Top Tips On Helping Your Child Settle In Nursery
1. Remind them where they are going and why
Children often need to prepare for change and big events, just like any of us really. This takes time and constant reminders for children. The weeks coming up to starting nursery are crucial. The best thing you can do is talk to them about it starting nursery every day. Explain where they are going, how will you get there? Why are they going there? - For example at night saying before bed “In 5 days’ time you will be going to the nursery, we will put on your red uniform and take your bag, go in the car to the nursery and then mummy and daddy will leave and go to work, while you stay in the nursery with the teacher Ms. Sasha”. Doing this every night should help your child to remember and be ready.
2. Visiting the Nursery first
Before starting your child at nursery a visit is a good idea. In this visit, you can see all the different areas and help your child to understand that it is a comfortable place. Remember children can easily pick up on your anxieties, so try to be calm also!
3. Showing photos, videos and storybooks at home
When visiting the nursery you can ask if you can take pictures or videos of the setting. If they let you, (some may not) you can show these to your child at home whilst talking about the nursery. If not there is plenty of small videos, photos or storybooks on the first day of school or nursery, this should help.
4. Visiting the class teacher
Like I said before, preparing the children before nursery is crucial, as well as visiting the school and showing photos and videos you can also ask to meet the teacher beforehand. Make sure your child tries to learn the name of the teacher and you talk about the teacher each day. This will help your child to connect with someone in the nursery.
5. Getting your child’s nursery things together
Before the first day of nursery make sure you get everything ready for the child’s day. If there’s a uniform make sure they know what it looks like, get a special lunch box and bag ready. Label their things with a photo of themselves or their name. This gives your child a self-belonging and makes them feel comfortable.
On the day….
6. Leave as quickly and as promptly as possible
As your child needs to stay in the nursery alone without you it is important that you start this off from day 1. Staying around in the classroom or where your child can see you gives them the understanding that this is a place where mummy and daddy can stay, then when you leave it makes it more difficult.
7. Be Honest
When you leave your child you will want to do your best to calm your child as of course you don’t want your little ones to be upset but it is important that you are honest! You need to say that you are leaving and you need to tell them that you will be back later. Saying that you are just going to the toilet will not help. Your child will only then associate the nursery with a place of distrust and will not want to come back.
8. Do not sneak out
Being honest does not just mean not telling lies! It means being very straight forward with your child. Do not try to distract your child and sneak out the back door. This will upset your child when they notice you’re not there anymore and again they will lose their trust and associate nursery with a place with no trust and won’t feel safe and relaxed.
9. Increasing your child’s time each day
It will take time for your child to settle in the nursery and there is no need for them to be there all day at first. It is a good idea to start the first day for just 1hr and then increase to 2hrs etc. until your child is there for the full day.
10. Be on time to pick your child up
Children will know when it is time to go home as per their routine. Perhaps they know that after lunchtime you will come, stick to this time to ensure that your child trusts you and knows when it is time for them to go home. Also if they see other parents picking up their children before them and they are the last one it can be very upsetting. Try to be on time!