Introducing your toddler to a childcare program can help them learn new skills that aid development and prepare them for preschool experience.
Tips To Introducing Your Toddler to a Childcare Program
- The first move is to find a quality childcare program. One that mirrors your values, needs and expectations. To achieve this, plan a tour to the center before enrolling your little one. Check to see how the care givers interact with other children, the general hygiene of the facility as well as the programs and activities available for the children.
- Once a choice of the childcare program to use has been made, constantly communicate with the child care providers to stay updated about your child’s progress. A quality childcare program should have an active assessment process to help keep the providers and parents on track with the child’s progress.
- Encourage independence skills at home. Toddlers can start to do a little more for themselves like using the potty, helping to dress and undress, getting drinks when they are thirsty. These independence skills improves their ability to cope better in the childcare program.
- Maintain routine especially meal and sleep routine. It may not be possible to align home routines with the childcare program routine but as much as possible, maintain the routine.
The most important part of a quality childcare program is the warm, supportive and meaningful teacher – child – relationship; look out for that.