How Do You Make Your Own Child Feel Secure In Your Day Care?

[Pestle]

So we're making the leap and bringing our 4yo home at the end of the school year--she's been in private school since she was just shy of age 2. It's going to be a difficult transition to homeschooling while running a day care, I'm sure, but I want to do it now before she's any older (and before I'm any older!).

I'm not really concerned about making her participate in the day care schedule; I'm more worried about making sure she's able to work with me on school a couple of days a week and that she doesn't feel marginalized at home with a mommy who's paying more attention to the babies. What are some concrete ways you paid attention to your child at your day care?

She's independent and focused, but mostly she just wants to independently focus on narrative play. On days that school is closed, it's hit or miss whether she wants to participate or go hide in her room and do Playmobil all day. I will probably put a hook and eye latch up high on her bedroom door so that I can keep her out of her room when I need to. My daughter can get exasperated at typical toddler/baby behavior. Did you let your preschooler go off on their own to detox during day care hours?

[DaveA]

What are some concrete ways you paid attention to your child at your day care?

If we went somewhere as a daycare (library, zoo, etc) I made sure we did it again just as a family. Their rooms/ toys were off limits to DCKs. If there was a quiet time I made sure to give my kids a quick hug or do something with them.
. My daughter can get exasperated at typical toddler/baby behavior. Did you let your preschooler go off on their own to detox during day care hours?

Yes. Their rooms were "their space" and they could go to them and play if they needed a break from DCKs.

[finsup]

So we're making the leap and bringing our 4yo home at the end of the school year--she's been in private school since she was just shy of age 2. It's going to be a difficult transition to homeschooling while running a day care, I'm sure, but I want to do it now before she's any older (and before I'm any older!).

I'm not really concerned about making her participate in the day care schedule; I'm more worried about making sure she's able to work with me on school a couple of days a week and that she doesn't feel marginalized at home with a mommy who's paying more attention to the babies. What are some concrete ways you paid attention to your child at your day care?

She's independent and focused, but mostly she just wants to independently focus on narrative play. On days that school is closed, it's hit or miss whether she wants to participate or go hide in her room and do Playmobil all day. I will probably put a hook and eye latch up high on her bedroom door so that I can keep her out of her room when I need to. My daughter can get exasperated at typical toddler/baby behavior. Did you let your preschooler go off on their own to detox during day care hours?

My son is 5, and we've been homeschooling kindergarten since the fall. It's been wonderful! I do have him follow the same routine as daycare kiddos, like when they do free play, he does free play. When they have snack, he has snack etc. Our circle time is closer to what you see in a K classroom, littles still join in and have actually learned a ton just heading it. One thing I did that really helped stregthened our connection was snuggling him during read aloud. Others just sit around his, but he gets to be next to me. Something seemingly little made a big difference. We turned his door to his room into a half door as well and its now "big kids only". He also knows he can go downstairs by himself if he needs a break. He started out this year not entirely sold on being home (tough luck kiddo ) and now he LOVES it and doesn't want to do anything different.