How do you help new children adjust to your routine?

• Warm Welcome and One-on-One Attention: From the very first day, our teachers make an extra effort to connect with your child. We might assign a specific teacher to be your child’s “primary caregiver” initially, so your child sees a familiar face they can trust. That teacher will greet your child by name each morning, offer a hug or hand-hold, and stay close to them throughout the day to provide comfort. During activities, we’ll often pair the new child with a buddy or give them a special role (like “helper”) to help them feel involved and valued.
  
  
• Gradual Transitions: If possible, we encourage families to do a gentle start. This could mean visiting the center together a couple of times before the first full day, or starting with half-days and building up. We’re flexible – for instance, you might come for an hour on day one just to play together in the classroom, then leave your child for a few hours on day two, and then try a full day. Not every family can do this, but even a little practice drop-off can help a child see that Mom or Dad comes back every time, which builds trust.
  
  
• Consistency and Routine: We stick to our regular routine even with a new child, because predictability helps children feel secure. But we’ll gently guide the new child through the routine until they get the hang of it. For example, we might hold their hand as we all line up to go outside, or sit right beside them at circle time, quietly explaining what’s happening next (“After our song, we’re going to have snack. You’re doing great!”). Knowing what comes next reduces anxiety.
  
  
• Family Collaboration: You know your child best, so we’ll talk with you about any comfort items or techniques that soothe them. If your little one has a beloved stuffed animal or blanket, we absolutely encourage you to bring it for those first days (and beyond, if needed) to provide a sense of home. We’ll also ask about their routine and preferences: Do they nap with a pacifier? What helps them calm down when upset? The more we know, the more we can mirror your home routines. We maintain close communication with you during the transition – you’ll get updates through the app, and we invite you to call and check in as well. Hearing that your child settled 10 minutes after drop-off can really ease a parent’s mind!
  
  
• Extra Patience, Love, and Reassurance: Our whole team understands that a child may be clingy, tearful, or shy at first – those feelings are completely normal. We respond with lots of reassurance. Teachers might rock a crying infant a bit longer, or sit with a new toddler in their lap until they’re ready to go play. We’ll never force a new child to participate immediately if they’re not ready; they might observe others for a few days and join in when they feel comfortable. We celebrate small victories (“She smiled during music time today!” or “He sat with friends for snack!”) and share those with you. We also reassure children that “Mommy/Daddy will be back after nap” (or another concrete reference) to help them understand that pick-up will come.
  
  
• Peer Support: Young children often take cues from their peers. We might buddy up a new preschooler with a particularly friendly classmate who can “show them around” or hold their hand. Many times, the other children become the best helpers – offering toys to a sad friend or saying “Come play!” A welcoming environment among the kids goes a long way.
  
  

By working together – you, us, and the child – most children adjust to our routine faster than you might expect. It can be a tough first few days or weeks (and we completely empathize; it’s tough on parents’ hearts too), but with consistency and care, soon your child will know the ropes. We often see that the child who cried at drop-off initially is racing in with a smile a short time later, eager to see their teachers and friends. We’re here to support you through this transition with open communication and lots of love for your little one. Our goal is for Playto to feel like a “second home” for your child – a place where they feel comfortable, happy, and safe.