Is Your Child Happy in Child Care?

If you have selected a child care service for your child, you of course hope that your child is happy and well-adjusted while you are at work. However, to find out what your child really thinks of child care, consider doing the following:

1. Speak to your child about child care. Ask whether they are happy but also ask what the child does during the day. If your child claims to be happy but cannot relate what happens or does not shoe enthusiasm, ask more questions.
   
   
2. Get involved. If your child care service permits, volunteer some of your time or drop in to offer some help (be sure to ok your plan with your child care p[provider first). Take a look at the children’s faces around you. Are the children smiling, interactive, and learning?
   
   
3. Listen to your child talk about child care and the people he or she meets there. Does the child seem happy?
   
   
4. Keep communication open with the child care provider. That way, you will learn if there is anything that seems to be bothering your child.
   
   
5. How does your child act shortly before going to child care and just after returning from child care? Does he or she look forward to going or does he or she try to come up with excuses to not go? Is he or she happy after returning from child care, eager to tell you about the day, or is he or she withdrawn?
   
   
   
   

Even if you have chosen child care very carefully for your child, there are many factors that can affect your child’s level of happiness. Your child may have a hard time adjusting to child care or bullying may be a concern. Sometimes, children just have a harder time learning to socialize at first. In any event, noticing that there is a problem allows you to take action before unhappiness affects your child’s ability to develop normally. If you notice a problem, consult with your child care provider. Is your child having trouble adjusting or socializing? If so, it might be a good idea to enroll your child in classes or some activity, where he or she can get to know new children. Being exposed to more peers allows a child to develop their social skills. If there is something else bothering your child, speak to him or her to find out what the problem is. Sometimes, a recent event in the family may be troubling your child or your child may simply need more help adjusting to child care. Finding out what the problem is allows you to address the issue and resolve it.