Ease On Down to Daycare

You may recall we were in the market for a new daycare.  I visited a few different daycares in our area that fit within our budget and were within a ten minute drive from our house. Aside from price and location I also took into account how many stars (a state regulated rating system based on education, curriculum, etc) the daycare had earned, class size, teacher to child ratio, sick policy, how they share information with the parents, outdoor play area, and cleanliness of the room.  I also gave weight to the lunch menu and whether or not there was a rainy day gym area.
After weighing the pros and cons of the daycares I visited I finally made a decision.  I'm fairly confident I made the right decision.  I hope I made the right decision.

Yesterday was Lil Mootz's last day at his current daycare center.  I'm a little sad about it.  It was a good daycare and the teachers were great.  Plus, Lil Mootz really seemed to enjoy his time there.

Today, though, he's getting to meet his new teachers and start making new friends.  He doesn't officially start at his new daycare until Monday, but Stonewall and I are taking Lil Mootz to introduce him to his classroom.  We're going to hang out with him there for about an hour, give him a chance to poke around for a little bit, and (keeping my finger crossed) make a new friend or two.

I've read that you should ease a child out of his old daycare and slowly ease him into his new one.  As in, give him a chance to say goodbye to his favorite toys and his nap mat or take pictures of all his favorite items, so he say goodbye to everything several times.  Then with the new daycare I read you should start the child off slowly with part-time for a few weeks, yada yada yada. 

Aside from the hour tomorrow, Lil Mootz is getting thrown head first into this new daycare.  The kid needs to learn that change happens and you don't always get a chance to say goodbye...several times at that.  I may be traumatizing my child, but he won't be afraid of change.  I certainly won't have to slowly ease him into college one day like apparently some kids will have to be.

Wish Lil Mootz luck tomorrow!  I'm pretty sure he won't be as excited as I will be for him to like his new classroom.


Lil Mootz's Very First Day of Daycare - April 2009