Reply to Lead-up to daycare/preschool - how to help transition

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[quote=Anonymous]I change wet diapers standing up at 21/2 years old, or dry diapers and have them then "try" on the potty if they want to.  But a messy BM diaper?  Goes right onto the diaper table, I'm no martyr!  :)

If they have the kids stand up to change a messy diapers, that's their right, but you don't need to do it - she will honestly figure out that at school X is done, at home Y is done.  (and a truly messy diaper? I bet they have a diaper table!)

And we have potty breaks/diaper changing times that are about every 21/2 to 3 hours - none of which you do.  So  something like:  9 or 9:30am, before or after (or both) lunch, after nap (so around 3-3:30pm-ish) then at 5 or 5:15 so they are clean and fresh at pickup.  And of course change any BMs that happen between those times - we have some kids who have a BM like clockwork at 5:30pm so we change them before their parent gets here, others aren't picked up until 6:25pm and have a 1 hour commute home, so we do those few diapers/potty trips at 6:15pm.  We get to know the child and family's routine and adjust.

Your child will learn so much by being with other children, learning from them, playing with them, being exposed to other ways to do things, etc.  And when 3 other kids are peeing in the potty and wearing pretty Dora the Explorer (or whomever it is now) undies, she is going to want to do it soon, too!

And she'll sit with the others for painting, playdough, lunch, etc.  If you are sending meals, make sure you aren't sending containers that are hard to get into - they'll help her, but 2 year olds like to do things themselves, so send easy Rubbermaid containers.  And wait for yogurt at home when you can put her in a bib so you aren't too upset by a messy shirt that has some yogurt on it.

Really, you and she will be fine!  It's going to be fun.  And they won't do things the way you do them - partly because nobody is an identical twin of anyone else and partly because they must do things with a group you wouldn't do at home.  Having set diaper times is one of them, because otherwise you won't get all the kids done, etc.  And they will have a "schedule" so they'll have kids arrive between 7:30 and 9:30am, while there is free play time, then morning snack at 9:30, then potty time, go outside on the playground time, come back inside, more potty time for kids new to underwear, and activity (like painting, center time, etc) time until lunch time.  Then after lunch they'll lay on cots/mats and listen to quiet music and have their backs rubbed, foreheads rubbed, or just lay and fall asleep themselves..... then they'll get up, have snack and then some other fun thing or go outside time....

Then there is handwashing: they'll insist children wash hands after having their diaper changed (it's a licensing requirement), after they go potty, after their wipe their nose, before and after all meals and snacks, and I hope when each child arrives into the classroom.  You may not wash hands nearly that much at home, but we're trying to cut down on illness and germ passing....  (and frankly, everyone should wash their hands at home MORE than they do, handwashing is the single best way to cut down on passing illness around...)

Even if you don't feel it, SMILE and FAKE IT - say you're going to have so much fun at school/daycare/childcare/preschool whatever you call it.  Don't say "I hope you'll be ok" or "I know you'll have a hard time, but it won't be for very long" - say "I know you'll have so much fun, I can't wait to hear about it later."

I know it's hard to say goodbye to Mom/Dad, but I know you'll have so much fun with those legos/puppets/blocks/whatever is on the shelf you can see.

Quick goodbyes, half days the first few days, and all will be well.  Truly.  [/quote]

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