Helping Your Child Settle into The Cottage
This is a really important time for both parents and children, it is often the first time a child is left on their own without someone from their Whānau It is important that we work together – the centre and the family to make this transition as smooth as possible.
We have put together this guide to help and inform you. This is a system we follow and believe works best for children starting at The Cottage.
Before you start – planning your visits
You come for as many visits as possible with your child. Spend time to talk to the teachers and look at all the various play areas, and the kinds of activities we have during our day.
Show your child where their bag will go, and talk to them about where they can keep their belongings when they are at preschool. Show them where the toilet is, and how to wash their hands and how to dry them. Talk to them about the food and how our routines work. The best way to find out this information is to communicate with the staff and ask as many questions as you can. Let us know if you or your child has any questions or concerns and how we can help them.
Visits should be between half an hour to an hour.
The important thing for your child to see is that they are coming to a warm, loving and caring environment. If they see you comfortable in the environment and interacting and playing with others, then they will generally start to do the same thing. This is a time to discuss with the teachers what your child likes doing, what his/her interests are, as this will help them get the child interacting and feeling comfortable in the environment.
On the last couple of days before you start you can leave your child for a one hour visit on their own. Make sure they have their bag, with spare clothes.
Please follow our leaving your child routine!
Your Childs first days:
Arrive at your booked time, and create a good morning routine for example
1. Sign in on the tablet.
2. Hang the bag on its hook.
3. Talk to your child about some of the activities you can see happening.
4. Take your child to a teacher and tell them you are going and that you will be back at a certain time.
5. Let a teacher know any information that we need to know – what time you will return.
We recommend that this is a shorter day on their first few days especially if your child is distressed.
Even if your child is sad and crying it is important for you to remain confident and happy, so that your child feels assured that this is a good thing!
Once you have told your child you are leaving it is important to go, if you keep returning and coming back this confuses your child and sends them the wrong message about what is happening.
Please do not stay in the carpark or hide over the fence or walk up and down the road as this makes the process really difficult for us to manage and makes the settling process more difficult and slower than it needs to be.
It is totally normal to feel anxious about how your child’s first day, week, and month is going. Please feel free to call the centre and we will give you an update on your child. We are here to help you, please ring as often as you like – 094139041.
After a week or so
As your child settles in, you can extend the time they stay until they have reached their full booked day. For some children, this may take longer than others.
Some things to consider:
If your child has a special toy or comfort item, it is a good idea to bring this in with them. Perhaps a photo of you or a special item from home. As they settle, they will need these less and less.
We often have a saying called “the 3rd-day blues”, often the first day is good – no tears, the second is slightly worse, then the 3rd and next few days can often be quite difficult, however, if you persevere, keep upbeat and keep to our plan this will settle and we are confident that your child will be happy and making their way very soon!
It is quite normal for you to feel anxious, but often this anxiety can pass to your child. If you talk openly about your child being upset at the centre in front of them, they will generally act upset because they have heard you say they are. Make sure you are not passing your worries onto your child.
Our role is to make each and every child feel welcome and important. We want both the children and teachers to enjoy each day and be in harmony, in a safe and happy home away from home.
ALWAYS say goodbye, never sneak away or try to hide from your child. We try to establish a relationship built on trust from the beginning. This starts with your child trusting you that you have made a good choice and trusting that you will back as you have said you will!