| |
 There are two important processes when
planning to return to work that both children and parents
must navigate:
- Parent and Child Separation
- Parent and Child Orientation
Understanding parent and child
separation.
Some points to remember:
- Between 6 and 9 months of age,
some children are able to recognise familiar
and unfamiliar faces and may become fearful of "strangers".
- Between 8 to 9 months of age, some infants may become
fearful of being separated from people to whom they are
emotionally attached.
- Children/ babies can be attached to 2 or more people
at one time
Signs of attachment that your child may
display include:
- Some children may cry when they are handed over to
strangers.
- Some children who are crawling
may try to follow you around or use you as
a "base" to
return to.
- Some children may cry or call out when you leave their
sight or walk out of the room.
- Some children may experience separation and attachment
anxiety at the start of the day and some at the end of
the day when you go to pick them up from care.
It is important to remember that all children
are different. There is no specific age that separation
or attachment anxiety occurs and not all children will
experience it.
Strategies to manage separtion
issues.
Whilst on Parental Leave:
- Understand that attachment is a milestone in your child's
development.
- Choose a childcare service or carer that you feel confident
in caring for your child.
- Consider visiting the childcare service or carer with
your child as many times as you feel necessary before
you return to work.
- Provide the service with information such as routines,
favourite songs, food, comfort toys, sleeping patterns,
soothing techniques etc.
- Develop an
Illness and Emergency Action Plan before you start
back at work. For more information on and Illness
and Emergency Action Plan, click here [pdf].
When you return to work:
- Consider giving your baby/child a soothing object for
comfort.
- Try to be consistent with your drop-off routine and
rituals.
- Communicate your drop-off and pick-up routine with
all concerned.
- Inform your service or carer about your child's previous
night and morning.
- If your child is upset or crying, ask for assistance
from your carer.
- Ask your carer about the strategies or techniques he/she
uses to settle your child.
- Ensure you say goodbye . Try to avoid leaving without
saying goodbye as children can become upset when they
don't know where their parents have gone.
- Discuss strategies with your carer that you feel work
well for your family.
Understanding
Parent & Child
orientation.
A Parent & Child
Orientation Programme is similar to an employee participating
in an induction programme when commencing a new job.
So how do you orientate your child before they begin
in a childcare service or with a carer?
Strategies.
Whilst on Parental Leave:
- Consider attending playgroup or mothers group. This
will allow your child to interact with different people,
children and environments.
- Talk to your child about what is happening to him/her
when going to care.
- If possible, leave your child for short periods of
time with whoever you feel comfortable.
- Another option is to use "Occasional Child Care".
If possible at least one month before
you return to work:
- Visit the service you have chosen.
- Let your child interact with other
children/teachers/carers.
- Write down
as much information as you like in an exercise book
about your child. The areas that you might like to
write about include personality, routine, allergies,
likes or dislikes.
|
