For most families, taking your child to day care will be the first time you leave them for regular periods. This can be emotionally challenging for both the child and their parents, and for daycare to be a success, it is important that this your child is well prepared and understands what is going to happen.
One of the most effective way to prepare your child involves visits to the nursery. Start by going with your child, and allowing them to explore the new environment with you there. Slowly, reduce the amount of time you are there for. Start by leaving the room for five minutes, and work up until you can leave the child for a morning or afternoon without you.
Ensure you discuss day care with your child, and make it sound like an exciting event. Ask your child what they have done today, and what they will do tomorrow. Consider using a rewards scheme such as a sticker chart, with a sticker given for each “good report” from day care.
You may also find it beneficial to read books about nursery to your child. There are many children’s books written about this subject, and often children’s programmes also cover this. These are designed to help your child understand how they are feeling, and see nursery as somewhere exciting and fun.
Some children will experience separation anxiety, particularly if they are not used to leaving you. Most day care centres will have experienced this before, so talk to them about the issue and ask for their suggestions and strategies. You may find leaving your child with a specific member of staff will help, or allowing your child to phone you at a set time of the day. Remember that children will get over this anxiety, and day care is both an enjoyable and beneficial experience for them.
