Going to day care has been a part of many toddlers' lives for decades now and these tough economic times are causing an influx of even more mommies back into the work force.
If it's time for your toddler to go to day care for the first time, here are some helpful hints to help make this important transition a little easier.
--Start a playgroup: If you don't already have your toddler involved in a regular playgroup, now's a great time to start! Many parents have a great system whereby neighborhood kids meet once a week for a morning and rotate from home to home.
This type of event will help your child start learning the social skills that will help in a day care setting and he will also start getting used to being away from home for an extended period of time.
--Read books about day care: There are plenty of picture books on the market that talk about what it's like to go to day care and the kinds of fun experiences that children there enjoy.
Seek these books out and make reading them together a part of your bedtime routine.
--Visit the day care facility together well before "the big day:" The more familiar your child can be with his child care facility before you leave him there, the better.
Most places allow future attendees and a parent to spend a few hours or even a whole day there free of charge.
--Don't forget to say goodbye: When it's time for your child to actually stay at the facility, most experts agree that "sneaking away" so that your child won't notice is more harmful to him than saying goodbye.
If you sneak away, he may wonder if you're ever coming back! Assure him when you say goodbye that he knows your schedule, he's going to have lots of fun, and you'll be back for him at the end of the day.
Day care is a big step in the life of your child: be as positive as you can about his new experience and prepare him well so that he can get off on the right foot.
If it's time for your toddler to go to day care for the first time, here are some helpful hints to help make this important transition a little easier.
--Start a playgroup: If you don't already have your toddler involved in a regular playgroup, now's a great time to start! Many parents have a great system whereby neighborhood kids meet once a week for a morning and rotate from home to home.
This type of event will help your child start learning the social skills that will help in a day care setting and he will also start getting used to being away from home for an extended period of time.
--Read books about day care: There are plenty of picture books on the market that talk about what it's like to go to day care and the kinds of fun experiences that children there enjoy.
Seek these books out and make reading them together a part of your bedtime routine.
--Visit the day care facility together well before "the big day:" The more familiar your child can be with his child care facility before you leave him there, the better.
Most places allow future attendees and a parent to spend a few hours or even a whole day there free of charge.
--Don't forget to say goodbye: When it's time for your child to actually stay at the facility, most experts agree that "sneaking away" so that your child won't notice is more harmful to him than saying goodbye.
If you sneak away, he may wonder if you're ever coming back! Assure him when you say goodbye that he knows your schedule, he's going to have lots of fun, and you'll be back for him at the end of the day.
Day care is a big step in the life of your child: be as positive as you can about his new experience and prepare him well so that he can get off on the right foot.