In June, my son will be leaving his child care provider to start a Montessori program for 2 year olds. He is currently in a private home and quite bonded to his child care provider. Not to mention how comfortable he is with his routine. For example, he's a morning napper and his new school will have an afternoon nap. I'm anxious about this transition, and wondering if others have any advice about ways to soothe the change (for me and him!)
What is the hurry? I feel we push our children into this structured system too early. Two years old is too young for the "school system". Don't break this wonderful bond when it isn't necessary. Good luck!
My son made a similar transition when he was older (3.5). I was surprised at how hard it was for him and how long it took him to adjust. It turns out that my son has some other issues that make transitions difficult for him, but it may have been easier for him to change when he was younger. I assume that a toddler room in a montessori school is more like a daycare center than school, since that seems to be the standard sort of setup. Which might make the transition easier for your little boy. I'm assuming there must be some reason you can't keep him at the current place?
Let's see, advice - try to make the transition exciting for him - go by the building and show him his new school, visit with him before he starts. The afternoon nap won't be a longterm problem - most kids do go to an afternoon nap at about this age - so start moving his nap later now and ask the DCP to help with that.
Also, don't underestimate the attachment he might have with the current person. Plan a couple of visits with the DCP if at all possible, or if she's willing to babysit him or take him on school holidays, do that to keep up the connection for a while so it's not so abrupt. Good luck!
Hello- what I would suggest is that you first start changing his nap schedule. Instead of him going down at his regular time, have his current provider keep him up longer and get him up earlier than usual. This will allow him to become tired in the afternoon as well as eliminate his a.m. nap after a week or two. The same goes for meals, check with his new school and get the meal schedule and if necessary, adjust your current schedule. I would also suggest that you bring your son to the new center a few times before he is to start and the week before, have him there for a few hours a day, building up to his regular schedule before the "big day". At first, plan on staying with him, but by weeks end, you want to be able to drop him off and leave. This will allow both of you to become familiar with the children and staff making this a great experience. I own a daycare center and this is just a few things we suggest to new parents before staring. Good Luck
I would agree with the previous posters, wait until he is 3 or older and then maybe transition him into the school 1-2 days a week.
Is there a way for your son to spend a little time seeing the classroom so he will get excited about it? My other suggestion would be to change his nap routine well before then. If there are other things, such as lunch/snack time that may need to be adjusted, the sooner your current provider and you make those changes, the easier the transition will be later. Good luck :)
I hope it is not the montessori school off rt 6. that place is horrible with kids.
