Guest post

Enrolling your child in a childcare facility is an emotional experience for first-timers. You’re essentially entrusting your child to the hands of total strangers, which could bring about a slew of emotions, from uncertainty to excitement.

While it’s easy to feel like a ball of nerves about the whole ordeal, it’s important to recognise the fact that your child will be in safe and capable hands. Childcare facilities are more than equipped to handle your child’s needs and education.

That being said, you shouldn’t be totally complacent once you drop off your child at the facility. You still need to do some things on your end to make the transition much easier for your caretakers and smoother for your child.

At the end of the day, early childhood educators need to be treated with respect and empathy, and this starts by supporting your child during the adjustment process the right way, instead of leaving everything to these licensed educators.

If you’re wondering what you should do to prepare yourself and your child for this upcoming life milestone, then you’re in the right place. This article will inform you about what educators wish parents knew about the first week of childcare.

Keep goodbyes short

It’s recommended to prepare your child prior to their first full day through a few joint visits to the centre, talking positively about daycare, and role-playing the expected daily routine at home.

Once the child starts childcare regularly, educators wish parents knew to keep goodbyes short at drop-off. This is especially vital during the first days, as the way you say goodbye during this time will set the tone for how they’ll expect you to leave them in the following days. The reason why keeping goodbyes short is ideal is that it makes the act of leaving them at daycare feel normal and ordinary. If you make a big ritual about leaving them, they can sense that something is wrong even if it isn’t, and this could spike their anxiety when you do leave them. As such, keep farewells short and quick. Say “see you later” in a gentle and smiling manner, then make your departure. From there, the educators can handle your child’s care and guide them to distractions and activities to shift their attention and keep them occupied.

It’s important to be consistent when saying your goodbyes as well. Avoid drawing it out for too long or mixing different ways of saying goodbye. Find what works and what keeps them stable, and continue using it throughout the first week and beyond. The educators will be grateful that you did this, as your child is more likely to transition into learning mode more smoothly.

Need more tips? Guardian Childcare’s guide to preparing for childcare is an excellent resource to help you prepare yourself and your child for daycare.

Have a consistent morning routine

As an extension of the previous point, educators would also appreciate it if parents had a consistent morning routine before they send their children off to daycare. Children operate best under predictable conditions, and having the same morning routine can make them feel secure about what’s to come, including heading to daycare.

Start by giving them a set time to wake up. You can start doing this in the weeks leading up to their first day, so that they won’t be shocked with a new morning wake-up time. Then, prepare a meal that you know they’d like for breakfast and eat together with them. Help dress them and prepare their bag at the same time during the day, then head off to daycare once they’re done.

A consistent routine also helps children mentally prepare for drop-off. If childcare is part of the same daily pattern, it begins to feel like a normal and familiar part of their day rather than an unexpected change.

A consistent routine can also help you, as the parent. It gives you an idea of how your child will react to certain situations more predictably, making them less stressed and easier to deal with, and thereby making it easier for you to go about your own morning routine smoothly.

Brief educators about things they need to know

Another helpful thing you can do to make the educator’s life easier is to give them information about your child.

While the education process your child will undergo will be shared with other children, giving their educator a heads up on certain habits, preferences, and comfort needs beforehand can help them structure support for your child more effectively.

Start by telling the educator about activities that they enjoy. You can also tell them about the things that can help calm your child or health information that they should know, such as allergies or dietary restrictions.

Providing these details to your educators before the start of the first week helps them understand your child’s set of needs early on. This makes it easier for them to support your child if they’re feeling distressed or in case of an emergency. In essence, it helps foster a safe environment for your kid, giving all adults peace of mind.

Trust the educators’ experience

It’s important to understand that educators don’t simply watch over your child. Educators are specifically trained to support the minds and development of young children. Because of this training, they know how to guide children through new environments, such as childcare centres. Experienced educators are familiar with the behaviours children display during their first week and have strategies to help them feel comfortable and engaged.

As this is the case, it’s crucial to respect and trust the educator’s expertise in the field and take on board their advice. If they say that your child is disrupting other children, for instance, it’s important to hear them out instead of feeling defensive about the matter.

Remember, these educators have both the knowledge and first-hand experience in supporting children of various personalities. Giving them the floor and hearing them out helps to ensure that your child adjusts smoothly to daycare.

Educators are handling more than one child

Finally, one more thing that parents should keep in mind is the reality that the educator isn’t handling just your child. They manage blocks of children simultaneously, and balancing different personalities, needs, and routines can be a handful, to say the least!

While the educator will surely try their best to accommodate your child’s needs and safety, they also need to have the welfare of other children in mind. Knowing this is crucial for parents as it helps them know what to expect in the first week of daycare.

Your child won’t automatically receive royalty-like attention in the first week; the educators must divide their time among several children. This reality can help parents maintain realistic expectations during the first week of daycare.

We hope that we’ve helped you understand the different things you can do to support your child’s transition to childcare. All the best in navigating this new life milestone!

This article was written by Lucy Mitchell, Content Manager for Current.com.au | The Home of Australian Product Reviews, with editing by Kidspot NZ.

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