Building a trusting relationship
Usually, the settling-in starts with a few hours or half a day. Some children feel at home right away, while others need some extra time. Age plays a role in this as well. The childcare professional who first meets your child will also be there during the settling-in period. Sometimes, he/she will also be your child's mentor. They eat together, take care of your child, and know all their habits. This way, we gradually build a trusting relationship.
Welcome!
From the very first moment, we want you to feel welcome. Whether it is during the tour or the introductory conversation. Everyone needs some time to adjust, both parents and children. That is why we take plenty of time to get to know each other and find our way around.
For your little one, it is important to feel comfortable at our childcare. Therefore, we would like to hear about your child's habits at home during the introduction. How does your child find comfort? How does he/she fall asleep? And does your child have a favourite stuffed animal? We let your child look around quietly and point out everything in the group. This helps him/her feel at home faster. And if saying goodbye was a bit difficult, we will call or text you later to let you know how it is going. But of course, you are always welcome to call as well.
Settling-in for babies
It sometimes seems like babies up to six months adjust easily. That is because they cannot express themselves very well yet. But of course, they also notice that they are in a different place from home. That is why they receive a lot of personal attention. In the beginning, there is always a familiar face nearby who feeds the baby, changes their diaper, and cuddles them when needed.
It is wise to prepare for the settling-in at home. Does your baby like to sleep on your arm, for example? Then it might be useful to let him/her adjust to sleeping in a crib. Are you breastfeeding? Then you can practice bottle feeding together. If it does not go smoothly right away, do not worry, we will work together to make the transition smooth. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are happy to help! And if you would like to stay a little longer the first time, just let us know, and we will discuss the options.
You may have many questions before your child starts childcare, but it is likely you do not ask them all. Research also shows that both parents and children experience stress in the first period. We would like to address that, so we created the Baby Time magazine - especially for parents of babies up to a year old - which you will receive after scheduling the intake. Combined with the intake and trial days, this forms the ideal start. This way, we help you and your child feel at home quickly and make it a bit easier for ourselves too. Because less stress means more peace in the group :-).
Settling-in for toddlers
Children between seven months and three years old often show it when they find it difficult to say goodbye. Together with you, we will come up with ways to say goodbye and greet each other. And we comfort your toddler for as long as he/she needs. It is often a phase that passes after a few days.
Settling-in for preschoolers
Preschoolers from 3 years old already understand better that their parents are leaving but will come back. Besides the regular childcare professionals, friendships with other children are very important to them. It gives them a sense of security. To strengthen the group feeling, we often mention the names of the children, for example, when we eat fruit together. We also talk about home. A photo of you, a stuffed animal from home, a personal hook on the coat rack, a basket with personal belongings and regular rituals all help to make them feel at home quickly.
Transitioning to the preschool group
Children in vertical groups (for 0 to 4 years) stay in the same group all the time. In horizontal groups, it is different as children of the same age are in a group together. This means that the children eventually transition to a different age group. Even then, we take the time to let the children adjust in advance, for example, by occasionally visiting the new group. There are quite a few changes: a new space, different children, new toys, and different childcare professionals. If your child was the oldest before, they are now the youngest. That is why we talk to your child and you about it, so everything is clear, and the transition goes smoothly.
Check, Check... intake interview!
During the intake interview, we would like to get to know you and your child. We are especially interested in how things are going at home, and you are probably curious about how things are going at our childcare. We also discuss some practical matters. Here is a checklist of topics you can expect during the intake interview:
- Opening hours, drop-off and pick-up times
- Familiar faces and mentors
- How we assess your child's development
- Our pedagogical policy
- Food, drinks, breastfeeding, and bottle feeding
- Allergies and dietary requirements
- Medical details and illnesses
- Sleep schedule, habits, and rituals
- Home and family situation
- Information and the parent app
- Parent committee and complaints procedure
Do you have any questions beforehand? Write them down and bring them to the interview. See you soon!