Settling in to new childminder

[birkiefeet]

Hi there. My two children, aged 5 and 2, are due to start with a new childminder soon, 2 days a week. They?ve been going to a CM for the past 18 months so are used to leaving me and settled in very quickly.

It?s a big change though and I?m not sure how to structure settling them in. The CM is new to minding so she hasn?t any experience to draw on, hence my posting here!

I?d be grateful for any suggestions. Thanks!

I would suggest at least two one hour sessions with you or the old childminder staying with them and more if you can manage it. Then a couple of very short sessions on their own with the childminder followed by a shortened day or half day.

Of course every child is different and some wouldn't bat an eyelid at diving straight into full days but most will struggle a bit at least so it's best to plan for the gentlest transition possible.

It might also help to send familiar toys and clothes which smell of home on the first few occasions. Perhaps you could send some things to the old childminder with them that move to the new one when they do.

You and your existing childminder are probably in the best position to judge what your children need. Have you asked her/him what she/he thinks?

I've never had any four or five year olds come for settling in sessions. Sometimes they come with parents for a look around and maybe come back with parents to do contracts, but never any accompanied sessions, and I've never had any problems.

The same goes for two year olds to be honest, and I have never had any problems with a two year old either, though I do appreciate that there's a world of difference between an almost-three-and-quite-grown-up-for-their-age two year old and a just-two-and-quite-young-for-their-age two year old. So if you do decide the 2 year old needs to ease in gently, I suppose the 5 year old might as well be there too.

However, I'm not sure that accompanied sessions actually help as I think the little ones get to thinking that the parent will always be there and are more upset when they back off than if they had never got to expect Mum or Dad to be in that setting. I think I'd keep those for plan B and see if the little one will settle straight in with the CM providing lots of activity, interest and distraction, lots of praise and encouragement and of course lots of hugs.

I've just settled in 2yr old and nearly 4 yr old siblings. Mum came with them to meet me and see round premises then came back few days later to go through policies and sign contracts - both times children played in playroom with other mindees while we talked. Then had two morning sessions when they came and stayed without mum and a full day for little one (with me doing nursery drop and pick up for older one) just before mum went back to work so that she was about if they weren't coping, but they were fine. IME all children settle in different ways and some settle and then months down the line start to play up - go with what feels right for you and your kids esp if childminder is new to this - she'll need to settle in too!

Thank you all for your advice. I've decided to do two unaccompanied 1 hour settling in sessions, including the CM doing the school run, and there will be time for another session before they start a full day with her if needed, so we'll see how we go. I think the sessions are probably going to be more for peace of mind for me and the CM than the kids, I expect they'll be fine!!