How to Prepare Your Child for Nursery

After a looooong and relaxing holiday spent with family, it is time to grab our books and get back to our desks! For some kiddos it is a fresh start, for some, it is time to get back to routine. After a long summer of warm memories under the sun, how do we prepare our children for nursery? There are some simple things you can do in the days leading up to their first day, which can make their adaptation way much easier. Let’s learn together! 

 

Get Your Baby Used to Other Children

Nursery will surround your little one with many new friends, and this usually new experience might overwhelm your child at first if they are not used to being surrounded by many people. Before the nursery starts, it is a good idea to take your child to a baby or toddler group, in which they will be provided an opportunity to meet other tiny people and bond with them over their shared joy of exploring the world around them. This will also be an opportunity for you to meet other parents and caregivers, which also provides you with a community among people who are going through a similar stage of life with their children and can understand your worries and feelings. This is especially important for babies born during or after the pandemic and lockdown, for a lot of children and parents were isolated and need to learn how to mix back with others, and learn how to bond together.  

 

Adapt Their Routine

With nursery, a new routine will enter your child’s life, which will be another obstacle to adapt. Knowing the nursery’s schedule, and slowly adjusting your own schedule at home to that of the nursery will help your child adapt to a new routine much easier and with the confidence of having gone through that routine with you beforehand. 

 

Spend Time on Settling in

Settling-in sessions are invaluable for helping children adjust to a new environment. These sessions allow little ones to explore their surroundings with the reassurance that a parent is close by. Your presence can make the transition smoother, helping the child feel safe and comfortable. Additionally, you can observe the activities and resources available, which can lead to meaningful conversations with your kid about what they enjoyed at nursery, encouraging them at the same time. Overall, these sessions lay the foundation for a positive nursery experience.

 

Be Prepared for Crying, Be Positive

A new experience both for you and them, the first day of nursery can be emotionally challenging for children, and it is only normal that they get distressed and cry. At this stage, your calmness and positivity are essential to ensure your baby that everything is alright. It might be a little bit difficult for them to adapt, but with your patience, they will have a sturdy place to lean on. After dropping them off, you need to have trust in the nursery staff as they are very used to this process and are better experienced at handling children on their first day of nursery.

 

Nursery Bag Essentials

Their nursery bag is just as important as their mental preparation on this special day. Having their own set of essentials in a place they are not used to spending time in gives them a sense of familiarity, helping them feel a little bit more at ease, and get used to this unique environment. What do children need in their bags when they are going to nursery? Let’s make a list.

• Bag: Your bag of choice is important for storing and protecting all your little one’s belongings. Having a bag sturdy enough to fit your child’s needs and stylish enough to fit their wants is essential to both ensure quality and encourage them.

• Nappies, wipes and creams: If you have a young child who is not yet done with potty training, it is important that in the bag you have a stock of the items that you use at home. Bringing whole bags of nappies and wipes to the nursery to eliminate the need to bring in extras each day can make your life easier. Usually, nurseries label your child’s pack of nappies and wipes and store them in the nappy changing area. It is also helpful to provide the rash creams you would like your child to have applied while at nursery.

• Coat: The weather is not always trustworthy, and it is always nice to be prepared for both the best and the worst. At nurseries, all children have access to the outdoors every day. While their time might be limited by the changes in the weather, they will still go out. It is important that children have the appropriate clothing to do so.

• Outdoor shoes/Wellies: Having appropriate kids shoes to complement their coats is just as essential to ensure full protection from weather conditions. Wellies are great for use in wet weather and easily put on and take off.

• Spare sets of clothes: At the nursery, your child will be engaging in many activities each day and will go through many changes of clothes as they do at home. When packing your child’s nursery bag, make sure to bring at least 3 changes of clothes so that whenever your baby’s clothes get messy, they can be changed into fresh new ones.

• Sun cream and sun hat: For the unexpected appearances of the sun, having baby’s sun cream packed in your child’s bag is a lifesaver. Your child having their own sun cream suitable for their own needs also prevents any issues or allergic reactions.

• Extra underwear: Small accidents can happen at any moment, and it is important to be cautious. Having spare changes of underwear is always the best to be safe and not sorry.

• Comfort item: Having a reminder of home can provide your little one comfort and reassurance. This might be a soft toy, their dummy, blanket, or any other item that they love to keep with themselves most of the time. To avoid losing or forgetting the item, you can purchase a double of it and keep the original at home.

• Any necessary medication: If your child needs access to medication whilst at nursery, it is important to notify the caregivers and bring the baby’s medication.