Making the Transition to Child Care- A Guide for Parents
Lauren A. Hakala
Once the decision to attend childcare has been made and you have chosen a center, you can begin thinking about the best ways to help your child, your family, and yourself through this transition. Every child care center has its own way to help parents or guardians transition to child care, and this transition can vary significantly depending on parent need, timing and the age of your child when they begin.
A quality transition plan requires that the childcare center, the parents, and the teachers all work together to ensure the child will be successful. The child benefits most when the center, teachers and parents are all in agreement about how they will help the child acclimate.
Parents:
Parents, try not to apologize to your children for “having to leave them at child care”. As true as these feelings might be, it sends the message that this is not your ideal plan, and your children will not want you to leave.
Get in touch with the administration and your child’s teachers; they love to know how you are doing and may be able to provide some heartfelt support when you are feeling vulnerable.
Establish your communication early on in the orientation process. Even if you do not have a lot of questions and/or concerns in the beginning you might in a few weeks and then you will know how to get in touch and can be confident that your needs will be met. You should feel comfortable talking with the teacher, but save lengthy conversations via phone or email; expect that drop-off and pick-up are busy times for all and that your child will be ready to go after a long day.
Do not worry; children have a way of getting their needs met, and it might take a bit of advocacy on your part to explain what your child’s likes and dislikes are, but this will give your teachers a sense of what settles your child until they work it out for themselves.
When it is time to leave, do so without lingering too long. Take your cues from the teacher. This will make it easier for your child to say goodbye. Lingering may only confuse and upset your child further.
Expect your child to be tired and that they will want to spend some more time with you as a result of the new social environment and having to adjust to a new schedule.