Help your toddler adjust to crèche

Having your little one at home is the most comforting feeling when a parent is at work but what happens when your little one has to now join the big world and attend crèche? This is often a question asked by moms.

According to Educational Psychologist and Pampers® Institute Expert Tshepiso Matentjie’s , “Crèche is a place for your child to learn as well as to develop their emotional and social skills. It’s also a place where your children get to interact with other children through play which helps build their stamina and energy levels.”

When is the right time to take your toddler to crèche?

“Some crèche’s admit children who are two years old. A mom can get her child ready for school by letting her child play with other kids through play groups. Playing with other kids will help develop her emotional and psycho-social readiness for crèche,” advises Matentjie.

Helping your toddler adjust

Most children who attend crèche are shy and nervous in the beginning – this is because they are getting used to the new environment. If this continues for a lengthy period, Matentjie says that parents can, “Arrange to speak to the teacher to find out how your little one is coping. Also getting your educational psychologist to do a blind observation in class would help identify what is causing your child to feel anxious.”

According to Matentjie, applying the following points will help you help your child to adjust:

• Joyfully let your child know the night before that she’s going to crèche the next day.
• Ask to stay in the classroom until your child is comfortable with you leaving. Never sneak off, always let your child know you’re going and that you will come back.
• Any time your child expresses concerns, listen to her and reassure her that everything will be ok and that she will have fun with the other kids.
• Remember, the calmer and more assured you are about your choice to send your child to preschool, the more confident your child will be.

Crèche is an exciting and fun time in your little one’s life, and once she sees that, she’ll start running to class.

About the Author: For regular live chats with the Pampers® Institute experts, and to download the app, join the Pampers® community on Facebook. Helpful advice and tips from the Pampers® Institute are available at www.Pampers.co.za and on www.youtube.com/PampersZA

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