The transition to childcare can often be more challenging for parents than it is for their children. Many parents experience nerves and anxiety about the decision to enrol their child.
If you’re feeling this way, know you’re not alone.
Parental nerves are completely normal
Marielene Passe is the Director of Uniting Grantham Heights Early Learning and has been an educator for 30 years. In that time, she’s walked hundreds of families through the transition to childcare and says it’s completely normal for parents to feel nervous about the experience.
“Often we are so focused on how a child is transitioning to early learning that we forget this is a huge change for parents too,” said Marielene.
“It’s very common for parents to feel high levels of anxiety during this big transition in the life of a family.”
“As a Mum myself, I know how hard it is – especially that first day. Even though I’m an educator, I still found it hard to hand my child over,” she remembers.
“There are times when a parent has been crying. Sometimes I sit down with a mum for a cuppa – I want to make sure they’re ok before they leave,” she says. “Honestly, it’s not uncommon for a parent to find the adjustment harder than the child.”
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