| For any child that has spend the greater part of | | | | environment will smooth out the understandable |
| their lives at home, the process of going to | | | | fear that some children experience in such |
| daycare for the first time can be very difficult on | | | | environments. |
| them. One of the major deciding factors can be | | | | Most daycare providers know this sense of |
| the way the people at the care place act, so it is | | | | longing that children feel and will therefore allow |
| extremely essential to pick the right one. If at all | | | | the child to have a favorite toy or blanket with |
| feasible, it may be easiest to place the child with | | | | them. Since most children are homesick for at |
| someone they are already familiar with, either a | | | | least a couple of weeks, this gives them a piece |
| family member or friend. When placement with a | | | | of home that they can carry with them. For |
| family or friend is not an option, parents should | | | | some kids, giving them a picture of their |
| not worry because they can make use of many | | | | immediate family may also help but for others it |
| other resources. | | | | may make the homesickness worse. To further |
| One way to help make your choice about | | | | help your child become familiar to his or her new |
| daycare easier is to simply ask around for the | | | | surroundings, allow yourself a few extra minutes |
| opinions of your friends who also have children. | | | | to stay at the facility until they get used to |
| This way experiences can be relayed, either good | | | | playing with their peers. For many children, the |
| or bad, and odd behaviors discussed. It is true | | | | simple step of having their parent tell them that |
| that not every parent will have a great tale about | | | | they are going to be back by a certain time and |
| the same provider because not every child will | | | | having that parent consistently keep that promise |
| get along with every caretaker, but if each parent | | | | is immensely helpful. This information will make the |
| you talk to has had a bad experience, you should | | | | transition to daycare easier on the child because |
| take that as a sign that the caretaker is not one | | | | they will be able to know that their guardian will |
| you want taking care of your child. | | | | come back for them. |
| For a trouble-free list of licensed daycare facilities | | | | In spite of of how upset your child is, it is very |
| in your area, you should go to the Department of | | | | important that you yourself sound and act happy |
| Social Services. Also part of a pediatrician's job is | | | | as you leave. If you want the child's experience |
| to listen to the daily welfare concerns of their | | | | to be a positive one, then you have to send the |
| patients, and for that reason, many pediatricians | | | | message that they are going to be okay while |
| will be able to give you good recommendations. | | | | they are at this new place. These centers offer a |
| You should take caution as you are looking for | | | | lot of play opportunities that distract children from |
| facilities in your phone book or newspaper and | | | | their crying for their guardian and this is typically |
| although a good source, professionals do not have | | | | achieved in a mere fifteen minutes after the |
| to be licensed in order to be included. If your | | | | separation occurs. Though walking out the door |
| caretaker does not want to meet the child before | | | | after a good-bye is always best, you should feel |
| you enroll them, this should raise a caution. | | | | free to be as extravagant as you want when |
| Introducing your child to its new caretaker and | | | | you return to pick them up. |