Will My Toddler Like Daycare?
After being a very over-protective at-home mom for over 2 years, our family situation has changed and I must go back to work full time. I hadn’t planned on returning to work until my child was school-aged and I’m quite upset about leaving her in daycare. Will she be okay, will she like it, will she wonder where I am all day, will she cry for me etc. etc.?
I did tons of research and even called the dept. of our local government who handles the inspections of the local daycares. We’ve chosen an excellent center…they have gotten great inspection reports, offer a hot breakfast for the kids daily, have small class sizes etc. The owner is a former elementary education teacher and special education teacher and seems to be very particular about what teachers she hires at the center. They said I can come by any time while my daughter is there. My daughter will be 2 1/2 when she starts this Aug. She’s NEVER been away from me. We’re going for a couple days in July so she’s familiar.
Tagged with: Daycare • Like • Toddler • Will
Filed under: home inspection
the first few days she will cry when you leave and then she she will be okay.Why not take her for a few half days before you actully start working so you both have time to adjust
I currently work in a daycare. Yes it is very hard on the kids and the parents for awhile. It gets easier for the parents before it gets easier for the child. However take your daughter in and leave. Do not drag it out that makes things worse. In the mean time try having babysitters so that your daughter gets used to you not always being around. I used to work for a highly reccomended day care. The parents were told that only highly screened people were allowed to teach at the daycare. I had a child abuse and criminal clearance and that is it. I am not saying I have anything to hide but my coworkers did. The kids were fed food that was well beyond the expiration date. Their diapers were rarely changed. The kids basically sat in front of a tv all day. So I definately reccomend going in a lot and checking on your daughter. Go in at different times throughout the day and do not let the school know when you will be there. Good luck!
She will cry, that is normal. She may have trouble adjusting to environment if she is not use to being around other children. My children are in daycare, and my 2 year old gets upset when I leave him…but by the time I walk out of the room, he is playing with the other children.
It will be good for her to interact with other children…that way she will be comfortable by the time she goes to school.
you won’t know until you go
it’s good for your child to get into a daycare setting now. it will help her develop social skills and help get her started with a form of a routine which will help her when she goes to school. of course she will cry for you at first but then she will start playing and enjoy daycare. going to visit first is a very good idea she will feel it’s somewhere she’s been before. it sounds like you’ve chosen a very good place for your child to be. also talk to your child about it over the months leading up to her going that way she will be expecting it. you’d be amazed at what a child that age understands. explain that you have to work now she may not completely understand the concept of work but she’ll understand the concept that she’s not just being abandoned. also when you drop her off tell her you love her and you will be back soon. telling her that will ease her anxiety because she knows you’re coming back. also fight the temptation to linger in the morning when you drop her off even if she is crying. usually it’s the process of you leaving the center that makes her cry and her crying spell will end very shortly after you have left. the longer you linger trying to calm her down the worse it will be for her and the daycare staff. you may want to start setting up play dates between now and then with other kids so she can start familiarizing herself with playing with other children (if you don’t already) also a good idea is to start leaving her with someone you trust for a few hours a week to start getting her used to the idea that if you leave her somewhere you’ll come back. maybe drop her off with one of the grandparents or a friend you trust while you go grocery shopping. it’ll help her get used to the idea with out throwing her fully into being dropped off somewhere for hours on end. generally they are so busy playing at daycare and doing activities they don’t have time to wonder where you are. and if you explain that you’re at work she won’t have to wonder, she’ll know. i tell my kids everything and explain everything to them. it’s hard but kids are reseliant and adjust well. best of luck and hope some of this helps!
you will have to let your child experience these times. in three yrs she would go to kindergarten anyways.
the best thing you can do is build a communication with her teachers. find out if they have parents day, when you can come in for a visit.