The introduction into long day care can be difficult for children and parents. A child’s welfare and happiness is the priority for our Educators when welcoming new children to Smarty Pants Early Learning Centre. It is recognised that a families needs will vary greatly in the orientation process and individual needs will be addressed.

Here are some helpful hints for settling your child into Smarty Pants Early Learning Centre:

• Make sure you familiarise your child with the environment and Educators by coming in for visits before commencing care. This will help your child gain trust in their new environment
• Where possible, ease your child into care with short stays to begin with.
• Provide a favourite toy, blanket or comforter to support your child when they are separating from you or settling to sleep.
• Try to talk about Smarty Pants Early Learning Centre at home. Mention the names of our Educators and other children. Talk about the things your child will be able to do at child care that are fun and enjoyable.
• Talk to our Educators about your child. Let us know what they like to do; successful ways of settling them to sleep; foods they like and dislike. This helps our Educators to get to know your child.
• When leaving your child it is best to make sure you say goodbye and then leave. Hesitating and not going after you have said your goodbyes only confuses them, especially if they are upset.
• It sometimes helps to establish a routine when leaving. For example, giving your child a cuddle and then passing them onto one of our Educators, or sitting down with them to read a book or for a short play before saying goodbye. These types of routines will be individualised with you and your child during your first few days of care.

At first some children protest strongly in their new environment, while others may take a day or two to realise that you are leaving them and begin to protest after several days. Children soon learn that you do return and in the mean time they are well cared for by our dedicated Educators at Smarty Pants Early Learning Centre.