Aiding your childs transition to day care

A high-quality day care should not only "take care" of your child, but also provide them with an enriching learning environment that builds the foundation for the development of key social, emotional and cognitive skills. For instance, a Brooklyn day care called the Williamsburg Northside Infant & Toddler Center, is known to provide children with an environment that fosters their all-round development through engaging and enriching activities.

A child who is attending a day care for the first time may find it difficult to adjust to the unfamiliar environment. Parents can take certain measures to ensure that the transition to the day care is a smooth and joyful experience for the child.

Aiding a smooth transition to day care

* Spend some time at the day care with your child
Visit the day care with your child to facilitate your child's bonding with the day care staff. Knowing that you are present can allow the child to explore the day care environment with ease. Helping your child get familiar with the staff and surroundings will make it much easier for your child to transition into day care.

* Give detailed information to the staff about your child
Make sure that you inform the staff about your child's medical history, food allergies, food preferences, triggers for tantrum-throwing and ways to soothe the child when they are agitated.

* Ensure your child that you'll be back in time
If you have an older child, it can be useful to talk to them about why they need to spend time at a day care, the kind of experiences they'll have there and when can they expect you to come pick them up.

Ensure them that you are just a call away and that you'll arrive on time to pick them up. When dropping your child off, do not extend the goodbye and gently but firmly remove yourself from the surroundings to allow the child to mingle with their peers and the child care staff.

* Send your child's favorite toy or a family picture along

Children are no different from adults in that they need to feel a sense of emotional fulfillment by having their loved ones by their side. Just like as adults we can manage our emotions by giving a call to someone we are missing or reminding ourselves that we'll meet them soon, children can benefit from an 'emotional anchor' in the form of a family picture or a toy that they play with at home in the presence of their parents.

Professional caregivers at a day care can ease the stress you may be experiencing with regard to leaving your child in an environment that's unfamiliar to them. The Williamsburg Northside Infant & Toddler Center, mentioned earlier, is a prime example of a Brooklyn day care that provides a nurturing yet stimulating environment to bring out the best in a growing child. You can also look for other daycares known to provide a nourishing environment that's conducive to a child's growth and development.