The introduction into long day care can be difficult for
children and parents. Children’s welfare and happiness are
the priority for educators when welcoming new children to
Kids Own ECLC and when assisting the family to settle into
Kids Own environment. It is recognized that families’
needs will vary greatly in the orientation process and
individual needs will be addressed.

• Make sure you familiarize your child with the
  environment and the people in the environment (children
  and adults) by coming in for visits before commencing
  care.
• Ease your child into care with short stays to begin
  with.
• Provide a favorite toy, blanket or comforter to support
  your child when they are separating from you or settling
  to sleep. This can help your child feel more secure.
• If your child is unsettled, short visits with you will
  help your child to gain trust with  an unfamiliar
  environment. These visits can be made on a day when your
  child is not booked to attend.
• Your child will be reassured when they see positive
  interactions between Educators  and
  parents or Educators and other children, and this will
  help them to establish trust in an unfamiliar setting.
• Try to talk at home about child care. Mention the names
  of the Educators and other children. Talk about the
  things the child will be able to do at child care that
  are fun and enjoyable.
• Talk to the Educators about your child, for example,
  what they like to do; successful ways of settling them
   to sleep; foods they  like and dislike
   and so on. This helps Educators to get to know
  your child. If English is not the language spoken at
  home please provide a list of words to assist educators
  providing comfort and education to your child.
• When leaving your child it is best to make sure
   you  say goodbye  and  then
   leave. Hesitating  and not going after you
  have said your goodbye only confuses them, especially
  if
  they are upset. Reassure your child that everything is
  alright and you  will  return  later.
  This  can  help them to settle.
• It sometimes helps to establish a routine when leaving.
  For example, giving your child a cuddle and then passing
  them on to Educator, or sitting down  with
   them  to read  a book or for a short
  play before leaving.
• At first some children protest strongly while others may
  take a day or two to realize  that you  are
  leaving them and  begin to  protest after
  several days. Children soon learn that  you
   do return and in the mean time they are well cared
  for.