publication date: May 15, 2012
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author/source: Andrea Townsley
Andrea Townsley gives her top tips on preparing for
starting nursery:
- It's important that you feel
comfortable with your choice of nursery. Always have a tour of the nursery
and if possible turn up without an appointment so you can see how everything
really works.
- Ask to be introduced to the
nursery staff who will be looking after your child, so you can picture who
your child is with.
- All good nurseries will have settling in
procedures which will help you and your child get used to the idea of
nursery. At Clever Clogs we encourage parents to come along with their
child for one or two-hour sessions, followed by a full afternoon the week
before the child starts. This helps the child become familiar with the
surroundings and also helps you feel reassured that your child will be
well looked after.
- At Clever Clogs we believe in creating lots of
links between home and nursery and we often provide parents with a booklet
of photos for their child, with pictures of the staff they will be seeing
every day and the areas they will be playing in. Photo booklets like this
can help you and your child get used to the idea of nursery together and
will make it feel familiar from the outset.
- Leaving your child at nursery for the first time is a milestone, but if the nursery has provided a good
settling-in period then the experience should be a positive one. Some
children do cry when their parents leave to begin with but are often very
contented for the rest of the day. If your child cries when you leave, ask
the staff to take some photos so you can see that they are enjoying
nursery.
- The final part of preparation is making sure
your child has everything they will need. Most nurseries will ask that you
bring a bag of spare clothes and a supply of nappies and wipes. It's worth
buying your child separate indoor and outdoor shoes so that the nursery
can keep the floor inside as hygienic as possible. Many nurseries
encourage toothbrushing after meals so check if your child will need a
toothbrush to keep at nursery.
For further information visit
Clever Clogs Nurseries.
