From Susan’s Desk

As we move into the spring and summer months, it is time for transitions. Children will be moving into the next room and new families will be joining the Center. Transitions can be stressful for parents and children alike. We realize the delicate nature of these moves and the importance of good communication. Lead teachers have a pivotal role in this communication. During the transition period Lead teachers and the administrative team meet once a week to discuss upcoming moves.

During these meetings, we look at the schedules of openings, fit children from the wait list into new spots and choose the children who will be moving from younger to older classrooms. There are many things that factor into this decision. We begin by considering the child’s:
• maturity level;
• age and developmental readiness;
• emotional/social relationships;
• vacation schedules
• availability.

Each of these are factors that weigh into the order and timing of each move. As a parent you may wonder, “Why is our family vacation a factor?” It can be hard for a child to move to a new room and a week later be gone for a month and then return to the new room. To minimize the number of changes that a child must navigate through, the teacher may choose to postpone the move until your family returns.
Sometimes we are able to move friends together. A close friend can offer support in a new environment. Other times a teacher may opt to separate friends for a short duration in order to give one or both some independence. The shyer of two friends may need the opportunity to establish their own personal bonds with new teachers before their friend joins the room.

Availability in the next room can pose a problem. Your child might be ready to move but there is simply no spot available at that time. It is important to remember that the waiting period for the next space is generally a short one so please be patient. Because we have 9 classrooms and we only serve children ranging in age from 6 months to 6 years old it is impossible for each child to spend a year in every room. Some children do what we refer to as a “hop skip” and others might skip a room completely. What we mean by “hop skip” is that some children will spend only the summer months in the room before moving to the classroom where they will spend the following school year. These children are carefully selected by weighing in the previous mentioned factors. Some ways that you can help are:
• Make an appointment to talk to your child’s Lead teacher.
• Talk to your child about the transition and remember that child will look to you for cues on how to react to this change so keep it positive.
• Acknowledge your child’s feelings. “I can see that you are a little scared but I am sure that your new teachers will help you.”
• Take a little extra time in the morning to say good-bye.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns please don’t hesitate to call Susan.