Helping Your Child With Separation

Some children look forward, excitedly, to new places, new people and new experiences. Others are more cautious, and some have a very difficult time with change and transitions. All of these reactions are perfectly normal and healthy!

Here are some suggestions to help ease your young baby or toddler into the nursery setting:

1. Be positive and cheerful! As you hand your child to the nursery Shepherd, speak calmly and reassuringly, and leave quickly.
2. Feel free to stay for a little while each time, and then lessen the time you stay each week. Please do not “sneak out” of the room; your child will eventually notice you have left and will react accordingly!
3. Often little ones will cry for just a short time and then will gradually transition into the classroom activities. We generally do not allow a child to cry consistently for more than 15 minutes.
4. For an especially sensitive child, it sometimes helps to come to church a little late. This is a calmer time and can sometimes ease the transition.
5. Feel free to peek through the viewing windows from outside the classrooms. If possible, please do not come back into the classroom unless you plan to pick up your child or unless you have been asked to return. The separation process will then have to be repeated.