Your child’s first day

Our First Grammar team are here to support you and your child through the settling-in period for your child’s first day and weeks to follow at our child care and early education centres. 

All children react differently; some easily adapt to new environments, while others are unsure. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to make the settling-in period easier on yourself and your child.

How to prepare

Here are a few tips on how to prepare for your child’s first day:

Prior to your child’s start date, drive past the early education and child care centre wherever possible and show your child where they will be attending. Talk about the experiences they will have and the new educators and friends they will meet, along with the new learning resources and toys they will be able to enjoy.

Let your child help to pack it and teach them to recognise their ‘own’ bag. Label all clothing, hat, and shoes (this helps both us and your child).

To ease your child in to the centre and familiarise them with the new environment, you and your child may also like to visit the centre for short periods before the actual starting date.

Here is a list of items you will need to bring to our child care and early education centres so that your little one is ready to go from day one:

Backpack
Water bottle
Hat
Spare change of clothes, including socks and underwear
Nappies, wipes and bed linen (if the centre does not supply this)
Comfort item, child’s favourite toy or blanket

Our Family Support Team are just a phone call away to help answer any questions you have about your First Grammar early learning centre.

Let us help you

Our educators will work in collaboration with you to learn as much as possible about your child and their routine. This includes understanding who is in their family, their interests, sleep times, eating habits, and further information so we can extend your home environment into our child care and early education centre to make it a seamless transition for your child.

Settling in your child

The first days and weeks transitioning into a new education and care environment can be exciting and enjoyable, yet also worrying and stressful for both children and parents. Building relationships with educators and adapting to a new environment can take some time, however there are some simple strategies to assist with a smooth transition.

How to prepare

Here are a few tips on how to prepare for your child’s first day:

A positive, consistent morning routine assists children to feel relaxed, prepared and ready for their day ahead. Establishing a predictable daily pattern of eating breakfast, adding comfort items to their bag, brushing hair and cleaning teeth assists young children to recognise they are preparing to attend the centre. Speaking positively about what is new and exciting at the centre is reassuring for your child through this transition time and beyond.

In the first few days, spend some extra minutes with your child in their room to show them you are comfortable and confident in the environment. Read a book or engage in an activity together with your child to help them feel comfortable and secure. Share information with educators to provide consistency between home and care routines.

Let your child know you are leaving and will be coming back. A consistent approach to saying goodbye is helpful for your child to learn to predict when you will be leaving. You may choose a special place with your child where they settle before you leave.

We recognise this can be an emotional time for both children and parents, and we will provide the support required for your child to settle into our centre. While some children will embrace their new environment with eagerness and enthusiasm, some will be more apprehensive, which is common.

We encourage parents to contact our team at any time during the day to ease any concerns. As your child begins to feel more confident and comfortable in their new surroundings, a more efficient and confident drop-off routine will soon emerge.

We look forward to welcoming your family at one of our centres to see how we can work with you and settle your child into their new routine.

We are proud of our reviews

"Really love this place. As soon as my son sees the centre he gets very excited! The centre is very clean, the staff are super attentive and caring. They really make the children feel safe and welcomed and create a very warm environment.."

First Grammar Bankstown

Basmah  Kahil 

"I highly recommend First Grammar Belmore for other parents. The educators are incredibly caring and attentive. They always communicate and highlight things that I need to be aware of. The premise is clean, and there are always different activities every day which stimulate the whole child’s developmental aspects."

First Grammar  Belmore 

Elizabet  Lengi 

"We could not be happier with the love and care given at First Grammar Castle Hill. They have welcomed our son with open arms and his social skills and speech has progressed enormously since he started in September. Highly recommend the centre!"

First Grammar  Castle Hill 

Jessica Melky-Macnamara

"First Grammar Fairfield is the best! My son has been attending the childcare since he was fifteen months, He has been in both of the baby and toddlers room. The staff are so caring, so attentive and always happy. Even though on the weekend, he wants to go to childcare than at home, he loves his teachers and his friends. Feels like home. "

First Grammar Fairfield 

Tran Nguyen 

"The staff are all very experienced and really lovely. My daughter absolutely loves attending and is so happy to see the educators and her friends. She has dietary requirements which was a stress for me but has always been well managed here. I love the daily updates through an app so I can see what she's been up to, know what she's had for lunch etc. Highly recommend the centre!"

First Grammar Epping

Zoe Schembri

"I sent my 2 little ones to First Grammar Green Point because we rented around the corner. We’ve since moved a few suburbs away and although it is now in a different direction, I continue to send my little ones there because the staff are genuine."

First Grammar Greenpoint

Cathrine Harrison

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