Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Choosing the Right Kindergarten
• Method 2 of 3: Preparing and Managing Your Emotions
• Method 3 of 3: Coping with the Difficulties of Going to Kindergarten
• Tips

Going to kindergarten can be quite a stressful emotional experience for both you and him, as it means your little one has grown up. It could also be the first time a child is out of your sight for more than a couple of hours. Going to kindergarten can be very difficult, but the right kindergarten, preparation and strengthening your emotional state will help you make the process easier.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Choosing the Right Kindergarten

1. 1 Start choosing a kindergarten significantly in advance of the moment when the child is ready for kindergarten. If you know ahead of time that you will send your child to kindergarten, you should start looking for a suitable institution before you start planning the first day, and you should do this well in advance. This will give you and your child additional time to adapt to the new situation.
2. 2 Facilitate the transition by highlighting some of the key aspects of a good kindergarten. It is important to devote enough time to choosing a kindergarten, because both of you should be satisfied that now the child will not be at home, but here. To make the changes easier, choose a kindergarten near your home or work, so that the morning arrival before work and check-in after it will not cause you any discomfort. You should also find a garden that meets the following requirements:
   • The establishment must be clean and tidy; it must have enough staff to meet the needs of all kindergarten children.
   • There should be enough space in the kindergarten for children to move freely around the premises; Many different toys should be available to children.
   • The garden should also have its own outdoor area, fenced and well-groomed, with a good selection of yard toys.
3. 3 Look for a kindergarten that has its own regime. Choosing a kindergarten that has a regime will make the transition less painful, because when your baby goes to the kindergarten several times, he will already know what to expect, therefore, his anxiety about visiting the kindergarten will decrease.
   • In addition to meals, snacks, and sleep, the routine should include time for free play, guided play, and educational activities.
4. 4 Take the time to get to know the staff. There are things even more important than the daily routine - how the staff interact with the children; followed by communication between staff and parents. Staff should be willing to take care of and educate children and be respectful of the parents.
   • A good way to determine this is to agree on a few hours that the child can spend in kindergarten to figure out what's what. This will also give the child the chance to meet in advance some of the children he will see on a daily basis.
5. 5 Talk to the parents who are taking their children to the kindergarten you are looking at. While a preliminary visit is a good opportunity to evaluate the work of the institution, in some kindergartens, staff only behave well when they know that they are being watched by visitors. To have a more objective opinion about a particular kindergarten and to be sure that it is suitable for your family, try talking to other parents who bring their children here.
   • You can also return to the garden for an unscheduled visit. However, try to return at the same time (for example, at the beginning of the day) so as not to interrupt the quiet hour and other activities.

Method 2 of 3: Preparing and Managing Your Emotions

1. 1 Choose days to practice. If the child has never been more than a couple of hours away from home, some parents may find it helpful to take a few preliminary days of practice to get used to the idea of ​​sending their child to daycare for a full day.
   • Although some kindergartens may agree on a trial “trial period”, this is not always an acceptable solution.Instead, you can simulate a kindergarten in which your child stays at home all day under the supervision of a nanny.
2. 2 Create a routine for yourself. On practice days, you need to follow the entire sequence of actions that will have to be played on the day your child actually starts kindergarten. This includes picking up your child and leaving the house at a specific time, arriving at daycare and arriving at work or other business without haste. By following a planned system, you will be able to deal with any problems that could pose the threat of being late.
3. 3 Keep in mind that it's okay if you're sad. Developing a plan and practicing well in advance can help you relax your mind, but you may find that you are failing to do anything about the emotional pain you experience when you think about separation from your child. These will be very strong emotions, but they will become less intense over time.
4. 4 Keep the big picture in mind. If you feel sad or guilty about sending your child to kindergarten, think about what is happening in general. You need to go to work or university to support your child. The things that you will do after you take your child to kindergarten will provide your baby with a bright future.
   • It is sometimes difficult to see the big picture when you leave your child in kindergarten, but repeating this statement to yourself will help you. A positive statement repeated over and over again has a calming effect that will soften your negative feelings. Remind yourself that you are doing the right thing and tell yourself: “My child needs to go to kindergarten, so that I can provide him with a better future.”
5. 5 Be honest with your child and tell him openly that you are going to take him to kindergarten. Some parents worry that the child will be angry with them for being sent to kindergarten. However, if you talk openly with your child about the reasons why he needs to go to kindergarten, he will not experience such negative feelings.
   • To make your child remember that you love him, put your photo in his locker in the dressing room or give it to the child with you to kindergarten. Then show him that you also have a picture of him / her that you always carry with you.
   • When you pick your child up from kindergarten on the way home, spend a special time with them together, asking about their day and doing something fun together.
6. 6 Focus on the positive. An emphasis on pleasant thoughts and a positive attitude can help you deal with feelings of guilt and anxiety. Try to think about all the positive things that follow after your child goes to kindergarten:
   • You can go to university or work, your child will make new friends, learn new things, and explore completely unfamiliar surroundings.
   • There is also another significant advantage: your child will be taught such things as the alphabet, the ability to count and the knowledge of other concepts that must be mastered to enter school.

Method 3 of 3: Coping with the Difficulties of Going to Kindergarten

1. 1 Be prepared to pick up and take your child home and to work. Putting kindergarten on your daily schedule can be tricky. You should agree on which of you, the parents, and on what day, picks up the child from the kindergarten or takes him there. You also need to have a contingency plan in case you or your spouse are suddenly unable to complete your part of the daycare responsibilities.
   • For example, if you are stuck in a traffic jam and your partner is at a meeting, you will need a person (a relative or an equally close friend) whom you can call and ask to pick up the child for you.
2. 2 Be prepared for the fact that sometimes you will need to pick up your child earlier. Your child may slip and lacerate the knee or otherwise be injured. In this case, if the wound is serious, or the child cannot calm down after the stress, you will need to pick him up earlier.
   • Be that as it may, in a good kindergarten, educators have the skills to provide first aid, and therefore will be able to cope with an emergency.
3. 3 If your child has special nutritional needs, talk to the director (manager) of the kindergarten. In many gardens, menus are posted on a stand in the corridor or outside the dining room. If you are concerned about the nutritional value of the menu, or your child has special needs, you can always discuss your concerns with the kindergarten director (manager).
   • Kindergartens accepting babies most often ask parents to bring formula or expressed breast milk with them. You will also be asked a ton of questions about feeding your baby (how often and how many and other details). Formula and breast milk are kept separate and labeled for each baby so that nothing gets lost or confused when feeding all babies.
4. 4 Be aware that your child may have separation anxiety. One of the biggest challenges a parent faces when sending a child to kindergarten is separation anxiety. The point is that some children find it especially difficult to go through separation from mom and dad. And how hard it is for a parent who is forced to leave when the child cries and clings to him ... If this happened to your child, stop and explain to the child again what is happening; Express your love for your baby. Tell him what time you will be back and what to do in the evening after kindergarten. After that, say goodbye to him and leave quietly.
   • Kindergarten staff should be trained to help both parent and child get through this challenge. They will do everything in their power to calm your child and make their stay in the kindergarten as comfortable as possible. Often, caregivers will call the parent back some time later to inform that the child is okay.
   • Sometimes one of the caregivers stays with a child who is going through a difficult parting until he calms down and is ready to take part in group activities.
   • Caregivers can also designate a “play partner” for your child so that your little one does not feel lonely.

Tips

• It is also very important to show your child your positive attitude towards kindergarten.
• Try going out with your little one's favorite toy - keeping it close will make him feel safe.
• Try to make trips to the garden as close to each other: ride in the garden of the same road, to forgive in the same place, etc. So your kid will be easier to get used to the change...