Preparing for the first day at childcare
We always prepare carefully for a child’s start at daycare together with their parents. You will receive a welcome guide containing useful information and tips, and we will contact you several times in the run-up to the start date. This means you will know exactly what to expect and how you can prepare both yourself and your child.
Getting to know each other at the branch
Around 1 month before the first settling-in day, we will call to invite you to an introductory meeting at the location. We will talk about your family and how your child is doing. During this meeting, we will also schedule the settling-in moments. And, of course, there will be plenty of time to ask any questions you may have, for example about our pedagogical vision or the way we work.
After the introductory meeting, you will receive our digital start form by email. Here, you can share practical information with us about nutrition, care products and sleep.
Around 1 week before the first settling-in day, we will call you again. We will go through the start form and check whether anything has changed. We would also like to hear how you are doing and whether you have any further questions. This helps us prepare properly for your child’s arrival too.
Curious to know who works at our locations? Meet our people!
The first settling-in day
The first settling-in day has arrived! This is often an exciting moment, and our Childcare Professionals understand that completely.
To make the transition from home to daycare as comfortable as possible, you will stay with your child in the group room for a little while during the first settling-in day. Together with a Childcare Professional, you can take part in a care routine, such as changing your child’s nappy.
This allows your child to get used to us while you are present and to experience in a positive way that we are taking over their care. After saying goodbye, your child will stay with us in the group for around 2.5 hours.
After the first settling-in day, we gradually extend the settling-in moments. We would be happy to explain more about what the settling-in period at our daycare looks like.
Tip: In our podcast episode Starting childcare: how can you prepare your child? (in Dutch), pedagogues Amber and Laurie share tips to help your child settle in at daycare.
What should you bring on the first day?
And then it is time for the first day at childcare! When your child starts, they will be given their own personal storage box. Our Childcare Professionals keep your child’s belongings in this box, such as spare clothes and a familiar soft toy from home.
We like to personalise this box. That is why we ask you to bring the following items on the first settling-in day:
- A photo of your child (approx. 15 x 15 cm)
- A photo of the parent(s)/carer(s) (approx. 15 x 15 cm)
- A comfort cloth (under 1 year) or soft toy
- A dummy (if your child uses one)
- A bottle with a suitable teat, labelled with your child’s name
- If breastfeeding: spare breast milk for the freezer
- A backpack or bag
- 1 set of spare clothes
Take a look at our handy checklist
Here, you will find everything you may need to bring on the first day. Will your child be attending our kindergarten? Then take a look at the checklist for your toddler’s first day at childcare.
Saying goodbye
It is important that children are given the opportunity to become comfortable spending time in the group without their parent(s). That is why you will stay in the group room for a little while during the first settling-in day and take part in a care routine together with a Childcare Professional.
If this feels right, you may also stay briefly with your child during the next settling-in days before saying goodbye. Once the settling-in period is complete, we will have a short check-in when you arrive to hear how you are both doing, after which you hand over your child’s care to us.
Tip! A short and consistent goodbye routine can help your child say goodbye more easily. Following the same steps each time, for example hanging up their coat, taking off their shoes and socks, giving them a cuddle and waving at the window, creates clarity and familiarity. This helps your child feel more relaxed... and you too!
Contact with the Childcare Professionals
Once you are back at home or at work, it is completely understandable that you may wonder how your child is getting on at daycare. During the day, our Childcare Professionals will therefore share a photo and a message in the Parent Portal. This allows you to stay up to date with what is happening at daycare, even from a distance.
Please do not hesitate to call the Childcare Professionals in your child’s group either! This can help reassure you as a parent and allows us to discuss together what your child needs.
When you pick up your child, we will tell you how their day has been and whether there is anything important to mention.
4 tips to prepare your child for daycare
1. Practise independent play
Before your child starts at daycare, it can be helpful if they are already used to spending short periods lying independently on, for example, a play mat, or playing by themselves for a little while. This can make it easier for them to get used to playing in the group.
Try gradually increasing the distance between you and your child while they are playing at home.
In our podcast (in Dutch), our pedagogues Janine and Amber share more about independent play and how you can encourage it.
2. Practise drinking from a bottle
For babies who are breastfed at home, drinking from a bottle can take some getting used to. It is therefore important to introduce the bottle well before your child starts at daycare.
If you notice that your child finds this difficult, you can ask a speech and language therapist who specialises in infant feeding for support.
3. Help your child get used to background noise
There are naturally more sounds, activity and stimulation from other children at daycare than there may be at home.
You could, for example, visit a playground when other children are there too. This gives your child an opportunity to become familiar with new and unfamiliar sounds.
4. Bring a comfort cloth with a familiar scent
Children are very aware of smells. It can therefore be comforting to give your child something that smells like home or like you.
For example, sleep with the comfort cloth you will bring to daycare for a few nights, so that your familiar scent transfers onto it. Smelling your scent can help your child feel safe and relaxed with us more quickly.
