Starting child care can be stressful at the best of times, let alone returning to Inspired after learning from home for an extended period during a pandemic. Many of our children may be expressing distress and/or emotion as they return to care and we want to help you feel at ease with this difficult transition.
Children may feel nervous or reluctant to return to Inspired, and we can assure you, you are not alone. The coronavirus crisis affects everyone, including babies and young children. We want to share with you tips and ideas that may help with your child’s transition;
- It’s important to discuss with your child their feelings. Talk to your children about how they are feeling about returning to Inspired. It’s important to acknowledge our children’s worries, but it is just as important to discuss what your child is looking forward to and what they may be excited about. We recommend, you and your child view our Xplor app and talk about the friends and Educators to help build familiarisation with your child.
- Transition your child to Inspired with shorter days. For many it can be overwhelming to be at home for a long duration of time with family, and then transition back to Inspired for a long day without family. It is suggested to return to care for shorter days to help build your child’s confidence.
- Consider letting your child bring a special object from home. Does your child have a favourite comforter? A favourite comforter (such as a blanket or teddy) can ease the transition for when you say goodbye at drop off. Also a family photo to be added to our family photo gallery is also very comforting for a child to view during the day.
- Keep your tone positive and upbeat. Children pick up on the reactions of the trusted adults in their lives. So try not to look worried or sad, and don’t linger too long when it’s time to go. Say a quick, upbeat good-bye and reassure your child that all will be well. Our Inspired team will update you via Xplor and/or phone call to communicate how your child is. Should you have any concerns or worries you are most welcome to contact our Inspired Team via (03) 5990 5000 to chat to your child’s trusted Educators.
This hasn’t been an easy year and a half, but the return to child care is one sign that life is going back to (a new) normal. Supporting your child through this process, staying patient and loving even in the face of challenging behaviours is a loving way to take that next step, together. We look forward to welcoming our friendly faces back to Inspired.
For more ideas on how to support your child’s emotion during this unpredictable time we recommend a fantastic publication called First Aid for Feelings published by Scholastic Australia.
