TIPS FOR PARENTS
Child Care Information Services (CCIS), Department of Human Services
Amy Switalski, CCIS Director 19 South Washington Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370
Phone: 724-852-5277 or toll-free at 888-355-CCIS (2247) / Fax: 724-852-5297
Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
Tips to the Parents from Your Pre-Schooler:
Be Positive! Don’t tell me that I’ll have a great time at day care and then tell grandma that you feel guilty about enrolling me. I pick up on your feelings very easily! If you feel great about leaving…I’ll feel great about staying.
Don’t mind me if the first day I love it, and the second day I hate it!! It’s a new schedule than I’m use to. Keep my schedule consistent and I’ll be fine!
When you drop me off in the morning, give me a kiss and a hug and leave! When you linger around for a while to see how I’m doing, it makes me feel uncertain because you feel uncertain. Then I don’t want to stay…I want to go with you. If I’m crying, the teachers will hold me. They love me also and want the best for me.
Please take time to look at my work that I created. I work long and hard on it all day while you are at work. If you do not care, I will not be enthusiastic about creating it. And if I see it laying in the trash at home, I will loose my creativity.
Spend time with me after we get home at night. I know that you’re tired, and I’m full of energy because I took a nap! Let’s go for a walk after dinner. I need time with my mom and dad too.
Sometimes, I would like it if you would talk to me and explain to me what is going to happen to me, before it happens. Tell me what day I am going to start day care, and what I am going to do there all day long. It would help to lessen my fears. Point out the center to me as we ride by, so I can be excited about it.
Give me the choice to do things by myself. I’m little and slower than you are, but I can do things all by myself. I can dress myself and I can pick what breakfast cereal I want to eat. Making decisions can make me feel very important.
Sometimes, I don’t want to go to the day care. Sometimes you don’t want to go to work! But after we both get there, we’re fine.
Don’t be mad at me if after I pass that "adjustment period", I don’t want to go home with you when you come to pick me up. Be glad that my care-givers are wonderful people to make me feel that way.
Please don’t feel guilty about leaving me! I know that you love me and you would not do anything bad for me. I also know that when I start kindergarten, that socially I will be well-adjusted, and mentally I will be asking questions way ahead of the other children. Why? Because you had the insight to put me with other children at a young age where I learned new things and met new friends.
For general information, please contact the Information Services at 724-852-5399 / Toll Free: 1-888-852-5399. County Office Building, 93 E. High Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370
