Worried about starting the daycare? See the tips from our daycare manager
In every family there comes the day when parents go back to their work life routine and it is time for the child to begin his/her journey in daycare. Many families do not face the world of daycare until it is time for their own child to go to kindergarten. This new stage of life, which most probably is the most significant change in the child’s life so far, should be encountered through joy and positive thoughts when focusing on the future. The manager of our Kamu daycare center listed some items below, which are good to keep in mind when taking this big step.
Face the emotions, discuss and encourage
The situation with available daycare places in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, has been challenging recently. At times the parents are forced to wait for the decision on the daycare placement to a very last minute. The preparations for this new change in life might thus be overshadowed by insecurity of the location, group and quality of the offered daycare placement.
One should not get scared of the mixed feelings arising from starting the work life and daycare but instead, acknowledge and face these emotions. It is good to discuss and vent one’s feelings with close friends and other adults. It is advisable to contact the manager of the daycare center and other personnel with an open mind. As a parent, you have the right to be informed about the status of your child’s application process. It is important for the family to pay attention and acknowledge the ways their child is handling all the new and the upcoming life change. For the child starting of daycare means leaving the familiar and safe, which naturally can cause stress and insecurity. Yet in safe and encouraging environment, the child learns how to prepare to new situations and to trust that everything will be going well in the end.
One should have a positive mind when facing the new although some guilt and worries might be present. It is good to remember that all the words, gestures and emotions of the parents about starting the daycare affect the child in different levels. One should discuss this new life event with the child with supporting and encouraging tone. We, adults, should remember that the child is listening, sensing and adapting the views and thoughts from us, as the children themselves are both physically and mentally living at the present without any knowledge of what is coming.
Give child enough time to get to know the daycare environment
Kamuhome Pitäjänmäki in Helsinki
One of the most important things in starting of the child’s daycare is to visit the daycare center and to give the child an opportunity to familiarize herself/himself with the new environment and the personnel. Together with their parent the child should be given an opportunity to explore and feel about the new toys, their own locker, group- eating- and sleeping facilities, as well as the yard. In our Kamu-home the personnel would like to get to know the family as a whole and our ways of working include e.g. a home visit after starting of the daycare in an environment already familiar to the child.
We, in Kamu-home, have always open doors for parents and we are happy to introduce our ways of working to the families. We are willing to put an extra effort to this important stage of child’s life and we further guide and support families with all their questions and feelings related to starting the daycare.
Recognize the main role of the child and the familiar routines
When the child starts the daycare, she/he will still remain their old self. The child should be allowed to have the main role during the first months. One should praise and encourage them, as in the new environment the child will instantly adapt new operating models and create new perceptions of himself/herself as an actor. The adults in the daycare need to show their genuine interest towards the child and parents should show particular interest in the issues related to the daycare life and speak about it with their child.
Good routines from the home environment should be transferred to daycare. Children can bring important things to daycare, such as a family picture, which can be looked at together at the times of homesickness. We in Kamu-home assist families in finding their own morning routines and to make these routines pleasant to every family member. Parent can leave to work with a positive mind while the child’s need for adult attention is met. We acknowledge and accept the morning cries, emotional storms and missing the parents. In these moments we offer to hold the child in comfort, safe adult to talk to and play.
Collaboration is crucial
Kamu team
The interaction between the families and the personnel should be open and based on mutual trust. This way we can together help the child to find someone from the group to be the safe adult during the day time when mom and dad are away. This all should happen in peaceful environment and with enough time. To some kids leaving the parent is easier and they focus their energy fast to new friends and environment. In these kinds of situations, it is good for the parent to give more space for their child.
Usually when picking up the child from the daycare, parent is given a basic description on the issues related to the basic care of the child, such as whether the child has eaten well or slept. As a parent one hears the phrase “today was a good day” quite often. In Kamu-home we are more concentrating on the family- specific issues, which we know are of importance to the specific family. Especially the first months after starting the daycare are significant. Thus, it is important that our personnel together with the family goes through the child’s day and discusses the topics and themes, which are already going smoothly as well as those with challenges.
Kamu daycare is a nature-oriented, communal and caring support function for the whole family. The operating language of Kamu daycare is Finnish, but English is also used in daily activities with our English shower method. If the child's mother tongue is other than Finnish, the learning of the Finnish language will be well supported.
Our daycare offers space for 40 children (1-5 years old, the right for pre-school education will be applied in autumn of 2022), who are taken care of by three early education teachers, four practical nurse and one daycare assistant.
Good resourcing ensures that we always have time for quality early childhood education and to support families to a balanced and smooth everyday life. A home-like daycare is a stress-free place for children to learn future skills through natural curiosity, creativity and bold experimentation.
The emphasis on nature is an absolute advantage for us in the urban environment of Pitäjänmäki. We go outdoors a lot, carry out urban farming and promote good nature relationship. Read more about Kamu's emphasis on nature!
Our daycare manager Jingjing Liu warmly welcomes all the families to our Kamu-community to work in collaboration for children’s benefit!
CONTACT Jingjing: jingjing@kamueducation.fi or call p. +358 4423 94068
