How to Prepare for Daycare Entry: Tips for a Smooth Transition
Starting daycare is an important milestone for both children and parents. This transition can be challenging, but with the right preparation, the transition can be much smoother. In this article, we will share essential tips to help parents prepare for their child’s start at daycare in a calm and organized way.
1. Choosing the Right Daycare
Choosing a daycare center is the first and most important step. When selecting a daycare center, consider the following factors:
• Proximity to home or work: It will make your daily routine easier.
• Safe and welcoming environment: Check the physical conditions of the daycare and the way the staff interacts with the children.
• Teaching methodology: Try to select a daycare center that has an educational approach aligned with your values and expectations.
• Recommendations and reviews: Ask other parents about their experiences and read online reviews.
2. Prepare Yourself Emotionally
Separation can be difficult for both parents and children. Here are some ways to prepare both parents:
• Talk to your child: Explain what daycare is and what to expect when you are there. Use simple, positive words.
If your baby is under one year old, play hide and seek with him/her often, covering his/her head with a diaper or cloth and letting it fall. In a second phase, hide, taking progressively longer to appear. These games will help the baby understand that, although his/her parents disappear from his/her field of vision, they do not cease to exist.
• Practice separation for short periods: Before the first day, leave your child with family or friends for short periods so that he or she gets used to being without the parent he or she spends most of his or her time with.
• Stay positive: Children sense their parents' anxiety, so we recommend that you remain confident and enthusiastic when talking to your child about this new stage.
3. Organize the Necessary Documentation and Materials
Make sure all documentation required by the daycare is in order, such as:
• Vaccinations up to date: Check that vaccinations are up to date and if requested, prepare the vaccination certificate.
• Health Information: Fill out forms with important information about your child's health (emergency contacts, people authorized to pick up your child, allergies, medications, etc.).
• School supplies and clothes: Prepare a backpack with items such as at least 2 complete changes of clothes and awater bottle suitable for the child's age (from 12 months onwards you can choose one with a straw ). You can also opt for a transition cup or 360 if your child is still adapting.
Some daycares include diapers and wipes in the monthly fee, but if yours does not have this option, you should also bring them with you, as well as ointment for changing diapers. If your child uses a pacifier , you should always have one in the daycare backpack and/or a doudou , which is often appreciated by babies at bedtime or to relax.
4. Adapt the Family Routine
A consistent routine is essential for a smooth adaptation. Here are some tips:
• Establish sleep and feeding schedules similar to those at daycare: This will help your child adjust more easily to the new routine.
• Prepare your morning routine: Organize everything the night before to avoid rushing and stress.
• Quality time: Set aside time after daycare to spend with your child, ensuring they feel loved and safe. This could be reading a bedtime story , taking a relaxing bath with sensory light cubes , or just sitting with your baby while they play.
5. First Days at Nursery
The first few days are crucial for adaptation. Consider the following:
• Gradually integrate: If possible, start with reduced hours and gradually increase the time spent at daycare.
– It is important to create a separation routine: while you still have your baby in your arms, tell him that you are going to work and that you will come and pick him up later. Even if you think he doesn't understand, don't forget to tell him that you trust the people and the daycare where you leave him. Give him kisses and hand him over to the caregiver, trying not to show anxiety. Once your baby is in the caregiver's arms, do not prolong the separation moment and do not leave his field of vision.
• Be present at the beginning: If the daycare allows it, stay a little during the first few days so that your child feels calmer.
• Trust your educators: They have experience and will know how to deal with your child's adaptation. Try not to prolong the goodbye, as this can make the separation more difficult.
6. Keep Communication Open with the Daycare
Communication is essential to ensure that everything goes well. It is normal to feel more anxious and worried in the first few days, so we recommend that you ask for the teacher’s contact details so that you can get in touch and find out how the adaptation is going. Ask about your child’s progress and be open to suggestions. This can help you adjust any details that could improve the child’s adaptation.
Conclusion
Starting daycare is an important step in a child’s development, and preparation is key to a smooth transition. Choosing the right daycare, preparing yourself emotionally, organizing documentation, adapting your routine, and maintaining constant communication with the daycare are essential steps to ensure that this new phase is positive for the whole family.
Invest time in this preparation and take the opportunity to celebrate this new chapter in your little one's life!
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