Preparing Your Child for Daycare? Here Are Some Tips to Help You Out
The first major change in a child’s life is when he or she starts going to a daycare center. Hence the toddler needs to be prepared well ahead of the actual D-Day so that there is no undue stress on the little one. If your little one is starting his or her outing in the local Daycare in Eagle Rock, CA, here are some tips on how to prepare your child for this.
Start Following The Daycare Routine Before Daycare Starts
The first thing that you will get once you have enrolled your child in daycare is a routine for each day. So, before the classes actually start, let your child follow that routine at home. It is not that you have to teach your child what they will in the daycare; rather you need to prepare the child for getting up at a specific time, getting ready, eating food at the prescribed lunch period, and also afternoon nap. Once the child becomes familiar with the routine, transitioning to the daycare as it starts will be quite easy and stress-free.
Brush Your Child’s Social Skills
Daycare is the first place your child will be with other children of his or her age. If your child has never been in such a social situation before, it can be very difficult for him or her. This is why you need to take your child to the nearest park so that there can be interaction with other children. It will help the child to assimilate into his or her class faster.
Acknowledge Your Own Feelings
The upcoming separation is not only stressful for the toddler but also for you. Since birth, your child has been your center of attention for the most part of the day; so to be away from him or her for a good period of time, can be a little hard to adjust to at first. But don’t brush aside these feelings of sadness, guilt and even worrying about the safety of your child; talk to experienced mothers or friends with children of the same age and you will feel better prepared for the first day at your daycare center.
Encourage Self-Help and Independence
The daycare center will expect that your toddler can do certain things by himself or herself; like telling when he or she needs to use the bathroom or eating by himself/herself. But that will not automatically happen as he or she starts going to your Daycare in Eagle Rock, CA; you need to prepare the child by encouraging these behaviors at home. Let the child eat by himself, also do little things like picking up his toys or books or even clothes. Another skill set she needs to learn especially in this present year is how to properly wash her hands and also how to put on a mask.
Going to daycare for the first time can be a memorable experience for your toddler and you. By preparing ahead you can make it as smooth as possible. Then this day will only bring joyful memories that you both will cherish forever.