Adapting
Together we can help your child adapt to the new environment
Preparation and cooperation
Parents often worry about how quickly their child will adapt to the daycare. Although the child plays a central role in the adaptation process, their quick adaptation is influenced by the preparation and cooperation between the home and daycare.
Daycare is a place where the child learns how to behave among others, how to communicate and how to cope in a group. Here children also learn table manners, respect for peers, hygiene, keeping order, etc. All this is done playfully and during creative activities. The results are achieved by the example we set, joint action and the support of group mates.
First days at Daycare
There is a lot you can do yourself to make the habituation period as easy as possible for your child. Although it is recommended for the parent to be in the daycare with the child in the first few days, it should not be extended for too long, because it can cause harm instead of the desired benefit.
After being together for a few days, the parent may leavr for just an hour at first. The child is told that the parent is going away now, for example to work or shopping, and will be back soon. A hug, a wave, and the parent leaves. You should definitely not leave secretly when the child is playing, because this creates fear and mistrust in the child, and the child will continue to fear that the parent may suddenly disappear.
In the first days, the child goes to the daycare together with the parent
Communication with Your child
The same behaviour also applies when it is time to leave your child without a parent for the whole day. The parent speaks to the child and explains that the child will now stay in the daycare to play with the teacher and friends while the parent goes to work.
For example, tell your child what they will be doing during the day in the daycare: eat, play, go outside, sleep, eats, and after that mommy/daddy comes.
Express optimist that the day will definitely be fun. Then hug and leave immediately. It is also possible to call the daycare after some time and ask about the progress of the day.
How quickly do children adapt?
In case of easy adaptation, the children accept the daycare within 10-15 days. In more severe cases, it may take up to 2 months. In the first 2-3 weeks, the child should go to the daycare regularly with no interruptions.
The smaller the child, the more important it is to not leave long intervals where they are not attending the daycare.
It is often easier if the father brings the child to daycare instead of the mother. Generally fathers are more to the point and the morning goodbye is less painful this way.
