Having your kids in a safe and secure daycare makes going to work or school a lot easier on parents and guardians. It’s a difficult process to navigate when it’s your child’s first time in a daycare setting or simply the first time away from you. You might think to yourself that they will be upset or uncomfortable all day without you. And it’s true, at first some drop offs might be hard for both the parents and the child. There might be tears and it might continue for a few days, but it won’t be forever.
It’s important to remember that it’s normal for kids to go through these emotions at drop offs. It can take some time for children to get acclimated to the new environment of being at daycare, away from their parents, and around other children, but with some time and patience they will get there!
Crying is always difficult to deal with as a parent doing drop off. It’s hard to leave your kids if they’re crying. It’s important to note that the crying won’t continue their entire day. Each child is different! Some kids do well after initially crying, so it’s all about how your child is doing on a daily basis. Your daycare provider and teachers will do their best to help your child adjust to the change and be comfortable in the daycare each day. Some children do better once as they see some of the activities being done and see other kids, but that could also be overwhelming for them.
It’s important to come up with a plan with your provider. These are things to discuss with them prior to your start at your new daycare or school. It might be helpful to have your child visit the daycare prior to the official enrollment for a few hours a few times a week to get a sense of what happens there and to get to know their new teachers and other kids. You can talk to your provider to see if they offer something like this at their center.
If feasible for your family, it may also be helpful to start off as part time and gradually make the change into full time care. This process is different with each child. Your child may have a different time with going full time right away and starting off with half a day might be easier. Based on how they are doing, you may try to leave them for a bit longer the next day. Essentially making it a slow transition into the full time care that you’re looking for. This is another option that can be discussed with your provider to see if it’s something they provide at their center.
Some tips for an easier transition to daycare are as follows:
1. Communication for Parenting:
Talk to your child about what’s happening and why they need to be at daycare. For example “mommy needs to go to work,” “daddy has school today,” etc.
2. Gradual Integration for Toddler Comfort:
Remind your child that you will be leaving them for a little while, but that you will be back to pick them up in a little while. Make sure that you let them know each day you leave that you’ll be back later in the day to pick them up. And if you can, tell him a specific time so they will know. For example, you can tell them we’ll be back to pick you up after lunch or after nap.
3. Encourage Child Engagement:
You should talk to your child about what they will be doing at daycare. Get them excited about playing with new toys and doing activities such as art or making new friends.
4. Align Schedules for Seamless Transitions:
Adjust their at-home schedule to resemble something similar to the one your provider adopts at the daycare. At least in terms of meals and naps. For example try to put them down for nap at the same time as your daycare does and try to have meals at about the same time. It’s easier for them to transition if they have a similar schedule at home and at school.
5. Comfort Items for Security:
Talk to your provider and see if you can pack them a small security blanket if they use one. Keep in mind that sharing may become an issue and some daycares may only provide them during naps.
6. Efficient Drop-off Routines:
This one is very important! And might be one of the most difficult for you, your child, or for the both of you. You shouldn’t stay longer than needed at drop off. The longer you stay, the harder it tends to be for a child to adjust. You should adapt a good-bye routine and repeat this daily.
Here’s an example of what this might look like, “Mommy needs to go to work today, you are going to daycare today! You’ll meet your new friends today and might get to do some coloring, play outside, and read a new book! Remember, I will come back to pick you up later today. I’m going to give you a hug goodbye and later we can talk about what you did at school today.”
It’s really difficult for children at first, and a few drop-offs thereafter, but if you are consistent with your drop-off routine, then eventually, they will enjoy going to daycare.
Open communication with your child and with your provider will be key to your success in a daycare setting. It’s important to remember that your provider should be available throughout the day to check in. If your child is not adjusting well, your provider will let you know and will help with providing comfort to your child. You should keep trying. Some locations have a trial period, take this time to see if your child gets acclimated. At the end of the day, sometimes a certain location is not a good fit for your family. You can make the decision to move on and find a different daycare.
