How to go about putting my 3 year old into childcare for the first time?

I am raising my 3 year old grandson and he needs to be put into childcare for social and other reasons. Can anyone help me decide how to go about doing so? Should I put him in maybe an hour or two the first day and 2-3 hours the day after and so on until I have worked him up to a fullday? I want to do this without as much stress on him as possible. He feels the need to be by my side all day long and I can't get anything done that I need to and I'm starting to get really stressed and I don't need to take it out on him so in order for me to have time to look for a job I need to get him situated in childcare first. PLease help!

Public Comments

1. well, I receltly put my son ( who was being care for by his aunt) into daycare, i wanted him to learn instead of playing all day.

   Well i took a vacation week from work. I took him for a few hours each day for about 4 days that week.

   Then I told him this was his new school and he would be going there during the day now.

   YES HE CRIED EVERY MORNING FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS! it was heartbreaking and the hardest thing i have ever done. and I shead tears rigt along with him each day. But 4 months later i KNOW i have made the best decision for my son, he is spelling his name, saying the pledge of allegiance, knows how to line up in lines, SOOO many things with an only child you dont think of teaching!

   GOOD LUCK !



2. Use the local churches that offer Mom's morning out from 9-12. Most children that go to these have only been home, so they are used to the clingy type and do a great job. Plus, the cost less then the regular daycare. Good luck!


3. Start out with just a couple of hours a couple of days a week, and build up from there.

   Since he's already a toddler and is very much aware of his surroundings, you need to make sure that he's distracted when you leave. Get him involved in some activity with other children and slip out quietly. If you have to leave and hear him screaming for you, it will rip your heart out.



4. I was scared when my son was going to daycare for the first time, but he just walked right in and started playing with the other kids. They usually adjust faster than we do. Some daycares offer a day where you can watch from another room and see how he interacts with others. Daycare is good practice for them because eventually they will be going to school and this will help them with social interaction. Enroll him see what he does and go from there.


5. I am all for putting children into day or child care from the age of 6 months onwards. My grandson who is now 15 months old lives with me (as does his mom and dad) and he was placed in a day care centre from the age of 4 months.

   He is a lovely, outging and well socialized child. He is already learning skills that my own children only learned when they were three years old (which was when I put them into day care). He is also so active that there is no way that I could spend an entire day looking after him and work at the same time. (I work from home).

   At present, he is under quarentine for 2 weeks, so I have hired a 2nd char to help out. As much as I adore my grandson, I need time to work and I need time for myself.

   My most important advice is that if the centre insists that you cannot visit without an appointment - don't go!

   You should be able to pitch up at any child care centre without an appointment, otherwise they may have something to hide.

   Other than that, bite the bullet. Drop your grandson off in the morning and pick him up in the evening. He will soon get used to it - I know, my own kids did and used to look forward to getting to "school" in the morning to be with their friends.

   Look after yourself and be safe

   Sandy

   http://www.moms-home-safety.com



6. Firstly, this child very need you beside him/her please don't leave him/her for a long time. This symthoms she got from your or your husband genetic. What you should do is make it step by step.


7. Childcare can be a great way for children to socialize and learn. But--it needs to be high quality childcare. As you choose a center, ask these questions: Do you have structured activities for children? What is the turnover of staff at the center? How many staff transitions are there during the day? How is discipline handled? If you feel secure that it is a good setting, then you will be more positive and help your grandson with the transition.

   We're transitioning from a home care setting to a "school" for our two year old right now. How you talk about the new experience has a huge impact on how he handles it. Start with a short, stress free visit with your grandson and you, preferably during a free play time. With your grandson, walk around the room and look at all the neat things. Keep a running commentary. Stay for a short time, and then leave. Over the next few days, make school the topic of conversation. "You'll be going to school soon! What do they have there?"...and have your grandson fill in with the things that interested him. Talk about the routine: "We'll go together, and then you'll say 'bye bye' and Grandma will go to work. Miss ___ will take care of you. Then Grandma will come back!" Do this over and over until your grandson can say it with you. Talk a lot about the fun things at school, and what he will do.

   Three year olds do not have much of a sense of time. They can't really distinguish between 1 hour and 4. I'd suggest maybe doing a morning the first day, and then transitioning to a full day. He may cry, he may not. "Short goodbyes make drier eyes" is the motto here.