Starting your day with tears can be difficult, but that’s the reality for many moms dropping their kids off at daycare. You arrive at the center, try to set them up for a positive day, and you can still face crying and clinging as you try to say goodbye.
Sadness at drop-off doesn’t necessarily mean your child is unhappy, but that knowledge doesn’t make the task any easier. If you want to ease their tears and start everyone’s day on the right foot, start with these tips and tricks:
Keep the Goodbye Short and Predictable
Quality daycare centers like Lil’ Patriots Academy’s Spanaway daycare certainly make it easier to enjoy seamless drop-off experiences with so many fun things for the kids to run off to do. However, some children do still struggle to say goodbye at the start of a fun and engaging day.
Parents can help ease the transition by keeping their goodbyes short and predictable. Try the same routine and words every day, such as ‘I love you, have fun, and I’ll be back after your afternoon snack.’ End the interaction with a hug and leave confidently.
Don’t Sneak Out
Sneaking out can seem like the easiest way to avoid an upset child. Wait until they’re distracted and momentarily have their eyes off you, and quickly exit. While this strategy might seem effective and helps you get to work on time, it’s not recommended. Children can become anxious about whether you’ll come back, but a short but confident goodbye builds trust.
Give Them Something to Anticipate
Your young child likely doesn’t yet understand the general concept of time. Telling them you’ll be back at a particular time doesn’t mean much to them yet, which means it can’t offer comfort. Try a different approach by giving them something to anticipate. For example, you might tell them that they’ll have their morning snack, play, have lunch, and then you’ll come back to pick them up.
Let Daycare Educators Take Over
Educators see the struggle that parents face with leaving their children every day, and they’re there to help. As soon as you’ve said your confident goodbye, guide your child over to a familiar educator so they can comfort and engage them. The goodbye can often be much easier if your child is immediately engaged in something fun or new.
Stay Calm and Confident
Seeing your child cry can’t help but tug on the heartstrings. You don’t like them seeing upset, and you certainly don’t like being the cause! However, your calm and confident demeanor can serve everyone well in the situation because children pick up on our anxiety.
Rather than appearing sad or distressed because they are also feeling that way, maintain neutrality and reassure your child. Tell them you understand that saying goodbye is hard, but they’re going to be okay, and you know they’re going to have a great day.
Maintain the Goodbye
Say goodbye and leave. This level of confidence can be more helpful than you think. While it can be tempting to return to the daycare after leaving to help calm your child, repeatedly doing so can turn the situation into a negotiation. Your child may begin to learn that when they cry, you come back.
Speak Positively About Daycare
You want daycare to be something your child thinks about fondly and looks forward to, and that starts at home. Casually mention it in conversations to make it something fun and familiar. For example, you might ask what toys they’ll play with when they go there tomorrow and which children they’ll greet first.
Such conversations can start to build daycare as a positive environment in their minds, which may lead to more positive drop-off experiences.
Your drop-off routine may not be the most pleasant right now, but that doesn’t mean it will always be hard. Try out some of the tips above and see if they make a difference. Before you know it, your child may be starting their mornings with smiles, rather than tears.
