Preparing Your Child for Their First Day of Child Care

Starting childcare can be an emotional rollercoaster for you and your little ones. You’ve probably got all sorts of questions running through your mind – Will my child make friends in their new environment? Will they have separation anxiety when I drop them off for their first day of daycare? Will my child listen to their educator’s instructions? What happens if my child falls ill or has an accident? Will my child be safe, well looked after, and happy at their childcare facility?

We know that it never gets easier, no matter how many children you have and how many times you go through the first-day preparation and drop-off. In this article, we’ll help you get your child ready, advise you on what to expect, and answer some frequently asked questions from parents.

You can reduce your own and your child’s anxiety and set both of you up for success by taking the time to fully prepare. At Little Learners Day Care centre, we have an open-door policy and would be happy to give you and your little one a tour of our early learning centre. This allows families to view our facilities, ask lots of questions and meet our lovely team of caring educators. Your child can feel reassured by exploring the space and seeing the other children enjoying themselves.

At home you can prepare your child by introducing them to their new routine a few weeks before their first day of daycare, so they have time to get used to it. Establishing a consistent routine will greatly assist with your child’s transition from home to childcare. You should also explain to them why you’re changing their routine in a way that’s easy for them to understand. Talking them through what they can expect from their new schedule and what they will do at daycare can help reassure them. You could say, “You’ll go in the morning, play with toys, get to do fun activities, make new friends to play with, have lunch and then I’ll pick you up after nap time.”

If your child hasn’t been away from you very often, ask a trustworthy friend or family member to look after them for a couple of hours so that they can become confident being around different adults and trust that you’ll come back for them. Sending them off with a comfort toy or blanket can help your child feel more secure and feel connected to you even when you’re not there with them.

How to Make the Drop-Off as Smooth as Possible

When you drop your child off for their first day in childcare, you need to remain calm and keep a positive approach to this new experience your child is about to embark on. Your child will be looking to you, to see how you respond to the situation. We know it’s not always easy, but if your child can sense that you’re nervous, they in turn may feel shy or anxious about this change. When you are confident and positive, your child is more likely to feel excited to meet and play with the other children.

To avoid rushing yourself and your child out the door on the first morning, pack their things the night before and arrive at daycare a few minutes early. Both you and your child will feel more in control and have plenty of time to greet their carers and say goodbye properly. 

Parting ways can be an emotional experience, even if you’ll only be apart for a few hours. A lengthy departure can increase anxiety and make it harder for your child to accept the situation. It is very important that you always say goodbye before leaving, as this builds trust. Keep the goodbye short and sweet and reassure them that you’ll be back soon to pick them up.

If your child is nervous or starts crying, acknowledge & validate their feelings and reassure them (e.g. “It’s ok to feel sad but you’ll be ok. I’ll be back to pick you up soon”)

You can also remind them about how much fun they are going to have during their day, highlighting the activities that you know your child will enjoy at their daycare. This will help manage your child’s expectations and redirect their focus onto the positives. 

Our Little Learners team has lots of experience in comforting and engaging children who are initially apprehensive about leaving their parents. Usually, they calm down shortly after their parents leave them in our capable hands.