How To Help Your Child Adjust Attending Childcare

1. Seperation are difficult for anyone, especially for children because they are still learning how to deal with the world. We help youong children learn what to do by how we behave during times of seperation. By learning to sucessfully seperate from a caregiver children learn a crucial life lesson-that can atrust and enjoy other people.
2. Take time carefully choose who will care for your c hild. Once you have made the decision, try to assure yourself taht your child will be well taken care of by the childcare provider and that you have made the right choice. Take deep breaths and try to remain calm (or a least appear calm) before and while you take your chld to childcare.
3. Keep in mind that seperation anxiety is more pronounced when children are not feeling well (hungry, tired, sock) or have been experiencing changes or stressors at home (new baby, change in routines, move to a new house, etc.). So if you know that your child isn't feeling entirely well or has recently experienced life changes, don't be surprised if he or she has a harder time dealing with seperation from you.
4. Allow extra t ime in the morning for getting ready to go to the childcare.
5. When you get to the chldcare, stay with your child for several minutes. Engage your child in play and ask a childcare provider to come near. At first, talk to the childcare provider so that your child can see you are comfortable with the childcare provider.
6. Then ask the childcare provider to increasingly interact with your child throug play while you lessen your involvement.
7. Once the paly is going well tell your child that you are going but that you will be back later. Give your child kisses goodbye but then leave fairly swiftly. REmember to keep on a brave face up until your child can't see you.
8. The childcare provider then might hould your child because you child will probably cary and try to follow you. The childcare provider should be asked to be saying out loud that your child is okay and that mommy ( or daddy) will be back. You can even tell the childcare provider the exact phrases you use to comfort your child and ask them to say them. In general, as much similarity as possible (phrases, play meterials, routines, etc.) will help your chld calm.
9. Tell the childcare provider in advance your child's favorite play things so that the childcare provider will eventually be able to redirect your chld's attention to play.
10. If your chld has particular comfort items (blankets, etc.), encourage the childcare provider to give these to your child to help him or her calm down. You can also give your child something that symbolizes you to help with the seperation from you (such as your hair clip. or a set of keys, or a picture of you.)
11. Hopefully the amount ot time takes your chld to calm down after you leave will decrease each time you come to chldcare.
12. If after several days your child continues to cry intensely and never calm enought to play, seek help from a mental health professional.

Credits: Center for Child and Family Services, Inc.