How to Help a Child to Settle Down in Daycare
It is not at all unusual for your young child to start wailing and crying the second you try to step out the door of his daycare. Putting your child in a new environment with a new caregiver is unsettling to your child, and his anxiety over you leaving might turn into uncontrollable crying. While most daycare staff members are used to this response and should handle it effectively with or without you, as a parent, you have the ability to ease your child into the situation, teach him self-regulation skills and help him interact with peers.
Instructions
Bring your child to the daycare center for a short visit. According to Family Education, you should visit the daycare more than once to allow your child to interact -- or choose not to interact -- with his peers and caregiver. Do not push your child into playing with peers if he is not ready to do so. You should also use this opportunity to tell your child he will spend time here without you and to reassure your child that everything will be okay. Prepare your child by explaining how much fun he can have at daycare. Explain what activities he will do and that he will make new friends. If you tell your child in advance where he is going and what he is doing, he is less likely to have an emotional or anxious response. Read books with your child about going to daycare. This step adds more reassurance that your child will enjoy his time in daycare and that you will come back to pick him up when daycare is over. Arrive at your child̵7;s daycare at least 15 minutes early, and accompany your child into the room. With the help of the caregiver, get your child interested in an activity before you leave. According to Care for Kids, if your child starts to enjoy an activity, he is less likely to object when you leave. Reassure your child that you will be back to pick him up at the end of daycare. Your child̵7;s emotional response is likely due to the idea that you won̵7;t come back for him. Hearing your reassurance should help calm your child down. Be prompt to pick up your child, and after a few days, he will understand the routine of you dropping him off and picking him up. Treat the daycare situation with a happy or pleasant attitude. If you seem anxious when you drop off your kid, he will most likely take on those same feelings. Also stay calm or breathe deeply with your child if he throws a fit when you try to leave. Modeling appropriate behavior should help your child calm himself down. Give your child a favorite toy or security blanket if he becomes upset. Holding onto these objects can help promote a sense of familiarity and calm. Make a routine and stick to it. It might be hard to see your child get so upset when you try to leave, but know that it is a natural part of the adjustment process. Family Education also suggests making sure your child gets adequate sleep, and sticking to a bedtime schedule, which will give your child a sense of security. Give your child a hug before you have to leave, but also be insistent that you must go. Your child might continue to fuss, but allow the caregiver to take over. Talk to the caregiver on a regular basis to ensure your child̵7;s crying settles down quickly after you leave. According to Family Education, if the pattern does not resolve over a matter of a week or two, you might need to consider a different daycare setting. Try letting a family member or trusted friend take your child to daycare. Sometimes children react so strongly only when their parents drop them off.
