Transitions for Childcare and/or Kindergarten

Transitions between home and childcare/school can be a very exciting experience. Whether your child has never been in care outside of the home or if they are attending kindergarten for the first time, both parent and child will have mixed emotions about the transitioning period. Here are a few tips to help prepare for the new experiences:

·         Tour the school and make yourself comfortable with the environment. A transition will flow smoother when you know which door to enter, what classroom is your child’s, and who your child’s teacher will be. If there are children present during the tour, try to remember one or two of their names so you can talk about them after the tour to link the classroom children to your child.

·         Ask about materials needed ahead of time. If you are equipped with the school or child care supplies ahead of time, you won’t have to worry about forgetting something that might be necessary for your child’s first day.

·         Talk about the transition before it actually happens. Recall the tour and remember by name the teacher and if you met any of the children. Talk about the new school/environment at the dinner table, before bedtime, or during down times when your child isn’t distracted with other activities. Create a positive approach when discussing the time away from home because if your child is looking forward to their new experience, you won’t feel as nervous about the new transition.

·         Stay informed- check in on your child during their first few weeks. Email their teacher or call to ask how your child is doing and ask for ways to help make the transition a pleasant experience for you and for your child. Ask your child when they get home how things are going and have them list some of their favorite activities.

·         Remember that your child is in good hands! Take a deep breath and enjoy these new and exciting times ahead!

·         http://www.education.com/topic/preparing-for-kindergarten/

·         http://www.babyzone.com/baby/childcare/prepare-child-for-childcare_68363

Finding a Babysitter

Finding a babysitter for your child can become a difficult task. So many people have trouble trusting someone with their child if they aren’t a relative or a close friend. When considering a babysitter outside of your inner circle consider following these helpful tips in order to feel more comfortable with this transition.

·         Ask your friends or coworkers for referrals on babysitters that they use outside of their circle of family or close friends if you do not know anyone outside of your immediate circle.

·         Invite the prospective sitter over to your house for a short “interview” asking them how they would handle hypothetical situations. Be prepared with questions that would relate to your child’s age, ability, and personality. Some examples would be the following:

1)      What would you do if my child tried to run from you while you were outside playing?

2)      What would you do if my child acted like they weren’t feeling well?

3)      How would you handle a phone call or a knock on the door from someone that sounded suspicious or unfamiliar to my child/family?

Remember to ask for references and ask them why they enjoy babysitting.

·         While the prospective sitter is at your house for the “interview” discuss with them your routines at home, show them where important things are kept such as medicine, insurance information, important phone numbers, etc. Use this time to discuss hourly pay for babysitting and transportation if they are under driving age or do not have their own transportation.

·         Do a trial run. Have the babysitter come over for an hour to spend time with your child while you take a quick trip to the store or pick up carry-out. This short visit establishes a relationship and you will be able to see how your child reacts to having a sitter outside of the usual family member or friend and you will know if the sitter is comfortable caring for your child and would want to come back for a longer time.

·         Before you leave the sitter with your child, remember to have the following prepared for them:

1)      A copy of your insurance card in case of an emergency

2)      A list of your numbers and important numbers if they cannot reach you

3)      A list of anything important relating to your child’s routine, health, or how to handle tough situations such as bedtime or potty training

Every parent needs adult time or time away from the home to refresh and relax. Schedule times in advance to look forward to or for things you aren’t able to do with a busy schedule with work, school and family.  View the following websites for other tips on finding the right fit for your babysitting needs.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_using-a-babysitter_44.bc

http://singleparents.about.com/od/childcare/a/babysitter-interview-questions.htm

http://www.care.com/child-care-babysitter-interview-p1145-q22778.html