Feeling Nervous About Childcare? You’re Not Alone

If you’re feeling anxious about leaving your child at childcare, you’re not alone. It’s one of the hardest steps you take as parents. Handing over your pride and joy to people who are essentially strangers can feel overwhelming.

As Educators, we truly get it. Some of us are parents ourselves, others are aunties and uncles who’ve seen our siblings go through this transition, and many of us have been in the Early Childhood world long enough to know just how emotional a tough drop-off can be. It never gets easier to see a parent hurting or a little one unsure.

But there are things we can do together to help ease both you and your child into the experience of care, building a relationship based on trust, comfort, and confidence.

A Little Context

Launchpad opened its first service in Lower Plenty in 2020, right at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, a time that reshaped so much of early childhood care. We saw a noticeable increase in separation anxiety in children starting care from 2021 onwards. It made perfect sense, since for many of them, home was all they’d ever known.
So, we adapted.
We introduced more Orientation sessions and developed a slower, gentler transition process tailored to each child’s needs. These changes became a core part of how we welcome new families today.

What Our Orientation Process Looks Like

We now offer a minimum of three orientation sessions and more if needed to help ease your child and you into care.
The first session is a one-hour visit where you stay the entire time. It’s all about getting to know each other: you, your child, and us. We’ll ask about your little one’s routine, what comforts them, their likes and dislikes, because no one knows them better than you do.

The next two sessions are designed for you to begin stepping away, leaving space for your child to start building a relationship with us. These visits allow your little one to get used to being in the environment and with the Educators, while giving you time to begin building trust in our team.

One of the most influential thinkers in early childhood, Lev Vygotsky, believed that children grow and learn best through relationships, especially with trusted adults. We see that in action every day. In these early moments, you are your child’s “More Knowledgeable Other”, the person they turn to for guidance, safety, and understanding.

Children are sponges; they take in everything they hear, see, and feel. When they see you interacting warmly and confidently with us, they begin to recognise us as safe too. This is often the starting point for building attachment between your child and their educators. That secure base helps them feel confident to explore, engage, and learn, knowing they’re supported by trusted adults.

Yes, there may be tears.

And that’s okay. That’s where we come in: checking in with you, communicating openly, and working together to find ways to comfort and settle your little one in a way that suits them best.

At Launchpad, we understand that trust isn’t given, it’s built. Being a small, family-owned service means we’re closely involved in the day-to-day care of the children in our community. We prioritise consistent relationships, open communication, and a slower, more thoughtful approach to helping each child (and their family) settle into care.

Every child is different, and every family’s journey into care is unique. We’re here to walk alongside you, every step of the way.
Tune in next week as we delve into how we support a child’s emotional wellbeing within care, across all ages, from our tiniest babies to our confident kindy kids.