A little while back I shared that Miss H will be transitioning from her nanny share to a daycare. When I wrote the post the changes still felt so far away. Now, we’re at less than 2 weeks away from big changes! Time is moving too fast.

Backpack on and ready for school!

When I originally shared about Miss H’s new daycare, it was still a very new center. So new, in fact, that it wasn’t even open yet! We’d made our decision based on how passionate the center director was about what she was going to do there, and how comfortable Mr. H felt with her (as I wasn’t able to visit). I’m excited to share that the center has been open for almost 2 months now, and a couple of weeks ago Mr. H and I were able to drop by for a visit.

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I fell in love with the daycare/pre school almost immediately! It is bright and cheery. The center director is incredibly passionate about the curriculum, the advances they’ve made, and the future plans that are in the works. We met Miss H’s teacher, who seems excited about her job and the 2-year-olds she’s charged with each day. We saw Miss H’s adorable little classroom, with the cute and easily accessible bathroom in the corner of the room, the little cubbies for each child, the snack table, nap cots and dress up clothes. But more importantly, I loved seeing the materials Miss H will be working on when she moves up to the 3-year-old classroom – how she will learn to write her alphabet, the math lessons, etc.

But while this is all fabulous and great from my perspective, this transition is going to be a huge one for Miss H. As much as we can try and talk through the changes (and watch the episode of Daniel Tiger over and over again where he goes to school for the first time), there are certain things we can’t prepare her for in advance:

  • How hard it is going to be for her to not see her beloved nanny and nanny share buddy 3 days a week (sniffle)
  • What a change it will be to nap on a little cot in a room of 13 other 2-year-olds
  • Sharing the attention of the teacher and the teacher’s aid with 13 other 2-year-olds
  • Adjusting to a new environment and routine/schedule

Right now when we drop Miss H off with her nanny, she’s so happy to be there and playing that she doesn’t give us a second look when we go to leave. In truth, it’s amazing because we’ve never had to deal with separation anxiety in the mornings. It’s simply part of our routine that on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays she’s off with her buddies and everything is so familiar. And while we can’t completely avoid the tough transitions I listed above, what we can do is proactively try and provide some extra comfort and familiarity for Miss H, such as:

  • Keeping to our same Monday, Wednesday, and Friday schedule (Miss H will still spend her Tuesdays and Thursdays with Mr. H, as she’s done since I went back to work!). When she’s a little older and more comfortable, we’ll transition to 5 days a week.
  • Having her pick out the “lovey” she’ll keep at daycare
  • Sending over her favorite snuggly blanket for naps
  • Keeping her favorite sippy cup at daycare so that she knows exactly which cup is hers
  • Letting her help pack her backpack in the mornings before daycare
  • Walking by her daycare in advance of her first day so that she can see her “school”
  • Talking about “school” as much as possible!

While anxious on the inside about the upcoming change, I am trying to look forward to the time when Miss H is fully adjusted to daycare because I know that my little girl is going to thrive in a classroom environment! She loves to sing, dance, do art, and play (like most 2-year-olds!) and I can tell that the program she’ll be in will provide so many great learning and socialization opportunities for her.

Is there anything I’ve left off of our list that would help Miss H transition to daycare?