Daycare orientation

Today I had our first visit to our new daycare.
As a teacher I have had experience with kids who have been to daycare. In both a positive and negative way. As a Mum my kids have only ever been in one daycare once a week while I worked. So for me to reach out and apply for daycare when not working was hard. My social worker recommended it for a few reasons:

• respite for me, as I don't get it any other way
• social experiences for Miss A
• a full day to get jobs done
• time to take L to therapy or have time alone together
• a way to see how Miss A copes with full days before starting school

When I finally caved (after my trip to hospital: Time to de-stress) I rang 2 daycare centres recommended by our therapists. One wasn't available and the other had a waiting list....
Well we got the call for that one and I have been apprehensive ever since. We were asked to come in for 2 visits before starting full days. Today was our first hour of orientation. I found the centre and was surprised at the size. They have around 98 kids a day!! Our last daycare was miniature compared to that. The good thing was the kids were grouped in 5 small, age appropriate groups. Each had their own separate outdoor play area safely fenced in. Miss A was introduced to the group and the staff and settled right in to morning tea. I chatted to the supervisor and came to my dilemma. Do I share everything and be brutally honest or just tell them what I think they should know? If i share everything it can be overwhelming and likely they won't see half of that. If I just give the basics I may be running to catch up.

We were chatting for nearly an hour and I was honest and brutal. She could run away, she doesn't like toilets but has been trained since 2, she can growl at kids but loves company and playing with them. She can be an oxymoron. An enigma.
At her 3 year old kindy she is like a little teacher. Helpful, loves to pack away, connects well with the adults and loves to get other kids involved in games. She follows the routine well. then we get home....

That is why daycare will be different. She will be there a full school day and will be expected to fit in with a group of 27 kids. She won't be able to come home in the afternoon and take her frustrations out on me.

The staff seemed really on the ball though. They wanted to know everything and even asked me to demonstrate how to calm Miss A in case of a meltdown. Now here's hoping she doesn't have one.

                                                  Last time they were headed off to daycare...