4 Ways to Prepare for Care
Starting childcare is a big step, but there’s lots you can do to make the transition easier. Here are some great tips from the Raising Children Network.
BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE
There’s a whole new year of childcare just around the corner, and if your under-five is off to daycare, preschool or kindy for the first time, then preparation is everything!
This big move will be much easier if your little one knows what to expect.
And although we can’t promise dry eyes at that first drop-off (and that includes yours!), some expert advice will help.
So, we thank Derek McCormack, Director of the Raising Children Network, for sharing four ways to prepare your child for care, several weeks before they officially start.
1. Visit your early learning service
Every childcare service is different, and now’s a great time to get familiar with yours!
The more time your child spends at the service, the less scary or mysterious this place will be.
And with you by their side, they can explore the environments with increasing confidence, and get excited about different features and resources.
Derek explains that, “Orientation sessions provide a great chance to step inside the service with your child, and obtain some settling-in tips from the team.”
He says, “It’s also helpful to take advantage of any stay and plays, play dates or transition mornings your service offers.
“These casual visits enable your child to spend time in their future room, and explore other important spaces, like the playground and toilets, which all helps with childcare preparedness.”
2. Familiarise your child with their future educators
While at the service, you’ll get to meet different team members, and it’s especially helpful to know who your child’s key educator will be.
This dedicated educator is your child’s ‘special person’ – the one who’ll closely support your little one’s learning, emotional wellbeing and development.
So, Derek says, “If you can, get a photo of this main educator for your child to look at in the weeks before childcare starts.
“Seeing this familiar face on their first day will bring comfort.
“And you can form positive associations by talking about this key educator by name, and reminding your child of any nice or fun interactions they’ve had with them.”
3. Follow some childcare routines
Each childcare day is different, but there are regular transitions and routines to keep everyone happy, well-fed and rested.
And now’s a great time to ease your little one into the rhythm of the childcare day.
Derek says, “The team at your early learning service will be able to explain the daily schedule, and your child might take less time to adjust to the childcare routine if you make this schedule part of your daily routine at home, if this works for your child.”
He says, “If you have a toddler or preschooler, this could include offering lunch, snacks, naps and play at the times their service will offer them.”
You might also like to introduce a routine chart to make mornings less rushed and evenings more manageable.
It’s also helpful to practise the childcare commute well before your little one’s first day, so there are no surprises around timing and traffic.
Keep in mind, too, that routines work differently if your little one is very little.
Derek explains that, “If you have a baby, services should follow the baby’s personal routines. It is a good idea to communicate your baby’s needs and rhythms to educators well before childcare starts.”
4. Talk up the early learning experience
Whether your under-five is excited, cautious, happy, sad, nervous or totally unfussed about going to childcare, it’s important to be upbeat about this big life change.
So, talk about the childcare place, people and program in positive ways, and encourage other role models (like Granny, Grandad and Milla’s mummy) to do the same.
Derek says, “There are also lots of picture books that explore strong emotions and paint the childcare experience as something fun and safe.”
For example:
We hope all these tips help in the coming weeks; and when it’s one sleep till childcare starts, there’s other stuff you can do.
This Raising Children Network article contains practical tips around things like eating, sleeping and packing the night before childcare begins.
And whatever your little one’s first day looks like, here’s to the start of great new things!
