My child's first few days at Woodlands Long Day Care & Kindergarten, what should I do to help with the transition and what should I expect?
The first day of Childcare and Kindergarten is a very exciting milestone in your child’s life. It marks the beginning of a lifelong adventure of learning, new friends, and a whole lot of fun! But it can also be a daunting step for parents, and the lead up to their big day can easily feel uncertain without a trusting bond with your child's Woodland teachers and educators and a useful framework of preparation in place.
The good news is that much of the hard work has already been done. You and your child have completed the free two-hour orientation at your Woodlands Long Day Care & Kindergarten Campus and you’re about to embark on a wonderful journey with teachers, educators, and people that love education.
So, while those weeks ahead of your first drop off might be filled with trepidation, we are here to help and show you some tried and tested strategies and solutions that can help you put the right plans in place ahead of your family’s new chapter at Woodlands Long Day Care & Kindergarten.
Children thrive on predictability and routine surrounded by the people they trust and who care for them. Woodlands will provide this for your child, however, in the first few weeks, everything and everyone is new. It can take time for your child to feel settled, as they adjust to a new routine and a new group of friends and teachers.
1) In Preparation
Talk about their new adventure. Beginning Childcare and Kindergarten is an exciting time. It’s a place where children can expect to grow, discover the world of learning and curiosity, make new friends, and most importantly, have fun! A key step to take before their first day is to have a conversation about what is happening and what they can expect (Of course depending on your child's current communication abilities will depend on how this is communicated).
Having already seen our Woodlands Campus, you can share with them what the space is like, which parts of their new environment you think they’ll enjoy, or some of the games and activities they can look forward to. While some children love surprises and something new is great, some other children may need time to settle in as they find a new environment and unfamiliar faces a very new experience.
You can help your child to settle in by
- Talking to them about their room, their teachers, their friends and the fun
activities. You can meet your child's teachers and educators here: https://woodlandelc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/sections/900000568186-Meet-The-Woodlands-Team - Involve them in packing their bags, choosing suitable shoes and a hat. We also have a Woodlands children's clothing line to help with preparing children for Woodlands Childcare or Kindergarten, This is optional to wear and can view our Uniform Store here: https://woodlandelc.com/woodlands-uniform-shop/
- The child can bring in their security object. This can be a comforter or a family picture. We encourage you to label all your children's belongings, you can view what to being to Woodlands here: https://woodlandelc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4518440364559-Woodlands-Family-Tip-5-Childs-Belongings-
- If possible, start with shorter days (e.g 9:00am - 3:00pm) and gradually increase the length of the day.
2) Departures
Prepare for your exit. We understand there’s no easy way to say goodbye, especially if it’s your first time experiencing Childcare or Kindergarten drop off. But there are a number of easy steps that are guaranteed to help both you and your child settle in that little bit more comfortable when your child’s first day at childcare finally does arrive
You can help your child to settle in by
Let your child know what will happen at drop off for example;
- Putting their water bottle and belongings away
- having a cuddle and saying goodbye
- letting them know that you will be back later
- leave promptly as It is normal for some children to protest strongly when you leave and sometimes it doesn’t happen in the first week, but a few weeks into the year
- As they develop connections with the educators and friends and learn the new routine, it will become easier at drop off
Please Note - Parents staying longer prolongs the settling period
- Even if your child is protesting, we recommend a quick drop off, as staying longer after you have told your child that you would be leaving can be confusing for them and can prolong the settling period.
- Our Woodland teachers can not establish a connection with your child or start to settle your child if parents linger in the Woodlands Campus
- You can Call Woodlands throughout the day to ask about your child, and teachers will upload information about their day on the Xplor Home App
3) Staying Connected With Your Child at Woodlands Long Day Care & Kindergarten
- Download the Xplor App. We know that another app is probably the last thing you think you need right now but trust us when we say that you’re going to love this one
- The Xplor app allows our educators to share photos, videos, and observations with you throughout the day to keep you up to date with what your little genius is up to. The app also allows staff to provide you with other helpful updates about nappy changes, sleep schedules, and other key health information - straight to your pocket. And if that wasn’t enough, Xplor allows you to schedule or mark your child will be absent
- Download the Xplor App: 🤖Android Device | 🍏Apple Device
- Woodlands also provide weekly parent meetings to allow parents to connect with their child's teachers and educators to allow open-ended conversations about their child's development and education. More Information Can Be Found Here: https://woodlandelc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4517965309583--Woodlands-Family-Tip-4-Partnerships-Meetings-