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Choosing childcare
What is Family Daycare
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Allow for a settling in period
Once you have chosen the right Family Daycare Carer you need to
prepare yourself and your child for the change in your lives. Some
simple prior preparation helps make the first day and first week a
little easier.
Be aware,
many children experience anxiety when things in their life change.
It is completely normal for your child to feel uneasy about this
change. Preparing your child by talking to them about the carer and
their new daycare, in
the days beforehand. Talk about where they will be going and what
they will be doing. Emphasising the positive aspects, such as the new
toys, the new friends and all the fun activities they can take part
in. Always reassuring them you will be there at the end of
each day
to collect them.
If possible,
ensure you and your child visit the carer on a few occasions before
the big day where you have to leave them to go to work. Ideally, you should aim start your child
in care a few weeks before you need to start work. This way your
visits can be relaxed and leisurely fashion. Allowing you to get
used to your child going to care, and giving your child time to
settle. All before the added pressure of
you having to perform in a new job.
If you can
spend time with your child at the service, looking and playing with all the toys
and new equipment. Answer all their questions openly
and honestly. It will make for a much smoother transition into
daycare. Allowing time to reassure them that everything will be
okay, can make all the difference to them settling in happily and
feeling secure.
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On your child's
first day try to arrive a little ahead of time. Help your
child settle by becoming involved in an activity with them, before you
have to leave for work. Your child
will be less likely to get upset when you need to leave, if they are
having fun and involved in an play. This helps you, your child
and the carer have a happier day. You would be less likely to
feel guilty and concerned about your child.
In case your child
gets upset, ensure you have a familiar toy or their favourite blanket
for comfort. Your child
may find it easier adjusting to the new environment if they have
something familiar to comfort them. Think about making up a
small collage of family photographs. Your child can take this to
daycare. It can provide a comfort to your child, and they
can refer to it when he or she feels the need, this sometimes is all
they need to help them settle well.
In the first
few days, when saying goodbye and leaving, pay close attention to your
body language. Your child will pick up on your anxiety and
become concerned. If you show you are feeling uncertain about things,
your child could begin to panic. So even if you have to pretend
you are happy, do it. It will make your child feel more
comfortable.
It is not a good
idea to go out of the door when your child is pre-occupied, this
usually only makes it worse the next time.
Your child will fear that you are
going to disappear again, then will be unwilling to let you
out of his or her sight for a minute.
What if your
child does not settle? more>
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