First Day in Child Care – A Traumatic Experience for the Parents

Take deep breaths. Make a conscious effort to relax. Many of us have gone through this harrowing experience. I for one went through it twice, and survived. So here, I am writing a first day in child care guide.

Some of us look forward to the first day in child care as some sort of passage to a different stage in our children’s lives, where they become more detached from us and from the protection afforded by the four walls of our home. Nevertheless, admittedly for most parents, these are very anxious moments. We entertain thoughts of our kids falling prey to bullies, skipping meals, not being attended to properly by the child care staff, etc. We imagine all sorts of bad things that could happen to them – an exaggeration of Murphy’s Law. So how do we cope with this scenario? I hope that my child care guide on the do’s and don’ts will be of assistance.

A first day in child care guide should start with the advice to stay calm, and never panic whatever happens. Parents have a tendency to over-react, especially when their young ones are concerned. Our kids have survival instincts very much similar to ours. Rest assured that they would adopt, adjust, and survive.
Talk to your child prior to the actual first day. Assure him or her that everything will be alright, and in case something goes wrong, you will immediately be there by his or her side. In so doing, you will also be assuring yourself that everything will be OK. You see, it works both ways.

It is advisable to take the day off from your work to personally bring your child to the center. In so doing, your little one will feel your love and concern. But actually, the more important reason is for you to have peace of mind, hence you will be less stressed. This will allow you to meet the center staff (if you have not met them yet) and check out the facilities for the nth time. If you are lucky, you may get the chance to see the other children in the center, and give dagger looks to the bullies – they’d better not touch your little angel , or else.
This first day in child care guide is by no means complete. When you have gone through the experience, you may add to this one based on your personal insights. Good luck!