Changes can be daunting but are unavoidable for many children. It is an entirely new experience for your child and the first few weeks in a new nursery can be a challenging time. Parents and families can also find it stressful.  Children who attend our setting may experience more changes than at any other stage of their education: as it is the first time they have left their normal routine and the security of friends and family. 

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Helping a child to settle into nursery is a gradual process rather than a matter of ticking boxes. So it’s also vital that parents or carers are confident and happy to help support the child during the transition and, secondly, so that the child doesn’t pick up on any anxieties they may have! If your anxious, then so is your child.  

 

Our practitioners can play a crucial role in helping children and families cope with changes. For example, building a secure attachment with staff or other key persons, helps support a child who may find transitions, such as separating from their caregiver, challenging. And if there’s a change of circumstances in the child’s family, such as moving house or the arrival of a new baby, maintaining a familiar routine with a caring and attentive key person can help reduce anxiety.

 

Scottish guidance tell us that children mature differently and at different rates, and they will each have different responses to change. So when planning support during transition, we make sure learning is tailored to the child’s holistic needs and developmental stage. 

Child-centred, play-based approaches are fundamental to successful learning in the early years and are an effective way to support children in coping with changes. At Linktown we provide a secure, familiar environment with a range of activities and play opportunities.