How To Help Your Child During The Daycare Drop Off
It is not uncommon for many children to have a hard time being dropped off at daycare. This is especially the case for younger children, such as infants, toddlers and preschool aged children. If your child is having a hard time separating from you during the daycare drop off, there is hope. Here are a couple things you can try to make the child feel more secure.
1. Establish Healthy Sleep Habits
One reason that many children have a hard time is because they haven't gotten adequate sleep. If your mornings are rushed and the child doesn't get a good breakfast, was woken up, or felt like they didn't get enough time in the morning with their mom or dad, they could become grouchy. All of these could contribute to the child being uncooperative in the mornings.
If possible, try to get the child to bed at an early reasonable time. When the child wakes up give them time to do the things they want, eat a good breakfast and spend quality time with parents. This will help them feel more secure when it is time for daycare.
2. Take A Secure Object
Many children have something like a blanket or a doll that is used to help soothe them. This is a great way to help the child feel comforted even when you are not there. Some parents worry about their child taking this object to daycare, but in most cases it is helpful for the child. This will help them know you love them even when you can't be there.
3. Call The Caregiver After The Drop-Off
Many times the parent has to leave while the child is crying. This is pretty common and usually the child will become comforted and happy shortly after the parent leaves. If you are concerned about your child, you can call a couple minutes later and see if the child has stopped crying. If the child is playing fine then you know it is just a little anxiety at the beginning, and everything is fine.
However, some children still cry, and continue to be sad and withdrawn throughout the day. If your child is experiencing this it may be a sign of a bigger problem. This specific daycare may not be a good fit for your child, your child may have had some sort of incident that is worrisome, or the child might have some sort of disability. Whatever the reason, it shouldn't be ignored.
These are just a couple suggestions making the daycare drop off easier. For more tips, contact a company like Cedarbrae Childcare.