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Montgomery County Child Care Resource and Referral Center |
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Easy Ways to Transition Your Child into Care Starting with a new provider is an exciting time for both you and your child. You may want to take several steps to help your child prepare emotionally for his/her new provider. •Visit the program with your child before care begins. Tour the classrooms and the playground. Meet the teacher/provider. If possible, allow your child to play with the other children for a few minutes. •Check out books from the library and read about starting at a new daycare/school or new experiences. •Ask the provider what the daily schedule is. Discuss with your child what activities he/she will do each day. •Keep in mind that it is not uncommon for children to be upset during the first few days/weeks of a program. Allow your child time to work through this transition. Try not to linger when you say goodbye to your child. Always say goodbye to your child and never sneak away when you drop your child off. Reassure your child that you will be back at the end of the day. •Talk with the provider regularly to see how your child is adjusting. Communicating With Your Provider The key to having a great relationship with your provider is to build a relationship based on respect and trust. It is important to communicate daily with your provider. To help build a relationship with your provider remember to: •Know and honor your program’s policies. Call your provider if you are going to be late picking your child up. •If there are changes in your child’s life that may be affecting behavior, discuss this with your provider. •Get involved with the program. Volunteer to assist with a special project or field trip. Donate supplies when needed. •Be supportive of your provider’s professional development. Both the program and your child will benefit from this. Daily Communication: •At drop off time talk with the provider. Tell the provider if your child slept poorly, skipped breakfast or if there is something going on in your child’s life that may affect behavior. •If you have a change of plans that day let the provider know this in advance. •If someone other than yourself will be picking the child up let the provider know. •At pick up time discuss your child’s day with the provider. Ask if she napped, how she ate and what activities she enjoyed that day. •If you have in-depth questions or issues to discuss, ask the provider when you could talk over the phone or in- person. Discussing Difficult Issues: From time to time you may encounter an issue that may be difficult to talk to your provider about. If you have worked to develop a good relationship with your provider it won’t be as hard to bring up difficult issues. Conflicts are a normal part of most relationships and can usually be resolved. If you do need to address a problem issue remember to: •Speak privately with the provider. Never discuss problems in front of your child or other parents. Set up a time to speak privately or over the phone. •Address the issue when it first comes up. If you are really upset it is best to wait until you are calm and have collected your thoughts. •Think about what you want to say ahead of time. •Use a calm tone of voice to express your concerns. •Listen to your provider’s views as well. •Create an environment of mutual respect. Remember that a willingness to compromise is helpful when dealing with difficult issues. Parent-Teacher Conferences: Some programs may offer annual parent-teacher conferences. Here are a few tips to remember: •Be on time. Conferences are often tightly scheduled and your provider is not able to accommodate late arrivals. •Be prepared. Talk with your child about the program prior to the conference. Find out your child’s likes and dislikes. Make a list of the issues you want to discuss. •Ask what you can do at home to enhance your child’s learning experience and development. •Talk about any actions you and the provider may need to take to support your child’s growth and development. •Stay in touch! Check in on a regular basis to see how your child is progressing.
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