ADJUSTMENT


It is natural for children and parents to go through a period of adjustment to school. This period will differ for every family depending upon the age of the child, temperament, previous experiences, and frequency of the program children attend. Please be assured that the staff of Tiny Tot will do all that we can to ease this adjustment period for you and your child. It is our hope that the following tips will help you settle easily into our school.

	1.	If possible visit Tiny Tot several times before your child’s start date. We would rather have you visit 4 or 5 times for 15 minutes than 1 time for an hour. Each time your child walks into Tiny Tot and the classroom he/she will become more comfortable. It is always good to leave when your child doesn’t want to. That way they leave wanting to return.

	2.	When getting ready for school in the morning, remind your child of all the fun things to do at school, and look at the calendar together, so that your child will be eager to arrive and begin his or her day.

	3.	Be sure to plan a few minutes when you arrive at Tiny Tot to help your child get settled. Take time to help your child put his/her things away, choose an activity and spend a few moments doing the activity.

	4.	When you leave, assure your child that he or she will be picked up, and tell him or her at about what part of our day you will arrive.

	5.	Establish a good-bye routine that you and your child do each day, whether it be settling your child in a chair next to the teacher, waving good-bye at the window, beeping as you drive off, or giving a kiss to hold onto for the day.

	6.	At the end of the day, if you are going to be considerably later than expected, call and ask the staff to let your child know so that he or she does not become alarmed when you do not arrive when expected. Children are very sensitive to time as indicated by our daily routine, and they do become frightened when Mom or Dad are really late.

	7.	When you arrive, do not rush your child out of school. If he or she is involved in an activity, share the experience with your child, or, if he or she hasn't noticed you, stand back and watch!

	8.	Express interest in what your child has to say-if you are involved in conversation with other adults before your child, he or she may wonder who you are glad to see.

	9.	If your child isn't quite ready to go home when you arrive, be proud because this means he or she is really having fun at school! Be proud, too, when your child rushes to you with a hug-no one can take the place of Mom or Dad!

	10.	Please refrain from walking into Tiny Tot on your cell phone. Give your child undivided attention after a long day.