Preparing Your Child for a Smooth Transition to School or Daycare

Introduction

You’re doing daycare or school drop-off, you’re already late for work, and your child’s lip starts to quiver. A tremble turns into a wail, a wail into heart-rending cries as they clutch at your leg. Eventually, you have to leave and get to work. You spend the rest of the day feeling absolutely wretched. Sound familiar?

Preparation is Key

Each child is different and not every child will struggle at drop-off. But if yours does, remember it’s age appropriate for young children to feel strong emotions when transitioning to a new environment. In extreme cases, it develops into separation anxiety disorder, which can impact about 4% of preschoolers and school-age children.

In fact, there’s a lot you can do to make drop-off less stressful for your child. One useful approach is to think about what the NSW Department of Education describes as the four “stages” of transitioning to school or daycare: preparation, transfer, induction, and consolidation.

Preparation

Before your child starts, try to build relationships with other children in your area. Having even one familiar face at drop-off can comfort your child. Consider:

* Allowing your child to get familiar with school or daycare in advance. See if you can visit several times and play in the playground before your child starts there.
* Taking a few “drive by” visits in the car, or walk past and chat with your child about what people are doing in school or daycare, and some of the routines of the day.
* For children about to start school, prepare lunchboxes and practice opening and eating them at home.
* Read picture books about starting daycare or school – such as Maddie’s First Day by Penny Matthews and Liz Anelli – to discuss the key themes together.
* Spending unhurried time in the new environment before the “first day” allows children to explore the environment and build relationships with other children and educators while feeling safe and comfortable.

Routines Can Help with a Smooth Transfer

Establishing a routine during drop-off may help children settle into a new environment. Predictability can help children feel safe and secure. An example routine might include putting their bag away, reading a book together, playing with playdough, giving a kiss and hug and then leaving. This might mean getting to school or daycare a bit earlier than you’d intended.

Support the Induction Process

Educators and teachers work hard to create a sense of belonging for children in this new environment. This means building on children’s strengths and establishing relationships so children feel comfortable.

A strength-based approach views children as already being learners as they enter early childhood education, focusing on the knowledge and skills they bring. So chat to the educators and to your child about what happens at care or at school, so you can congratulate your child on how well they’re doing. Find out more about what they do all day, and encourage them to see daycare or school as “their place.”

Consolidation

The transition process is complex and dynamic. A child who initially transitioned happily may regress requiring you and the educators to revisit the process. Many children who appear upset at drop-off will calm down quickly. But a child experiencing prolonged separation anxiety disorder may require specific strategies to transition successfully. Your child’s educator will let you know if this is an issue.

Taking time to build relationships with the teachers and educators will allow you to work together.

Conclusion

Remember, every child is an individual, and adapting to a new environment can be different for everyone. Whether children and families are anxious or excited, transitioning from home to school or daycare means change. Change, although hard at first, can open the window to new relationships, environments, and experiences. Understanding the process and working to minimize the impact will result in a happy start to early childhood education.

FAQs

* How can I help my child feel more comfortable at drop-off?
+ Encourage your child to get familiar with the school or daycare environment, build relationships with other children, and establish a routine during drop-off.
* What if my child is experiencing separation anxiety disorder?
+ Consult with your child’s educator and develop a plan to help them transition successfully. This may include small steps, such as gradual separation or having a comfort object present.
* How can I support my child during the transition process?
+ Communicate with your child about what happens at care or at school, find out more about what they do all day, and encourage them to see daycare or school as “their place.”