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Are you having problems with your child going to day care or behaving badly at day care? This is totally normal, but we can do a few things to make it better for your and your child. Think about this: the reason he cries and is causing problems is that he simply wants to be home with you all of the time and because you have to work you have to have him in day care. We will already assume that you have him in a day care situation that you trust.
A thought would be to try to change your schedule in the morning: maybe get up a little bit earlier and plan to spend some quality time with your child, sitting and talking about everything, but always about day care and what a good day he will have, how you love him and will be there to pick him up right on time. Reassure him that there will be days when you won't have to go to work and those days will be spent together.
Try to get to the day care facility a few minutes early, maybe walk him over to a special person he likes who works there, get him interested in playing, drawing etc. Try this as it may help him in adjusting to being away from you and away from home. Tell him all the fun things he will do with his new friends there.
Now you'll need a special goodbye routine, not a long one but one that is consistent every morning: hugs, a few kisses and a smile and a great wave when you are leaving him
for those hours. Don't ever look sad, save those sad looks or tears until you are out of sight. Get in the car and cry if necessary, but make sure there is also time for repair if you do.
Did you know that most children won't cry of fuss more than a few minutes after the parent is gone? They get busy with other thoughts and their day goes by without problems. Then probably around time for you to pick them up they'll be a little sad and upset but that too will pass given enough time.
Sometimes if the day care center tells you that your child is just not adjusting perhaps you can shorten the time you are away, work part time for just a little while, but that may not ever be necessary.
Children sometimes adapt to changes, but sometimes they don't and it may take weeks or even months but the adjustment will happen, so be very patient and also very confident that you are doing as you should and all should be fine.
Try to arrive at the same time everyday to pick up your child: you'll be surprised at how a child can look at the clock and know it is near 5 pm.
Now after you pick him up have a fun routine on the way home, talk about his day, your day, play little games, like who will see a red car first: make this time with you and your child, or perhaps children, a fun time.
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