how your child is settling in.
Remember, if you’re feeling anxious you can call us and ask how your little one is going at any time during the day.
We’re so excited to welcome your child into our learning community. Please reach out if you have any questions or would like to talk more about how we can support your family during this transition. We look forward to getting to know you!