How to Say Goodbye to Your Child at Day Care

If taking your child to day care means tearful goodbyes accompanied by tantrums or wailing, it is time to make the transition from home care to day care easier for yourself and your child. Many children protest when their parents drop them off at day care, and this separation anxiety is normal. You might even feel guilt or sadness for having to leave your child for a period of time. By preparing your child for day care, you can alleviate much of the stress of saying goodbye, and the manner in which you depart also affects how long separation anxiety can last.

Instructions

    • 1

      Create a routine for saying goodbye with your child. This ritual might include giving a hug and kiss before you say goodbye and walk out the door.

    • 2

      Remain calm when you say goodbye to your child. Kids can pick up on your fear or nervousness, which makes their own anxiety worse.

    • 3

      Explain to your child how long you will be gone and remind him you will be back to pick him up. For children who might understand the concept of time, look at a clock together and point to where the clock hands will be when you arrive again. You can also use a time period a young child will better understand, such as ̶0;after lunch.̶1;

    • 4

      Give your child a favorite small toy or blanket to take to day care with him. Sometimes having a familiar object helps your child adjust to day care.

    • 5

      Walk into day care with your child and help him get involved in a free play activity, such as a toy or a book. Your child might be so interested in this activity that he won̵7;t become upset when you say you have to leave.

    • 6

      When you say ̶0;goodbye,̶1; follow up with, ̶0;I will be back to pick you up.̶1; This extra reassurance makes the ̶0;goodbye̶1; word seem less scary to your child. Also, saying goodbye means you follow through with what you say and walk out the door. Your child might cry, but coming back usually just makes separation anxiety worse; if you leave when you say you will, your child will likely calm down within a few minutes of your departure.

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