A manager's view
Mairi Maciver Clark
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
A well thought-out settling-in period is vital for both children and parents new to your nursery, says Mairi Maciver Clark For any parent sending their child to a nursery, the way the setting handles the initial contact and settling-in period is crucial. It serves as a solid introduction to our care and education of children, which will grow and deepen into a long-lasting, appreciative relationship with the parents, where we work together for the sake of the child. Although a child may find separation from their parents difficult, sometimes it can seem to nursery owners and managers that the settling-in period is more for the adults than for their offspring.
For any parent sending their child to a nursery, the way the setting handles the initial contact and settling-in period is crucial. It serves as a solid introduction to our care and education of children, which will grow and deepen into a long-lasting, appreciative relationship with the parents, where we work together for the sake of the child. Although a child may find separation from their parents difficult, sometimes it can seem to nursery owners and managers that the settling-in period is more for the adults than for their offspring.
Although nurseries have different settling-in procedures, it is generally agreed that, irrespective of the age of the child concerned, there are four basic things to look for during the settling-in period:
* That they eat when they are with us
* That they drink when they are with us
* That they rest, relax or sleep when they are with us
* That they soil when they are with us.
All these signs provide evidence that the child is happy to be in the setting, and parents should be made aware of this. Any problems indicate that a more intense settling-in period is needed before the child accepts the nursery as part of their life.
Having established the fundamentals, dealing with tantrums and tears at separation time can still be tricky, much as you reassure parents that you've handled this successfully many times before. Explain to parents that a child can find separation difficult, even after a thorough settling-in period. The child is travelling through 'the tunnel of tears'. At the end of that tunnel is the member of staff with open arms, cuddles and words of reassurance. The child comes out the other end exhausted but safe into the adult's arms. It is the start of their relationship.
It is always worth mentioning to parents that children sometimes demonstrate their disapproval of separation in full technicolour when they are dropped off in the morning, only to settle down fine five minutes later when the parent has driven off and turned the corner. We've all seen that screaming, kicking, distraught child who walks calmly up to their friend, smiles and begins to play as soon as mum has left the building!
Mairi Maciver Clark is managing director of Mulberry Bush Kindergarten in Killearn, Glasgow, and director of the Scottish Independent Nurseries Association
