Navigating the First Day of Nursery: A Guide for Parents
The first day of nursery can inspire a mixture of excitement and anxiety for children and parents alike. Your child taking their first steps into this new environment is a significant milestone for both of you.
Entrepreneur and mum Aimee Cestrone, who founded Pippeta, a shop which sells a wide range of weaning products for babies, offers some advice on how nervous mothers and fathers can prepare themselves and their children for this new adventure.
In advance…
○ Introduce the idea of nursery and regularly talk about it
Explain the concept of nursery to your child and get them excited about all of the new friends they will make and the variety of activities they’ll get up to. Some nurseries offer tours and run open days where you can visit and take a look around. If possible, take your child to one of these events and introduce them to the new surroundings where they will be spending a significant part of their day.
○ Point out the nursery when passing
If you pass the nursery when driving or walking, be sure to point it out to your child and try to get them excited about going there! Make sure they feel that this new adventure is not something to be scared of but something to anticipate.
○ Roleplay
Roleplaying with your child can help them to understand the format and routine of nursery. Practice saying goodbye to one another, answering their name on a register, sitting down nicely and lying down for naptime. This is a great way to bond with your child and children thrive off routine – so it will make the transition into nursery much smoother.
○ Explain and establish a routine
It can be daunting going to a new environment alone, so it’s important to establish a strong routine early. Brushing teeth, getting dressed and having breakfast at the same time each day will allow your child to feel more confident and independent and keep this feeling even when their parents are not around.
○ Validate their concerns
It’s very natural if your child is worried about going to nursery; it’s a big step in their life! Listen to any fears they have and be ready to answer any questions. Many children are worried about who will be there to pick them up, or what if their teacher doesn’t like them? So it is crucial to reassure them that you will be there at the end of the day, and of course their teacher will like them!
On the first day…
○ Keep smiling
It’s normal for you to be feeling nervous at the first drop-off, but it’s important to stay calm and positive nevertheless. Children are sensitive to their parents’ emotions and will pick up on your cues. Try to be happy and excited to help your child feel the same.
○ Communicate openly about the day
As you’re going to nursery, talk about all the exciting things they may get up to during the day. Explain the activities that could take place, and maybe talk about what you’ll do at the end of the day – reassuring them that you’ll come back.
○ Prepare the night before
Try to prepare as much as you can the night before, getting ready in the morning can be incredibly stressful so doing as much preparation as you can the night before will help the morning to run much smoother.
○ Keep drop-off time short
It can feel almost impossible to leave your little one at the door on their first day, but it’s best to keep your drop-off short. If you leave slowly or leave as they’re crying, this could result in them being clingier and finding it more difficult to go in. Children bounce back quickly; they will feel fine after a few minutes and ready to play with all their new friends.
Enjoy the day!
Good information to consider next time where going anywhere new