ready to learn   •   ready to succeed   •   ready for life

by inquiring and clarifying the ways in which child-care setting routines and expectations are the same, similar or different. 

   Parents can then help their toddlers bridge those differences by talking about home and center experiences as they are on their way to child-care and when they leave.

   It is very helpful when dad can spend just a few minutes each day with his toddler before leaving the center. It doesn’t take too long to zoom a truck to each other, survey the craft table and laugh about a book cover. 

   Later, when the toddler is tired and missing dad, she can use a developing sense of memory to hold a feeling of their being together in this very room.

   Those warm feeling memories will help her to feel comfortable enough to eat, nap and play until daddy returns.  Although preschoolers are able to hold on to memories more firmly than toddlers can, their abilities to think abstractly are still developing. However, they can now use symbols as reminders of those special relationships that help them feel competent and comfortable while away from home and family. 

   Parents now can extend their reassurance about their children’s child-care experience beyond physical presence and interaction at the center.  Although those shared experiences still are ex

tremely important, bringing the two environments together by creating visible, tangible reminders of both home and center will signal to children that, while home may feel the most comfy place to be, it’s good to develop and enjoy relationships with an increasing number of people. 

   At home, the painting that adorns the fridge, the seedling on the windowsill and the home copy of a special book at child-care will provide an important level of comfort about the day past and the next day coming. 

   Parents can help young children to maintain that comfort level by talking with caregivers about allowing — and encouraging — children to bring special objects from home that can be shared with others or kept in a cubby or nap box for moments when reminders of parents and home might be especially needed. 

   Every age and developmental stage suggests new ways for parents and children to express the special love and security they are developing for each other.

   As parents talk with caregivers about their infants and young children, there is one essential ingredient that enables children to use their ever-changing abilities, needs and environments to develop relationship strength: Infants and children of all ages need parents

and caregivers to express positive expectations for their success in all their attempts to master their world and feel confident about their place in that world. 

   When parents actively express — through words and behavior — their own confidence about their child’s relationships and experiences while in child-care, they are signaling, in very essential ways, a basic attitude of positive expectations for success. 

   What a powerful, wonderful way to encourage self-confidence and relationship strength in infants and young children.

    Kathleen Baltman directs the Caring for Kids Initiative and A Circle of Caring program. Parents and caregivers can request support for infants and children who may be having difficulties in adjusting to child-care by calling The Guidance Center at 1-734-287-1700, Ext. 1832 or 1220.

"Big Bubbles"

2 cups dishwashing liquid, 6 cups water,

3/4 cup light corn syrup

 

Mix ingredients gently in a bucket and let the mixture settle for 3-4 hours.  Makes super big bubbles!