Starting Childcare
Starting childcare is an exciting time that is full of new experiences. To ensure your child makes a smooth transition to Renaissance Montessori Academy, it’s important to get organized ahead of time, ease them into their new routine, and positively support your child as they settle into their new early learning community.
The tips below will help make your child’s first day at childcare (and the days after) a positive experience as they come to understand that their new environment is a safe, fun, and happy place that is full of amazing learning opportunities!
Starting with RMA
For many parents, the prospect of leaving your child at a new place for the first time can be daunting.
This is why at Renaissance Montessori Academy we give you and your child as much time as you need to feel at home.​
Before the official starting date we will invite you and your child to come and visit. This visit is not only to give your child the chance to gain happy anticipations of what there is to come but also offers the opportunity for us to learn from you as much as we can about your child.​
Renaissance Montessori Academy is designed to feel as much like home as possible. Our teachers are a dedicated team who are passionate about what they do, their main aim being to give each child confidence and a love of learning.
Tips for a Positive Start to Childcare
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Bring your child on the initial centre tour and get them excited
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Talk positively about all the fun things they will experience
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Involve your child in organizing and labelling their personal items
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Talk about their new routine and what to expect in the lead up
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Attend the orientation session to help your child settle in
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Talk about the feelings your child may experience to prepare them
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Ask your child’s Center Manager or Room Leader for settling tips
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Read stories about starting school
Visit the Center
Visit your child's classroom and meet their teacher a few days ahead of time. Talk about what to expect during each portion of the day. Show your child where they will keep their backpack and personal things. Let them explore the room and the materials. Get your child excited about their new school!
Read books
Stories with characters your child can relate to — especially those with characters attending their first day of school, these are useful for relieving first-day jitters and providing a boost of confidence where needed.
You can also check out these 12 books for easing back-to-school anxiety. You’re sure to find a read-aloud that allows you moments to pause and ask your child what they’re feeling or thinking about in terms of the year ahead.
Express and acknowledge feelings.
Beginning child care is an exciting adventure, but it's normal for both of you to have feelings of anxiety. Encourage your child to express those feelings, listen closely, and acknowledge your child's fears. At the same time, acknowledge to yourself your own feelings of ambivalence or anxiety. You might notice changes in your child's behavior as they work through their feelings. Children often regress in one area as they make developmental growth in another. Children sometimes regress in toilet training or become less independent, for example. With nurturing support, these behavior changes are only temporary.
Get organized
Invite your child to participate in the organization, as the first day of school approaches, make sure you have clothing, shoes, and backpacks organized and labeled.
Talk with the Teacher
Talk about strategies to handle specific worries. For example, if your child is worried about nap, you might be able to pack some familiar items. If using the toilets seems to be the problem, the teacher can help your child get used to them. Talk to the teacher if your child gets upset when you leave. Our teachers are experienced at helping children through separation and will have ideas to help you and your child.
Discuss your child's new school
You can talk about the things your child will do at the center, what their routine will look like. Talk about some of the things that are different from home, like the toilets and playground and what things they took interest in during orientation. Talk positively about the all the fun things that will happen at school.
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If your child doesn’t seem interested when you talk about school, don’t push the conversation.
Keeping things low key can be a good idea too. If you say things like ‘Isn’t it exciting that you’re starting preschool?’, your child might start to feel more anxious because it sounds like a big deal.