How to Prepare your Child for Going back to Nursery
Life post-lockdown looks different for many of us in lots of ways and life for our littles ones has changed too. Schools and nurseries have been closed for months and with the time to return now upon us, perhaps your children are feeling nervous about returning to the nursery or perhaps this is their first experience of nursery and this is no doubt nerve-racking too! So in either case, we’ve put together a few pointers and tips as well as some general information regarding preparing your child for the nursery if they are experiencing some nerves and anxiety at this time.
What emotional challenges are children likely to encounter?
Some young children may have a different teacher or be in a new friendship group which could make them feel slightly anxious or unsettled. They may miss their parents or their family routine and find it hard to separate the two and this is totally comprehendible. A nursery may perhaps be a little quieter now. ‘This also may cause concern for some children, moreover ‘If they have experienced a bereavement or a family member who has been unwell, children may be more anxious about illness - for themselves but also of re-infecting their families with any information they have picked up from news sources or their general surroundings.
It is not uncommon when children are concerned for them to revert to being younger, That means you might see more behaviours such as wanting to sleep with parents as a result of children being fearful or anxious. These are certainly not signs of ‘bad’ behaviour and should not be punished but be seen as a form of distress which is being communicated through action.
Support young children by using the same strategies you might have done when they were younger. A prime example being, reverting to an old bedtime routine such as reading a bedtime story together or introducing previous safety techniques such as having a blanket or a cuddly toy they used to sleep with.
What calming techniques work?
Children respond well to being understood and understanding what their anxiety feelings are about. An example being, explaining that ‘Your tummy feels funny when you are worried - that’s what happens when we all get scared. Easy relaxation or breathing strategies, distractions can be really useful and it’s fantastic to think of a few anxiety-relieving strategies for them.
There are lots of resources available and apps such as Headspace can help kids fall asleep and wake up peacefully. It uses common meditation techniques like becoming aware of environmental sounds, breath awareness, breath counting, and more. Children can even learn the basics of mindfulness.
Don’t make a big fuss
You may see that one sobbing mum or dad still giving their child a big hug after having said goodbye four times already, but try not to let that be you! Feeling guilty or upset about leaving your child will be sensed by your little one and will just upset them too, making them less likely to want to go. Give them a hug, a confident smile and tell them that they will have loads of fun - and that you’ll see them later on. Confidence in you will really help them to relax - this is a fact.
Get excited for pick up
Don’t be too late when picking up your child, and make sure you give them a massive hug! Tell them that you’re super proud of them and that they are really grown up. Keep it super enthusiastic!
Communication is key
As your child continues to attend school over the next couple of weeks, keep talking to them to make sure everything is alright. Once the novelty of the first week or so of attending nursery has gone by, lots of children start to say that they don’t want to go back, or they are unhappy, so don’t panic if you’re child seems a bit worked up; just let them know you are there to provide them with support and see if things get better over time which in the vast majority of cases, they certainly do.
Maintain a level of trust
Once you see your child happy and playing at school or nursery, don’t linger for too long or be tempted to sneak out quietly whilst they are playing, even with the very best of intentions. Instead, maintain your child’s trust by clearly saying goodbye, and informing them simply that you will be back later. Keep things light and silly, give them a wave (or pull a funny face!) to give the impression that everything is happy, calm of course - okay. Also, using the same consistent goodbye every day will indicate to your child that it’s time to leave mum or dad and transition into nursery l mode, helping to build a comfortable routine for them.
Keep things busy
You may even find that your child is so busy taking part in school or nursery activities that they won’t even have time to miss you - and after so much time spent together, it’s quite likely that you’ll miss them! Don’t mope about the house feeling glum, instead, use the time to return to work, see friends, complete errands or even take up a new hobby. It’ll be home time before you know it!
Playgroup is helpful
Getting your child used to spending time doing activities with other kids can be a good idea, so if you can, join local playgroups. Your little one can learn how to socialise and interact with other children, plus it will give you a chance to make friends with other parents who have children of a similar age - so it won’t be just you waving off your little one when the time comes and no doubt you can support one another during this new and exciting time.
If you are seeking a local nursery near me - Sandfield Day Nursery would love to hear from you
As experienced and compassionate childcare providers in Nottingham, here at Sandfield Day Nursery, we appreciate that selecting the best day nursery for your little one’s childcare can be difficult. That is why, at Sandfield Day Nursery, we go above and beyond to create a comforting and educational nursery environment for the little ones of Nottingham. Our daycare facilities are suited for children aged six weeks to five years old and are run by a team of friendly and qualified daycare staff who recognise and appreciate the specific needs of each individual child.
Sandfield Day Nursery provides so much more than standard daycare in Nottingham. Our programme is designed to bring out the best in young children – encouraging them to constructively engage and interact with the world around them. In order to accomplish this, we carefully vet each of our childcare workers and actively seek out those with the unique talents required to support young children as they explore their surroundings. If you’re searching for established daycare facilities in Nottingham, we’d love to hear from you.
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