When your child starts attending a childcare centre, they are taking an exciting next step in their learning journey, and you can help them along the way.

As a parent, there are many things you can do to help your child succeed in a childcare environment, making the most of learning opportunities and engaging meaningfully with curriculum programs. You can support your child to learn, play, discover, and grow. 

Here are 5 ways you can help your child thrive at childcare!

1. Be prepared

Good preparation is the key to a successful childcare journey! 

Being prepared for childcare can help you to avoid common challenges, staying calm and collected at drop-off time. The night before your child attend childcare, make sure you’ve organised everything they need (lunch, clothes, a backpack). This will save you a last-minute rush in the morning!

Before your child starts at childcare, prepare them for changes in routine and the new challenges they might face at their centre. Focus on the positives as much as possible, and slowly introduce your child to centre routines. 

2. Stay consistent

Staying consistent with childcare routines and expectations can make life much easier for your child. 

Find out what routines and schedules are in place at your child’s early learning centre, and consider implementing some of these at home. You might adjust nap times or meal times to align more closely with centre timetables. 

Maintaining consistency between home and childcare can help your child to feel secure in their environments. They’ll know what to expect each day, and they’ll be able to face new challenges with confidence.

3. Communicate with educators

Your child’s educators will be an important part of their learning journey, so it’s important that you communicate with them regularly. 

Each day at centre drop-off and pick-up times, speak to your child’s educators about their interests and learning needs. Ask how your child is doing at childcare and if there are any concerns you should be aware of. 

Communicating with educators can help you develop a clearer sense of your child’s strengths and weaknesses, providing you with the knowledge you need to help your child succeed. 

4. Make quality time

When you child begins attending a childcare centre, they may have less time at home with you, so it’s important that you continue to spend quality time with them outside of centre hours. 

Take time to talk to your child, asking them questions about their friends, their educators, and the things that they are learning. Spend time with your child, and listen to them when they communicate with you. 

Quality time is an important part of ensuring that your child continues to feel secure both at home and at childcare. This will make it much easier for your child to learn and thrive.   

5. Build on learning

Learning doesn’t have to stop at childcare. You can help your child build on their skills and knowledge at home! 

Find out what skills your child is working on at childcare. Are they learning about the environment? Are they practising sports, music, or communication skills? Whenever possible, introduce these concepts to games and activities at home too. 

By building on your child’s learning at home, you can help them learn concepts more quickly, and you can provide them with the support they need to develop new skills and achieve their full potential.

Still searching for the right childcare centre for your child? Visit MyXplor to find childcare centres near you! For example, a parents based in Rowville might visit the MyXplor Rowville Childcare listing to find local centres.