{"id":842,"date":"2015-07-28T03:23:21","date_gmt":"2015-07-28T03:23:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carelulu.com\/resources\/parents\/?p=842"},"modified":"2020-05-08T20:11:32","modified_gmt":"2020-05-08T20:11:32","slug":"switching-daycares-7-tips-smooth-transition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.carelulu.com\/resources\/parents\/switching-daycares-7-tips-smooth-transition\/","title":{"rendered":"Switching Daycares: 7 Tips For a Smooth Transition"},"content":{"rendered":"

In our recent post about what to expect when starting daycare or preschool<\/a>, we said that starting daycare is a lot like flying. The first takeoff in particular can be stressful before the whole crew (you, your child and your child care provider) reaches a \u201ccruising altitude\u201d comfort zone. While switching daycares may not be as big of a change as starting the very first time, it’s not easy either!<\/p>\n

Just as layovers are difficult for even the most seasoned travelers, switching daycares or preschools will have its own turbulence pockets for both parents and children. Here are a few tips to ensure a smooth crew change.<\/p>\n

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1. Ask<\/strong> the previous teacher to jot down some notes<\/strong>. You can do this during the last few days at the old daycare center. Child care providers speak the \u201cchild care provider\u201d language, just like lawyers speak \u201clawyer\u201d and programmers speak \u201cprogrammer\u201d etc. Their notes will be a great addition to what you share with the new caregivers and teachers in your \u201cparent\u201d language.<\/p>\n

2. Make sure your child \u201csays goodbye\u201d to the old daycare.<\/strong> Switching daycares means saying goodbye to caregivers, teachers and classmates, obviously. Also, it means parting with toys, books and places he or she likes. You can even think about some kind of farewell party.<\/p>\n

3. Set the scene<\/strong>. Make sure you talk a lot to your child in advance about the upcoming change. Reading books about the scenario is also a good idea. You can even do some \u201crehearsals\u201d to help the idea sink in. Kids process information in a variety of different ways; the more the better.<\/p>\n

4. Do a test run<\/strong>. Visit the new daycare or preschool facilities once or twice to grease the wheels a little before the first \u201creal\u201d day. Introduce the new teacher and say hello to the other toddlers or preschoolers. This is especially important if you\u2019re going from the small family-like environment of a home daycare to a larger child care center or preschool.<\/p>\n

5. Stick to what worked before<\/strong>. If you developed some \u201cstandard operating procedures\u201d, aka kissing goodbye or reading a book before leaving the house in the morning, stick to them!<\/p>\n

6. Try to be flexible time-wise<\/strong>. Especially for the first few weeks, you should plan ahead, just in case you need to stay a little longer in the mornings for drop-offs and come a little (or a lot) earlier in the afternoons for pick-ups. Be patient until your child gets used to the new environment.<\/p>\n

7. Aim for a spring or summer transition if possible<\/strong>. Transitioning to a new daycare during cold-season is an excellent thing to avoid if you can! Let your child deal with the emotional and immunity challenges one at a time!<\/p>\n

Have you recently changed daycares or preschools for your child? What tips can you share with other parents? If you\u2019re a child care provider or preschool teacher, what tips can you offer parents who are switching child care programs to help with the transition?<\/p>\n

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CareLuLu<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is the easiest way for parents to find great child care and preschool programs. On CareLuLu, parents can find detailed information on over 200,000 licensed daycares (hours, cost, photos,\u00a0verified<\/em>\u00a0reviews) and contact providers instantly. Best of all, it\u2019s free! Founded in 2013, CareLuLu\u2019s mission is to improve access to safe, affordable, high-quality child care and early education.<\/p>\n

Created\u00a0by<\/em>\u00a0parents\u00a0for<\/em> parents. Find child care:\u00a0www.CareLuLu.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Child care providers,\u00a0list your program\u00a0for free to get\u00a0enrollments!<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In our recent post about what to expect when starting daycare or preschool, we said that starting daycare is a lot like flying. The first takeoff in particular can be stressful before the whole crew (you, your child and your child care provider) reaches a \u201ccruising altitude\u201d comfort zone. While switching daycares may not be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":843,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[53],"tags":[328],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n