Small child is strongly attached to parents in terms of emotions. The key need of the child is the need of safety. It is often disturbed in the moments the child is parting with parents, for example, in the moment the child is left in the nursery for the first time.
In the new situation, child experiences anxiety. Orientation of small children in time and space is only slightly developed. Dominating feeling of anxiety blocks their curiosity to meet a new place. Therefore small child does not pay much attention to what is happening around them and to what is placed in their sight. The child is unable to get interested in toys and games. All the time they are focused on their emotions.
Parents play a very important role in preparing the child to the new stage in their life.
In the period prior to coming to nursery parents should present the facility to their child as something unusual, pleasant and fabulous. It is necessary to gradually accustom the child with new environment and to allow the child to play in the facility so that they become more familiar with it.
During the adaptation period the most important role plays first of all staff that supports children and their parents in this difficult time.
Adaptation stages:
- Stage I
- conversation of the personnel representative with parents and a presentation of the facility
- presentation of the staff that will be taking care of the child
- Stage II
- arrival of the child in the nursery
- a limited number of hours in the facility which makes it possible for the child to take roots in the environment gradually and delicately (if necessary or possible)
- obtaining by the staff maximum various information about the child
- delivering to parents true and the most important information about functioning of the child in the nursery and functioning of the facility itsel
10 good tips
- We should take care of good mood and friendly atmosphere
- We should not surrender to the child in all situations but at the same time we should not demand from the child more than they are capable of
- We should follow previously agreed daily schedule
- We should supply the child with appropriate development stimuli, but avoid harmful ones
- We should not treat our child as a show and we should not let other people make a show out of our child.
- We should give the child opportunity to become more and more self-dependent and resourceful
- We must remember to shape not only intellectual skills of the child but also their personality through good attitude to other people and the whole environment.
- We should not keep our child in isolation – the child should take rooted in the society from the very beginning, they should learn their rights and duties.
- Being in presence of our child we should always be peaceful, patient and balanced – our anxiety, anger or impatience has always bad influence on the child
- We should employ more means of reward than means of punishment, remembering that we can achieve much more through praising than reprimanding.
Remember :
- When child experiences criticism – they learn to despise.
- When child experiences hostility – they learn aggression.
- When child experiences jeers – they learn to be uncommunicative.
- When child experiences shame – they learn feeling of guilt.
- When child experiences understanding – they learn to be patient.
- When child experiences parent support – they learn self-confidence.
- When child experiences praise – they learn to appreciate.
- When child experiences justice – they learn to be honest.
- When child experiences safety – they learn to trust.
- When child experiences approval – they learn to like themselves
- When child experiences friendship and acceptance – they learn to find love in the surrounding world.
(according to Dorothy Nolte)
Tips for parents:
- Do not prolong farewell in the dressing room: help your child to undress, assist them to the playroom, kiss and go out.
- Do not take your child back home if they cry while parting; if you do it only once, your child will know that they can enforce everything with tears
- Keep control over what you say. Instead of: “now we can go back home”, say: “now we can go”. The difference is not seemingly significant, yet the first sentence has negative meaning.
- At home do not press your child to report daily events from the nursery, kindergarten. This causes unnecessary stress (there is so much stimuli around and it is extremely difficult for your child to make distinction between today and yesterday!
- If your child cries while you are parting, for a couple of days let the father to accompany your child to nursery. Parting with father is less painful.
- As soon as you have accepted new situation, your child will also do it! Because children know best when their parents are distressed and when they are at ease.
- Remember: say “hallo” and “goodbye” to your child always with a smile!