It’s common for parents to have trouble with daycare drop-off, but what about pickup? Believe it or not, kids are not always ready or willing to leave daycare! After all, they have spent the day learning, participating in fun activities and playing with friends. What can you do to get your child ready to go home, without causing a meltdown? We have 7 quick tips.
1. Be Prepared
When pickup is at the end of a workday, you run into the chance of traffic. Have your child’s favorite toy and a snack ready in the car to keep them entertained on the ride home.
2. Arrive on Time
If you show up late, your child may feel rushed and get upset. By arriving on time or even early, you allow your child the time to say goodbye to friends, teachers and to pack up.
3. Talk to Teachers
The daycare staff has spent a good portion of the day with your child; take the opportunity to speak with the teachers about how the day went. If it was difficult, you can be prepared ahead of time to handle your child’s potentially negative behavior.
4. Don’t Rush
Along the same lines as showing up on time, try to avoid pulling your child out of daycare as fast as possible. If other kids are still waiting to be picked up, walk around the classroom and talk to your child about what he or she learned that day.
5. Distract from Pickup
Rather than focusing on the fact you’re leaving daycare, say “I can’t wait to hear all about your day in the car” or invite them to help the staff clean up, so they can go home too.
6. Offer an Incentive
Talk about what’s going to happen at home, whether it’s seeing a sibling or playing a game before dinnertime. It also helps to have an at-home ritual your child can look forward to, such as reading a book together.
7. Mind Your Mood
No matter how your day went, always be pleasant. It might have been a stressful day at the office, but these negative feelings will rub off on your child.
Looking for daycare or after-school care for your children? To schedule a tour and meet the staff at Carrier Academy of Learning, contact us today!