New Daycare

jasminelorraine20

DH and I have decided that it is in our LO's best interest to be removed from the in-home daycare that he is currently in (for many reasons), and to start at a center. He officially starts after Labor Day and we are very excited as it will be closer to our home and jobs, the tuition is lower than what we were paying and we met and love the staff and how the daycare is ran. Last week, the three of us went to get a tour and meet the teachers, ask questions, ect. While we were there LO instantly ran to play with the other kids and blended in perfectly. While we were doing paperwork, he was outside with the teachers and other kids running around on the playground. LO is 2 and this will be his first time in a full blown center like this. At the in-home DC, it's only him and another little girl who is only part time. Was that one day of him playing with the other kids enough exposure? Or should we bring him in again just to be sure? I'm not nervous at all about him getting along and fitting in with the other kids. I just want to be positive.

MJC1116

When DD started at a preschool center for the first time, the director had us come a couple of times for short periods of time because she was super shy, but it sounds like yours did really well! If it makes you more confortable, schedule another time for a visit but it sounds like he will be fine.

MickeyM04

The transition is going to be hard no matter what, honestly.  DS was great the first time we went and were all there together and he could see me the whole time, and then the first day we sent him (the first few weeks actually), he had major meltdowns at drop off.  I don't believe that if we had continued going with him a few more times that this would have been prevented.  I would imagine that with a 2 year old, your LO is going to assume that it's just a fun place he's playing with you until you leave him there on a normal day and he realizes he's staying and you're going.  I think he's just going to have to get used to it.  I'm honestly not convinced that even if you went there with him every day for a week that he would not have a hard time transitioning.  2 is a tough age for stuff like that.  But he will for sure get used to it and love it as you've already seen he fits in swimmingly.  He just needs to realize he fits in swimmingly!

minirella

I think it sounds like he did really well too, especially if you were able to leave him to do paperwork and there weren't any issues. I agree that you may run into some issues when you make the transition but that is to be expected.