Gradual Entry Policy

We are very excited to Welcome you to Echo Childcare. Our biggest goal during this time is to create a safe, secure place for your child grow and learn. Often it is stressful for young children to enter a new and busy environment. Starting off with short hours helps keep your child’s stress levels low.

Some tips before starting would be:

Learn what the daycare schedule is, especially for naps and meals, and try that at home as well.
Talk positively about daycare/school with your child.
Enter calmly and have enough time to help your child get their inside shoes on and unpack their belongings for the day.
Have a good bye routine, inside shoes on, a hug/kiss, say good bye and leave. If you delay once you have said good bye your child will become more anxious. All staff are very good at distracting your child and providing comfort when you go. If the child will not settle, we will call you.
Nap time is especially challenging for children who have not built a bond yet. Therefore we do not try to lay a child now for nap until the 4th gradual entry day, and pick up will be scheduled for right after nap. Leaving right after they wake up will help reinforce that you will return for them each day and they are safe to sleep here.
Check in any time by text. We can reassure you that your child is okay before you start your work day.

I understand that gradual entry times are a challenge. The reason we keep the hours short to begin with is to build a strong safe bond between young children and their caregivers. Each child is different. Some children need only a couple of short days and they feel comfortable to stay all day. Occasionally children are very anxious and the gradual entry will need to be extended for them. It is normal to have a few tears at drop off, however if your child remains unsettled during a gradual day, the time they may attend will not increase until we have built up their security.

Gradual Entry for children under 3years.

Note: if a child is upset all of day one, they return the next day at the day one hours. Once a child is comfortable they progress to the next day. Talk to your child’s teacher at the end of the day to see if they were happy and calm enough to move on to the next day.

Day 1 8:30-10:30
Day 2 8:30-10:30
Day 3 7:30 (or whenever you plan to regularly drop off) – 11:45
Day 4 7:30-3:00 (earlier if they wake early and are upset)
Day 5 7:30-3:00 (earlier if they wake early and are upset)
Full days to begin

Gradual Entry for children over 3 years.

Day 1 8:30-10:30
Day 2 8:30-11:30
Day 3 7:30-3 (or whenever your regular drop off time will be until 3:00pm)
Day 4 Full days to begin

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