Daycare for children is a popular method to develop multiple skills, like social, emotional, and cognitive development, in children at an early age. However, it is also beneficial for the parents who are trying to focus on their careers and want peace of mind during their peak working hours. Daycare offers all of the possible solutions for children’s problems. But, before sending your child to a daycare centre, it is a must to know whether your child is ready for daycare or not. Mostly, parents ignore many factors that result in negative impacts on the child’s mentality. Before sending your child to daycare, ensure that you have read this guide.
Indicators of Daycare Readiness
Do you know what the signs are for the daycare readiness of a child? How do these signs help you in the identification of your child’s daycare needs? If you don’t know, no worries. You are at the place where the right information has been provided for you based on real-life experiences and child psychology. If you need daycare services or consultation, Little Companions Daycare is offering its services in your town to help your child grow.
The following are some factors to consider for the identification of daycare readiness for your child:
Emergence of Self-Help Skills
Before sending your child to daycare, ensure that they have developed self-help skills, like feeding themselves, showing no resistance in dressing up, and using a potty seat. Between 18 to 30 months of age, most children develop these skills. If you are seeing these signs at your home, that your child is doing all these tasks, it can be a sign that you can send him/her to a daycare centre. It is a sign of maturity and flexibility in your child.
Less Separation Anxiety
The most critical aspect is the separation anxiety. Before sending it to the daycare centre, ensure that how your child handles separation anxiety. Between 12 to 18 months, most toddlers face peak-level anxiety when their parents leave. After that age, the separation anxiety decreases when they start to mature. If your child is not facing any issues in the short term when you are not at home, it can be a sign to leave them at daycare for long durations.
Clear Communication for Needs and Wants
After 18 months of age, most children start communicating and tell their needs to their needs. If they are telling you their needs clearly, it can be a positive sign for you. If they can indicate to others about their hunger, dirty diaper, or tiredness, you can send them to a daycare center. It will help children to advocate for themselves.
Listen and Follow
If your toddler is listening and following you, it can be a positive sign that you can send them to daycare. At the age of 2 to 3 years, mostly toddlers start to follow basic instructions given by their parents. If they are following one-step directions, like they are holding you tight in parking lots or giving up something at one call, you can send them to a daycare centre without any tension.
Independent Playing
Rather than playing with others, if your child can play solo for some time without interacting with others, it is a sign that you can send him/her to a daycare centre. If they are spending 10 to 15 minutes in solo play without any distractions, it is a good sign to send them to daycare.
Interaction With Other Children
If your toddler is showing interest in other children, like playing with them and copying them, it can be a sign of interaction and cooperation. By the age of 2- 3 years, children start to engage in associative play. They start imitating others and taking turns while playing. If you are seeing all these signs, you can send them to a daycare centre where your child will also cooperate to spend time and learn.
Conclusion
To sum up, it is a must to look for particular signs in your children before sending them to a daycare centre. If your child is showing signs, like quick learning, listening, following certain steps, playing independently, clear communication needs, and has self-help skills, you can send him/her to a daycare centre to learn basic skills. But if your children are not showing these skills, never send them to a daycare center because separation will affect the mindset of children, which will result in negative effects over the whole lifespan. Ensure to read this guide before sending your toddler to a daycare centre.
FAQs
- How to know if a child is ready for childcare?
If a child shows signs of soloplay, communication for needs, minimal effects of separation, and cooperates with other children, these are the signs that the child is ready for daycare. - What is the best age to send a child to daycare?
After 18 to 24 months of age, you can send your child to a daycare centre if they are showing some signs of maturity. - Can I avail myself of daycare services for my child?
Yes, you can avail daycare services for your child in your town by visiting a daycare centre. - How can I help my child adjust to daycare?
Start by establishing a consistent routine, visiting the daycare together beforehand, talking positively about the experience, and gradually increasing time spent there to ease the transition. - What should I pack for my child’s first day at daycare?
You should pack essentials like extra clothes, diapers or pull-ups, snacks or lunch (if needed), a comfort item (like a blanket or toy), and any required medication with clear instructions.
