Have you recently had a baby and planning on going back to work soon? Maybe you have recently moved and need to find a child care provider for your children in your new community. Either way, finding a quality child care service can be nerve-wracking. How do you know who to entrust with your children while you earn a living? My site has lists of tips that can help you find a child care provider and how to make your children comfortable with them. You can learn from my personal experiences in placing six children in child care over the last many years.
tips for placing your children in child care
Getting Your Kid Ready For Daycare
Lillian Price
Millions of people every year take their children to daycare centers. If your kid has never been to daycare, though, it's a good idea to help them get ready. Here are four ideas for prepping your child for the experience.
Visit the Place Together
If a kid hasn't been introduced to a space, there's a good chance they're going to be a little bit tepid about going there. Pay a visit to the daycare and meet the staff members who'll be working with your child. This is a chance for your kid to see you interacting with them, creating a halo effect of trust.
For added effect, bring a backpack with you. This will give your kid a chance to acclimate not only to daycare centers but the subsequent idea of going to school. Pack a snack they like a lot to reinforce the positive association. Ask your child if they'd like to take a few toys or stuffed animals with them, too.
Play Pretend About Being at Day Care
A lot of concepts need to be introduced to children through pretend play This helps the child to understand that these are milestones, just like going potty or staying over the night at their grandparents' house. Cover the basic things that occur at daycare centers, such as snack time, naps, and free play with other kids. The experience doesn't have to super-real, because the idea is to generalize and have fun, generating good vibes about daycare in general.
Work Toward Their Schedule Before They Start
Especially if your kid is going to be at daycare in the morning, it's best to start working on their sleep schedule a few weeks before they start. Add breakfast to the schedule, too. Even if your kid is going in the afternoon, developing a ritual that they will follow will reinforce good habits. This sort of structure can carry forward with them into their adult lives, just like brushing their teeth or making their beds.
Socialize with Other Kids
It's a good idea to get your child out in the world in social situations with age-appropriate peers. Even if you have a big family or lots of friends who have kids, it helps to give your child a more diverse experience interacting with new children. Watch how they respond to situations, and then you should try to address concerns about things like aggression. Be understanding, though, because this is all new to your kid and you want to accentuate the positives.
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