New to Before School Care?

Milestones

07 Jan 2026

Here are five ways to make drop-offs quick and easy when your child starts before school care.

BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE

JANUARY 7, 2026

If your preschooler has spent the last few weeks at a vacation care program, they’ll have a great idea of what to expect at before school care, but if this kind of childcare is totally new, those first few drop-offs may feel daunting.

And we get it!

Your little one is starting at a new childcare service, on top of a new school. There are older kids in the mix. And it’s possible that you’re taking on something new too, like full-time work.

Don’t worry, though.

All you need to do is establish a calm and confident routine, so that each drop-off runs smoothly and your child feels excited for the day ahead.

And thanks to leading Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) provider, Camp Australia, here are five easy ways to do this!

1. Get everything ready the night before

Some things, like breakfast and teeth, will have to wait until the morning, but the more you can organise the night before, the better.

Your future self will thank you for laying out your child’s school uniform, packing their bag, and preparing their lunchbox the night before.

And this way of doing things means your kiddo can help – which builds autonomy without a big time pressure.

2. Keep mornings consistent

Children really do thrive on routine, so if you haven’t got a simple and predictable routine in place yet, then now’s the time to establish one!

A routine chart may help, but you can also just make sure that everything happens in the same order (e.g. waking, eating, toothbrushing, hair-styling and dressing) – and that it happens in a timely fashion.

A few reminders might (ok, will) be needed, but try to keep the morning vibe cool, calm and collected.

3. Leave yourself some wiggle room

Even with the best routine, there’s a lot that can slow a family down, and whether your child can’t find their fav scrunchie, or you can’t find a park, you don’t want to be late to that first drop-off (or any drop-off).

Your child will soak up all your stress, like the little sponge they are. So factor in some extra time, and try to arrive early at your OSHC service for a relaxed drop-off, not a totally stressy one.

4. Stay positive

Just like when you’re preparing your child for early learning, it’s really important to build excitement around the before school care experience, so that it’s something to look forward to.

Camp Australia offers a welcome tour before your child’s first day, so make sure you ask about all the fun experiences on offer.

And when it’s time to drop off your child for the first time, stay positive by saying something like, “You’re going to have a great morning, and I can’t wait to hear all about it when I see you this afternoon!”

5. Keep goodbyes short, sweet and predictable

If your little one went to daycare, you’ll know that long goodbyes make it harder for children to settle when Mummy or Daddy has left the building.

So, Camp Australia recommends that you keep things simple by:

Saying hello to the educators

Helping your child to stow their bag

Giving them a big hug and one goodbye

Then leaving confidently.

Even if emotions are running high, you can rest assured that the educators will support your child to settle in and have a great start to their day.

And when it’s time for school, your under-six will be escorted to their classroom by a Camp Australia staff member for the first six weeks of Term One (or longer if needed).