Settling In: Helping Your Toddler's First Week At School

The first week of Toddcare is as much an adjustment for parents as it is for children, and it is completely normal for a two or three year old to feel unsure about a new room, new faces and a new routine. At TreeHouse, we keep this first week gentle and predictable: short settling-in sessions, a familiar toy or blanket from home if needed, and teachers who make it a point to learn each child's comfort cues on day one.

We encourage parents to keep goodbyes brief and confident rather than lingering, since children often settle faster once a parent has left than while they are still in the room, even if that first minute feels hard. Our teachers send a quick update through the day so parents know their child is safe, eating and slowly warming up to their new classroom.

By the end of the first week, most children have found a favourite corner, a favourite song or a new little friend, and that is usually the moment a nervous morning turns into a child running happily through the door. Every child settles at their own pace, and our job is simply to make that pace feel safe.