Parents & Caregivers

If you are planning on going back to work or study, we encourage you to start visiting with your chosen home-based educator before your start date. These visits will support your child to settle into care as they become familiar with their new educator and environment. You may be able to enrol your child for shorter days to begin with, increasing the days and hours over time.

• Spend time at the educators home before care begins, so your child can become familiar with their new educator and environment. When a child sees their parents at ease with the educator in their home, children are more likely to feel at ease.
• Talk to your child about what is happening. Share information about the educators home and other children in care. Talk positively about the experience so that children feel comfortable.
• Provide your child with something special/comforting from home to take to their educators home
• Leave you child for a short amount of time on the first day, easing them into their care.
• Let your child know when you are about to leave and say that you will be back. Once you leave, don’t return straight away as this can make it harder on your child and you.
• If your child goes through a certain ritual before you leave, ensure you leave plenty of time for this. For example, they may like you to read them a story before you leave.
• Greet your child warmly before engaging with your educator when you return to pick him/ her up.
• If your child goes to an alternate educator for a day, go a little earlier so you can spend time in the new setting. This way you can reassure your child and yourself of the new environment.