For the kids, the pick -up situation is not only a joyful reunion with the parents, their closest caregivers, but also a farewell – from their friends, the educator, the premises … it is a big, daily change and therefore often an emotionally very demanding situation for them. Understand that may help. As always, there are children who can get along very quickly and well with new situations and others who need longer or maybe even have really problems. To see, understand and respond to it, will surely help everyone involved!
An emotionally demanding situation and a daily “drop”
No matter how comfortable the kids feel in the daycare center, such a day is just exhausting. You have to consider rules, find your place in the social structure, you have to concentrate. All of this is good for your development, but it also needs energy! This is why children often have a need when the parents come: to drop and to rest, to let everything out. Sometimes this dropping of traps seems a bit like clips or whipping. Sometimes as if the child wanted to get involved in nothing and as if it were dissatisfied with everything. It is most likely just exhausted and overwhelmed. Many children have phases in which they act wonderfully socially and exemplary in kindergarten, but act like little monsters at home and rebel properly. At first glance, it is not so easy to recognize, but it is actually a sign of a good bond when the parents “get it”. The child feels so loved and accepted by the parents that they let everything out. (Of course, that doesn’t mean that children who do not whine do not have a good bond :))
What helps is almost always: time. Give the children time to go through or cry briefly. Then ask about the wishes and needs of the child: cuddle? Still play briefly? Toilet? Hunger? Anyone who can react with calm here usually get one step further. Some children want to be hugged and hugged, others do not, but physical contact can be extremely helpful: the kids will quickly charge their storage hormones. And by the way too!
Even with real “seizures”, understanding and calm are the best remedy, even if that is difficult, especially if many watch … these seizures are a sign of how exhausted the child is, it certainly does not make it out of malice. Some children are also extremely cheeky after the daycare center, complain about the parents, stretch their tongue out, defend themselves against everything. As a rule, this always has one reason: they are tired of the day and know that mom and dad always love me, I can let everything out, not “function”. If you can stay cool, win!
Take time!
As I said: I also always notice that the best remedy for a smooth change is time. When I arrive stressed and under time pressure in the daycare center, the drama is almost inevitable. If there is half an hour buffer, you can have the children done again. You may be in the middle of the game (or when tidying up, ha!), Paint something or sit with the friends. Nobody likes it if you suddenly have to lie and leave everything on command. It can be totally helpful to give the kids time, to end their respective activity and to say goodbye.
Sometimes the kids just can’t tear themselves away and want to stay in the daycare for a while or even longer. If that’s okay for everyone involved, you can just do it. I even enjoy it, then a little more from everyday day care centers. Let me show and explain what the children did throughout the day or where they are in progress.
However, if this stays for a long time, however, because I have a hurry and actually annoy it, then “still remain for a short time” does not help me or my child. Then it is better to get into the situation and help the child to quickly finish. For example, say that the construction site is now closing because the construction workers are already very hungry or clean up together. Or make clear announcements like: “Ok, now you are still building the beautiful tower, and then we put on our jackets, agreed?”
Only eyes for the child
When picking up, it is often very fluffy in kindergarten. The educators may still want to get rid of one or the other information, other parents with whom you want to talk briefly, or other children or siblings. It can happen that you pass your child and simply “rip off”. Logically, they usually don’t find it nice at all. It totally helps me to simply pay attention to the children, other conversations then have to wait briefly. Or: Include the child, hug it, for example, and let it tell them together when talking to the teacher. The child immediately feels at eye level, taken seriously and seen.
Small rituals.
Once extra or down the stairs, on the balcony with the many garden gnomes, watch the construction site around the corner, welcome the neighboring cat, … Nothing lengthy, but a little something that the kids have always looked forward to. Not always, but very often, such “tricks” help to make picking up more stress -free. Some parents also have snacks with them, which also helps very often. In our kindergarten it has proven to be useful to only hand over this at the door. Otherwise, other children want to abandon something about it, there are conflicts again … and in many daycare centers there are also clear rules where to eat, it simply confuses the children if, for example, it can suddenly snack in the wardrobe!
Take off the jacket
For me almost the most important, the mother of all tips, because this is the only way to stay calm, now that it is cold outside: As soon as I enter the daycare, I take off jacket or coat – because if you sweat yourself, because the child does not come immediately, you will logically become impatiently! And put on shoes and snow suits while sweating yourself – that’s really terrible !!
