Daycare prep advice!
Well, our daughter is starting up her first week at daycare next week... we've been doing our best to prep her; talking about it, about her meeting new people and making friends, about her learning new things, new toys to play with, etc. We even did a walk-by today to show her the place it's at so she can have that in her mind. She seems really into the idea, but it's easy enough for it to be exciting for her til day 1 comes and mom and dad say say bye..
Just wondering if anyone's got any other advice on how to get her ready for it! (As well as how to handle the inevitable scare of her suddenly not having mom and dad there with her and being surrounded by strangers)
We've been using the phrase "mommy and daddy always come back" for when she goes down for her nap/overnight sleep and was having some cryout/separation issues, which I think inadvertently will help her here, but I'm sure there's more we could do..
Honestly, I'm just so nervous for her to go there and am just hoping she enjoys it, though I know it'll be hard for the first little bit.. thankfully the daycare has a sort of 'intro' plan where she'll go for an hour on day 1, 2 hrs day 2, a half day for day 3, and a full day on the 4th day, with any adjustments made based on how she responds to it all. Definitely thankful for the slow intro!
Posted Feb 1, 2022, 5:36 PM UTC
The slow intro into the program sounds helpful. Regardless of age, kids are likely to struggle w the initial transition. Sounds like you are doing good things helping your child understand what is coming. Daniel Tiger has a song, “Grown-ups come back.” There is also an episode about starting at a new daycare/school. Maybe you have fam w daycare/school age kids that could talk to your child about their experience. We called our daycare “school” and tried to introduce everyone goes to school and or work. Kids that go into K4 without previously being in a group setting sometimes struggle vs kids w that group experience.
I only just heard about Daniel Tiger on another post earlier today, and it sounds like a really great thing, so we'll check that out!
We've actually been calling it "daycare school" with the idea to give her the idea that she's going to school, before she actually goes to school proper :) Sounds like that's probably been a smart idea!
Sadly no other fam with kids (she's the first child on both sides!), to help relate to her what it's like, but maybe I can get in touch with some friends nearby that have one kiddo old enough to maybe tell her some things :)
Thanks!!
Sounds like your LO is old enough to be able to communicate. That is a big deal. You can help to reinforce using our words to communicate how we are feeling (Daniel Tiger is fab for this social emotional stuff as well.) best of luck. There should be universal childcare and 3K imo
She’s definitely getting there! Honestly we’re amazed daily with what words she’s picked up, and what she’s about to communicate. A far cry from 20mo when she was still barely talking and we were getting a bit concerned with communication skills😬
Turns out my wife’s known about Daniel Tiger, so it’s just news to me 😆 we’ll have a look for where we can watch them, today!
PBS Kids is a free app, they have a free video app and a free games app. (Also youtube) Also Kahn Academy Kids is dope for general pre-literacy foundational skill building