Question
My baby is two years old and has just started attending daycare in the past few months. She was raised by a babysitter from a young age, but has been at the daycare for three months now. Even when I take her to school every day, she still cries and doesn’t want to go. She cries as soon as she wakes up and stops crying only when she arrives at the daycare. She doesn’t cry or play much with other children at the daycare, but is very playful at home. Why is this? Is there a way to solve this?
Answer
Hello! This is a normal phenomenon, as children go through an insecure adjustment period when they lose their sense of security (even adults may feel uncomfortable in unfamiliar places). When babies suddenly leave the family members who provide them with security, they feel fear and anxiety. By crying, children express their dissatisfaction and grievances about this situation. Crying is beneficial for children as it releases stress and eliminates negative emotions. Every child will go through this process, but the impact on each family and the child’s adjustment period are different. As children adapt to the environment, teachers, and other children at the daycare, their sense of fear will gradually diminish. Remember not to give in to your child’s crying, as this may lead to children using crying to avoid adapting to an uncomfortable environment, which could affect their development of adaptation skills and even lead to social phobia. However, you can take some methods to help them adapt to the life at the daycare, such as giving them a hug and comforting them when you pick them up, and praising and rewarding their behavior at the daycare after they stabilize their emotions. In this way, the joy, pride, and pleasure that children gain from your encouragement and praise will help them…