Tips to help your child ease into day care

As a mom, you are the source of security and safety for your child. So, its natural for children to feel anxious when they have to stay away from parents for long hours, especially in a day care center. However, you can make this new experience less frightening for your child. Start by preparing your child well in advance for this new experience. Also, help your child cope with this new situation by being patient and understanding. Give your child lots of love. But most importantly, parents should try to reassure their children that you are still very much there for them. The following tips can help your child adjust better in a day care environment.

%u2022 Choose the right day care for your child. Understand its needs and look for a day care that can cater to them. Do not always opt for the one that%u2019s closest to your home or workplace. Or one that is more affordable. Look around and take time to make a decision. Make sure that the environment is safe and the people are trustworthy.
%u2022 Talk to your child about day care and prepare your child for the new experience. Tell your child what to expect in the new environment. Children should be reassured your that you will always be back to pick them up and take them home at the end of the day.
%u2022 Tell your children about all the fun things that can have at the day care-the friends they can meet, the toys they can play with and the friendly people over there. Your positive outlook will surely rub off on your children. This will make their first days at day care much easier for both of you.
%u2022 If possible, send your child to the day care for only a few hours at first, gradually increasing the time spent at the center.
%u2022 Spend the first few days with your child at the day care, so that it feels comfortable in the new environment with you around. Start by allowing your child to go with the caretaker to the next room for a few minutes, while you stay back. This way, your child knows it can come back to you whenever it wants.
%u2022 Make sure you always tell your children that you will be back to pick them up before you say good-bye at the day care center. Don%u2019t go in for long conversations when you say your good-byes. This will become a habit and your child will look for excuses (or even throw a tantrum) to keep you with her for some more time, each day.
%u2022 Stick to picking your child up at the same time each day, so your child knows that you will come, no matter what.
%u2022 You can also allow your child to take a favorite toy or blanket. This can be very comforting when your child feels lonely.
%u2022 Give your child a big hug when you go to pick up your child from the day care. Give your children a reasonable amount of time to say good-bye to their friends before they leave the center at the end of the day.
%u2022 Talk to your children about their day when you get back home. Spend as much time as possible with them in the evening and weekends.
%u2022 This a time of transition and your child may exhibit various behavioral changes like thumb sucking, bed wetting or throwing tantrums. Be patient as most of these behaviors are likely to pass away.
%u2022 Work closely with your child%u2019s caretaker to make the time she spends in day care much more enjoyable .

Children want to be loved. They need to feel wanted. They never want to feel abandoned in a strange environment. Keep these things in mind while preparing your child for day care. With a lot of patience and reassurance, you can make your child%u2019s day care days a very positive life experience.