Settling a child into day care

How can we make the transition easier for the child? 

Phase one: start reading books to the child about going to kindergarten, this is a good way of introducing the idea to him/her or watch programs where children are in nursery. 

Phase two: The child goes to kindergarten with the mother. The child meets the new teachers and children and the main- teacher will be introduced too. For a week the mother will go to kindergarten with the child. At the beginning the mother will be more dominate but later on the mother will just sit on the chair, watch her child play with the other children. Important in this phase is that the main teacher is available to the child and takes responsibility. The interaction between mother and teacher can insure the child that the teacher can be trusted. 

Phase three: The mother comes to kindergarten with the child but leaves the child for a couple of hours alone. Here it is very important that the main teacher gives clear signals that the child is able to turn to her/him if needed. The mother needs to stay available for the kindergarten to call her to come back if needed. If the child is not able to be alone in the kindergarten one should return to phase one. Otherwise this phase should continue for a week or two depending on the child. Every couple of days the hours of the mother not being there should be increased.  

Phase four: Mother brings her child to kindergarten and says goodbye. It is important that the main teacher is available to comfort the child especially after saying goodbye but also throughout the day. Also in this phase the mother should stay available by phone to come back if the child is inconsolable. Make sure you pack a comfort toy at the beginning. It is something familiar and is something from home. It will help the child to say goodbye and during the day the child can hold it and cuddle it when needed.