If you’re getting ready to introduce your child to day care, preparation is key. Fortunately, there are ways you can help your child adjust to the new daily routine and ease the emotional moments that can come from separating. Learn more about how to prepare yourself and your child for day care with these tips.

How Can You Make the Transition to Child Care Easier?

1. Match Their Schedule

A week or two before your child will start at school, request a copy of the daily schedule. Try to follow it at home to prepare your child for the activities and routine of the new environment. Have lunch at school lunch time and naps at nap time. You can even incorporate a few games or learning techniques like blocks and numbers.

 Familiarity with the routine will help your child feel more comfortable and assured. The first few weeks of day care should be accompanied by an easy home routine, so your child has time to decompress and process the new changes.

2. Start With Part-Time Care

Allow your child to adjust slowly to the rhythms of day care. Start with two or three days per week to help them emotionally prepare. If your child has difficulty separating, this time is an opportunity to try different strategies and find one that works before moving to a full-time schedule.

3. Make Drop-Off Quick

When dropping off your child, give them a kiss, hug, tell them you love them, and leave. Comforting your child for too long will make the separation process worse. Establish a quick, positive goodbye even if they’re crying. Most children stop crying a few moments after their parents leave and begin to settle into the new atmosphere.

If the day care allows it, let your child hold on to something of yours like a scarf or laminated photo. Ask them to take care of it until you come to pick them up. This lets them know you’ll be back and can create a comforting connection.

If you’re looking for a reliable, family-oriented, and trustworthy child care institution, visit First Steps Southbury Day Care and Learning Center in Southbury, CT. This school offers day care, preschool, and before- and after-school programs for children between the ages of eight weeks and 10 years. Their well-maintained indoor and outdoor spaces provide kids plenty of space to play on playgrounds and enjoy activities. Keep your kids socially and physically active by enrolling them today. Call (203) 264-3735 to speak with a helpful member of the staff or visit their website for more information.