Denver Association of Family Child Care

	Visit the provider with your child at least once before care is to begin. Ideally, let your child meet the provider, play with the other children and explore the rooms.
	If you are unable to visit, drive by the program a few times before care begins, so you can show your child the home, the playground, and the neighborhood.
	Ask the provider how they transition children into the program. If possible, start your child slowly with several partial days of care, rather than beginning with a full day of care.
	Explain to your child what will happen on the first few days. Ask the provider about daily schedules, special activities, etc., so you can tell your child what to expect.
	Talk to your child about her feelings of sadness and/or excitement. Don't worry if your child has anxieties about the new situation; try to be reassuring to your child, and let her know that you care about how she feels, while telling her that she will have the chance to make new friends, learn new things, and have a lot of fun while you are at work or in school.
	Read books with your child on the topic of starting new child care.
	Every morning when you drop your child off at child care, give her a big hug and tell her who will pick her up and at what time. Knowing that you (or another beloved adult) are coming back at a certain time is reassuring to your child. If you can keep pickup time consistent (e.g., every afternoon after snack time, or every evening at 5:30), it helps your child to feel secure. She can form routines and relax into her day once the pattern is established.
	Take some snapshots of your family, including pets, and even of your family's home, to the provider. Your child can find comfort in seeing and talking about these pictures with the provider or the other children. Let your child paste these pictures into a "book", maybe with the names of each person and pet, and a few lines about each one. Some places have a "book" for each child.
	Talk to other parents that have recently transitioned their child into care for ideas that have worked for them and their children. For example, some children like to draw pictures or make other gifts for their parents. Talking about their parents while making the picture can be very helpful to a child. Providers can help by talking about a child's home and family with the child and reassuring her that she will go home every day.
	Try to have as few other changes as possible in your child's life during transition time. If you are expecting a baby, try to start your child's care well before the baby is due so your older child does not feel she was "pushed out" by the new baby. Some simultaneous changes are unavoidable, of course, such as when you move to a new city and a new home, and your child must start a new child care program all at the same time. So many changes can be overwhelming to a young child; try to be extra patient with her fears or anxieties.
	So many changes can be overwhelming to a young child; try to be extra patient with her fears or anxieties. Things will return to normal eventually, and your reassuring tone will help your child to feel safe and secure in her new environment more quickly.
	Always say goodbye to your child before leaving her at child care. Reassure her that you will be back at the end of the day. If someone else will pick her up, let her know who and when.
	Greet your child warmly and happily at the end of the day. Let her know you are glad to see her again and that you are looking forward to spending the evening together at home.