Our acclimatization in small steps

Starting nursery is a big change for both. For you and your child. Your child has formed a strong attachment to you and needs support and time to form another strong bond with the staff at the nursery. This is why a settling in period is so important. The settling in period is a gradual introduction of your child to the nursery its children, activities, daily programme and staff. It is also a gradual withdrawal of your presence, and these two aspects have to be carefully and sensitively balanced to feel safe and confident in the end. This is why your first visits should be short and you should not try to leave your child at all. We schedule a minimum of two weeks time to settle in. Remember that your child is used to having you with them wherever they are.

Step by step

Step by step At first, your child is going to need your support and presence to be able to cope with the new experience. This is why your first visits should be short and you should not try to leave your child at all.

The job of the parents is to be their child´s safety anchor and stay passive at the same time.

No separation in the first days

At first, the nursery is bound to be rather an overwhelming experience. The first weeks when your child is settling in are of crucial importance to their later happiness at nursery. Spend time together playing, experimenting, talking to other children, bonding with teachers and getting to know the facility. Again your first visits should be short and you should not try to leave your child at all.

The job of the parents is to be there, stay in the background but be present enough to give security.

Role model- Stay in contact

You can use the first visits constructively by talking to the teachers. Stay in contact and ask everything you need to know. By having a positive conversation your child will sense a trusting bond between parents and teachers. It will also be the teacher´s job to form a strong bond with you and your child during the first visit, settling-in period and ongoing weeks and months of childcare.

The job of the parents is to be curious and ask questions. ;-)

Saying good bye and picking up

The first attempts of leaving the room can be tried out as soon as your child has been calmed down in other situations by a teacher. Once you have acquainted yourselves with the Nursery (and the Nursery staff with you!) and you feel your child is ready to be left for a while, first mention this to one of the teachers so they can be ready to provide any extra help that is needed.

The job of the parents is:

• to be open, honest and straightforward with your child about leaving them. Slipping away when they are not looking can be very distressing to a child when they find out you have gone.
• to leave without hesitating. It is much harder for a child to deal with you leaving if you are obviously unsure and hovering. If you feel confident leaving and leaving your child your child will be fine too.
• to be away only for a short while, so tell your child and the teacher. It may help if you give your child a minute or two’s notice that you are leaving, so they can begin to get used to the idea.
• to be back at the time you said you would.

The teachers can learn just as much from you about the best way to care for your child as you’ll learn from them about the setting’s and routine. Stay in contact, be open about your feelings, emotions and thoughts.
The staff at the nursery should take time to talk to you (about how your child is sleeping, eating and feeling) at drop-off and at the end of the day. The teachers will let you know the best way to get in touch either by phone, text or email, and explain how they’ll communicate (through conversation for example) the events of the day with your child.
As we mentioned above we schedule a minimum of two weeks time to settle in. Remember that your child is used to having you with them wherever they are. The settling in period is different for everyone and requires sensitivity and empathy.