Tips and tricks for settling into your centre: before you start
For any family, transitioning a child into Childcare can be stressful. A planned approach to starting at a centre can help reduce stress and ease the transition for you and your child.
Take these tips from SDN’s educators for a smoother transition into childcare for your child and yourself.
Preparing the way – things to do before you start
- Set up some orientation visits.
The more visits the better. These visits can even continue beyond your child’s initial start date. For example, you might find visiting every Wednesday for a play before they are left on their own on Thursdays and Fridays will speed up the settling-in process for your child. - Make the walk or drive to the centre a familiar one.
Do this regularly, even over the weekend if you live in the area and start talking about what to expect. - Make sure there are some familiar faces.
Share the staff photo emailed to you and refer to staff by their names. Bring a family photo into the centre for your child’s first days / weeks. - Try and leave your child with other family members or friends before they start.
Children will get used to saying goodbye, spending time apart from you and then seeing you return. - Involve them in your preparation.
If your child is able to, involve them in choosing a bag and sun hat. - Share the news.
Help your child share their news about starting at the centre with family and friends. Talk about what they will be doing each day. - Help them to sleep independently.
If you have a very young child who is used to being carried and nursed to sleep, help them to learn to self-settle in a cot and get used to spending time on the floor. Educators can help you with ideas about how to do this. If your child is going to be transitioning from the breast to a bottle, commence this process before they start at the centre.
Making the most of orientation visits
- Be part of the orientation process.
If possible, plan for a variety of family members to attend different sessions (dad, grandparents or au pairs). Stay for lunch one day. - Allow your child to bring something to comfort them.
Make sure you choose one that is suitable for childcare in case it gets misplaced during the day. A family photo can be a great option, rather than introducing a comforter. - Invite older siblings to play.
Sometimes inviting an older sibling to play at the centre during your visits helps to build a more positive experience where the whole family can have things to refer to when talking about childcare. - Make it very clear to your child that you are staying for these shorter visits.
You can say things like “We are not bringing your bag today because we are only going for a short play and mummy will stay today.” - Find a friend for new children (buddy system).
Educators will support you to find friends who will attend on similar days or have similar interests. If your child already has a friend attending the centre, let the staff know - Join in with what your child is doing.
Playing alongside your child with other children, having a snack with them – this will help them to feel more confident. - Build strong relationships with educators.
Spend time talking with the educators in your child’s classroom and share your child’s interests and stories about your family and extended family. When your child sees you chatting happily with others, they get the sense that these people are OK and to be trusted. Try and discuss any worries or concerns away from your child – even very young children will pick up on any anxieties you may have.
