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SMILING STAR CHILDCARE | GUIDELINES FOR FIRST-TIMERS | CHOOSING A CHILDCARE CENTRE | MINISTER VISIT

Useful Guidelines

The decision to enroll your child in a child care centre is a momentous occasion for you and your child.

This will be the first time your child is away from you , in a totally unfamiliar environment, meeting new people, acquiring new skills and estabilishing a different routine.

As a parent, it will be an equally establishing decision as you opt to share both physical and emotional controls of your child with a new caregiver, beyond the familiar confines of your home.

Here !! this contains helpful tips to parents who are considering the use of child care facilities. It explains how your child may react to a child care centre, clarifies some common misconceptions and highlights the benefits of a child care centre.

How Can I Prepare My Child For The Child Care Experience ?

Before admission, prepare your child by explaining how enjoyable the experience of the childcare centre will be. Emphasise that it will be fun to meet other children, make new friends, see a new place, play with new toys and have a teacher who will look after him / her during the day .

To familiar your child with the centre, arrange to bring him / her for one or two brief visits.

Should I Accompany My Child To The Centre?

It is advisable that you accompany your child for only a few days and not more than 3 days  . Once your child begins to interact with other children, leave and allow him / her to settle down on his / her own. Your continued presence may make the adjustment more difficult as your child would become dependent on you. Subsequent visits will be useful to reassure your child and allow you to assess the child care environment.

What should I do if my child refuses to attend the centre, or has fears and nightmares about the going there?

Be calm and direct with your child and emphasise all the fun he / she will have . Reassure your child that he / she will soon settle down in the new environment and make few friends.

If your child continues to be distressed , talk to the teacher and discuss ways to help your child overcome his /her fears. However, if you still feel uncomfortable, you may need to reconsider the child care arrangement. As far as possible, avoid changing child care arrangements too frequently as this will be unsettling for your child.

Is it normal for children to cry when they are in a new child care environment?

This is perfectly normal as children placed in a new environment often fear that their parents will not come back for them. Reassure your child that you will collect him / her later in the evening. Your child should become familiar with the daily routine once he / she realises that the stay at the centre is only for the day and her / she will be reunited with you at the end of the day.