Helping Your Toddler Adjust to Daycare

You purchased the adorable backpack, matching lunchbox and personalized both for good measure. The back-to-school outfit was bought in June, matching shoes in July and the exquisite accessory the first week of August. School should be a cinch. Unfortunately, it's not all the time that simple. Some children take to school like a fish to water, but for others there is an adjustment period.

After spending three years at home with me, my daughter was unprepared for all the rules that her classroom had. She would range into the kitchen and help herself to an apple, speak whenever she wanted to and would refuse to share a toy if she "got it first". All her classmates were entering their fourth year of structured daycare and she was the only one who had no clue on how to guide herself. After much discussions and roleplaying, I was able to teach her the basic rules of the classroom.

Backpack For Toddler

Looking back, I should have taught her all the critical skills before she entered school, and she would been much best off. If your child is entering school for the first time, don't wait for the instructor to teach her all she needs to know about classroom behaviors. Prep her by having discussions or reading books - I like Dw's Guide to Preschool.

Even you if you are nervous, all the time say a obvious front. Take a picture of her on the first day wearing her new back-to-school outfit and briefcase. When leaving her off in school, do not sneak away. Tell her you are going and will be back at the end of the day. If she begins to cry, ask the instructor to take over. Most children stop crying shortly after the parent leaves, if you are still worried call the school when you get to work to make sure she is okay.

If your child is nervous in the morning, give her a picture of you to put into her knapsack. Tell her you will be going with her in her knapsack and if she misses you she can take a quick peek. If she continues crying after a week, try to send man else to bring her to school. It may be that she enjoys the attentiveness she is getting from you from when she cries or will be embarrassed to cry in front of Grandma. Make a big deal about her 'no crying milestone' when she gets home.

Acknowledge that it's hard to be away, but you are sure she will have so much fun and make so many new friends. If she knows you understand her, she will be comforted. When picking him up don't smother him with kisses or overwhelm him with questions. He just had a very stimulating day. Give him some time to unwind when he gets home. Toddlers find it hard to talk broad questions such as "how was your day?". Stick to questions such as "what did you eat for lunch?" or "who do you sit next to?." Ask the instructor who he seems to like and request that child over to play during the weekend.

If a few weeks go by and your child still hasn't adjusted makes sure the daycare is okay and all things is up to par. If all things checks out, you can ask the instructor for some help to make the transition go more smoothly. An extra dose of attentiveness can work wonders!

Helping Your Toddler Adjust to Daycare

Helping Toddlers Learn through Make-Believe

Kayleen is serving tea and muffins to Oscar the Grouch while sporting a faded felt snowman hat. Not too far away, C.J. Is holding a baby doll and gradually taking her climatic characteristic with a big plastic thermometer. What do these two year olds have in common? They're both inspiring in the time-less operation of 'make-believe' play.

Through make-believe, young children learn about themselves and the world nearby them. Dinky babies playing pat-a-cake are manufacture believe. Depending on the age of the child, their role playing games will vary. Imaginative children don't need fancy toys or tool to pretend; they're happy with a box and a toilet tissue roll. When they engage in pretend play with a range of objects, they're studying life skills that will help them as adults.

Backpack For Toddler

We've all watched Dinky kids playing dress-up or 'house.' Children can generate an imaginary world in any place - when molding clay animals, when helping mom or dad match-up socks (sock puppets are the best after all.) If they're this creative with just a sock, then think what they can do with extra make-believe props.

Often parents feel that their children want costly furniture and household tool for pretend play. Remember the Dinky boy with the refrigerator box in his back yard when you were a kid? everyone showed up to help build limitless structures and the play would go on for hours, or until the box fell apart. Oh well, the hours spent cooperating together and using colorful imaginations were worth far more than any costly jungle gym or playhouse.

What spurs the imagination of a toddler or preschool age child? What type of 'props' should parents furnish to encourage make-believe even supplementary than what kids will do naturally? Here are just a few ideas:

Playing make-believe encourages Dinky children to play together, and is exquisite for play groups and for helping shy children overcome anxiety. Dinky children have boundless ideas for creative play, but love it when parents or caregivers take part in the activity. Many times, imaginative play can help parents comprehend that their child is fearful or worried about something in particular. Helping them talk about their fears straight through make-believe will often lessen the child's stress and bring you closer to your child.

Encourage your child's imagination straight through make-believe with simple and reasonable toys and props. Your refrigerator box may fall apart, but the fun of construction it will last forever.

Helping Toddlers Learn through Make-Believe