Family and Parenting: Information For Families

The time will come for every family when the need for child care will arise. This can go one of two ways; smoothly, almost fun or terrifying for both the parent and then the child. This is because of the saying that the anxious parent causes anxiety in the child. This certainly rings true for a lot of Mother’s and young toddlers. We’ve all seen the poor child screaming as his Mother walks reluctantly away, backwards, from the child care facility. The backwards walk indicates the Mothers anxiety in leaving the child and the child senses this reluctance and screams to show it.

The parents need to do the proper amount of investigation into facilities before deciding to sign-up. If either parent is reluctant then it may be a good idea to reconsider a different facility. Sometimes the Mother is genuinely attached and feels a sense of separation anxiety themselves. If you want your child to have the easiest transition possible you may want to consult therapist or try to deal with these strong emotions on your own before sharing the traumatic emotions with them on the day of arrival. Show your love for your baby by caring for yourself too.

Children six months and younger do not usually have such a traumatic experience when being introduced to a new environment. This is the best time to bring the issue up for discussion. If your child is old enough to discuss it with you begin to make it a fun topic by drawing pictures to explain it or telling fun stories about activities they will do. Create a ‘goodbye’ ritual all your own.

You will want to consider taking your child to the facility to see the building, meet the other adults, look at the playground, and just get a general ‘feel’ for the place before the starting date. By doing this is reduces the shock of not knowing what to expect. Give your child a specific item from home that they are allowed to take with them to give them a secure feeling. A small toy, picture in a silly frame, or a trinket you won them from the fair. They may want something to ground them to home even from the distance.

And most importantly, forget everything else as long as you remember this; do not disappear on your child. This is the most frightening experience imaginable on a child’s first day away from home and family. If you allow them proper time to become acquainted to the idea then will be no need to convey tricks to ‘get away’. Take them to see the facility, keep your own spirits high, and smile for their sake.