We want children to feel safe and happy in the absence of their parents, to recognise other adults as a source of authority, help and friendship and to be able to share with their parents afterwards the new learning experiences enjoyed in playgroup.
Due care and attention must be paid to a child’s need for time to settle into any new environment.
Some ideas on how to prepare your child before joining playgroup are:
- Parent and toddler groups
- Open day / Informal visit / Prospectus
- Talking it through (reassuring the child)
- Toilet training
- Books about playgroup
The playgroup will:
- Encourage parents/carers to visit the playgroup with their children in the term before admission is planned, and provide staff with information on their child’s likes, dislikes, achievements and interests.
- Introduce flexible admission procedures, if appropriate, to meet the needs of individual families and children.
- Make clear to families from the outset that they will be supported in the playgroup for as long as it takes to settle their child there.
- Reassure parents whose children seem to be taking a long time to settle in.
- Encourage parents, where appropriate, to separate from their children for brief periods at first, gradually building up to a longer absences.
First Session
- Have realistic expectations of children’s behaviour.
- For some children ½ – 1 hour is long enough.
- There is no hard and fast rule and no time limit set upon the settling in process.
- Parents are encouraged to stay with their child, for as long as necessary, for the child to be reassured that this new place and its people are safe as home.
- Children may bring a favourite toy if needed to help settle in.
- Don’t sneak out !!!