New routines and habits can initially seem foreign, especially to young ones. For example, enrolling your child at daycare is likely a completely new routine, and your child may not be receptive to the idea. To help ease them into the process, here are three guidelines to facilitate a more peaceful transition into daycare:

Start With an Attendance of Only a Few Hours 

In the beginning, enroll your child at the daycare for a few hours and then progressively increase the duration until they can manage to stay at the facility for a whole day. This way, your child can explore the new environment without becoming overwhelmed and too uncomfortable. Once they become accustomed to daycare, its environment, and routine, you have peace of mind that enables you to complete your daily tasks without worrying about how your kid is doing at the facility.

Discuss the Daycare Experience With Them

Before dropping your little one off at the facility, take ample time to explain where they are going, what activities they can participate in, and how the experience benefits them. Be careful to reassure them that together, you can discuss any aspects of the experience they enjoy and any that they don't.

Give Them Something From Home to Bring With Them

Likely, your young one is not used to being around people without a family member or other familiar person around. Having the child carry something from home can aid in creating a homely aura wherever they go. You can achieve this with items such as their favorite stuffed animal or nap blanket. These items may help them feel comforted while at daycare. Older children who may be uncomfortable carrying such items can keep a family photo or a handwritten note that could be different each morning.

Create a Goodbye Cue

A consistent goodbye cue is advisable to let your child know it is time for you to part. The cue could be something like a special hug, forehead kiss, or a customized hand-bumping goodbye. Choose whatever your young one is more inclined towards, and use it consistently when it is time to drop them off. Normalizing this allows them to recognize when it is time to separate.

Executing the above practices allows you and your little one to experience a more seamless transition into the new routine incorporating daycare. Ensure that you give them adequate time to process each step, and they will become more comfortable with the changes.

For more tips, contact a company like Kids Kampus Child Care and Early Learning Center.

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