As parents of young children, we know that you’re probably slightly apprehensive about sending your child to nursery school. This is especially true if you are looking for a place for a child aged 3-5 that has attended a different nursery previously or is just starting on their nursery journey. Whether it’s your first time or your third time, it never gets easier. That’s why here at Little Angels we do all that we can to make the transition seamless for both parent and child. This is why we have put together a cheat sheet of our top tips and strategies to help you get your preschooler settled in a nursery.
Top tips to settle in preschoolers
Start gradually
First things first, we will familiarise your child with the nursery. New surroundings can at first seem strange and scary to preschoolers, but before long they’ll feel happy and comfortable through exploring the space at Little Angels. With lots of fun activities and play areas, this first interaction with the nursery will be an exciting experience.
Whilst the children explore, we make sure to find out all we can about your child from you, the parent. Experience has taught us that the more information you can give us about your child, the better a time they will have at our nursery. We want you to tell us everything there is to know about your child; from food and sleeping patterns to potty training and personality traits! The Little Angels team will use this knowledge to ease the settling-in process.
Establish routines
Routines can help your child feel safe and secure, particularly when new things are happening. You could set up a morning routine, for example, get up, have breakfast, clean teeth, get dressed, put on sunscreen, play a small game and go. You could even make a chart with pictures showing the different steps in your routine. A goodbye routine once at the nursery is equally important. Saying goodbye to your child can be difficult for both parties however it’s important to have this routine established to minimise anxieties. You could choose a special place to say goodbye, or an activity to do before you go. Articulate that you will be leaving but will be there to get them at the end of the day, minimise the number of times you say goodbye as lots of goodbyes can be stressful for both you and your child.
Communicate with the preschool teachers
Children get confidence from seeing warm, positive and friendly interactions between important people in their lives, like their parents and teachers. This is why we encourage regular meetings with our team members and facilitate communication to share relevant information and help us understand what is best for your child. For example, you might let us know about things like new habits, preferences, fascinations and events that are going on in your child’s life.
Celebrate your child’s achievements
Joining a new group, meeting new people, navigating a new environment and learning new ways of doing things are big achievements for your child. You can build your child’s confidence and sense of competence when you celebrate these. For example, you could use descriptive praise when your child meets new children or tries something new. Or you could encourage your child to call a grandparent, aunt or family friend to share her achievements.
Encourage new friendships
We’ll help your child to make new friends, as it’s really important for preschoolers to have a familiar face at nursery once you’ve said your goodbyes to them in the morning. After your child has formed a bond with the other preschoolers, they’ll really start to look forward to going to nursery school and seeing their friends. This is the point at which an important milestone will have been reached.
Have back-up collection plans
Our sessions finish at between 5 and 6pm. If you tell your child you’ll be there at a specific time, it’s important that you’re there to avoid anxiety. It’s a good idea to have a back-up plan, so that if you’re delayed or there’s a problem, someone you and your child know and trust can be there to pick him up. If the person who normally picks up your child from preschool can’t make it, make sure to let the nursery who’s coming instead to ensure your child’s safety.
With these tips and the support from our loving team at Little Angels we can guarantee that before long your child will be running off happily in the morning for a fun-filled day with the other preschoolers. Our team here at Little Angels are always sure to put a smile on every child’s face! We hope that you will come and visit us soon to experience our warm and welcoming environment in person.