At about six months of age, a child displays signs that he or she has formed a genuine attachment toward a single person, most often a parent. A child of this age will use this “most important person” as a safe base from which to explore. For a little one to show some fear of strangers and anxiety and/or clearly protest being separating from his or her favorite person is quite normal. This behavior can resurface then disappear at various times during infancy and toddlerhood.
Our nursery staff and volunteers are there to help you with this separation process. If this is your child’s first experience in the nursery and you know he or she may undergo some apprehension, feel free to spend some time in the nursery, introducing your child to the caregivers and playing with toys or books. If your child continues to show distress when you depart, we encourage you to check through the window or ask to be notified if prolonged crying occurs. We find in most cases that crying stops a few moments after you leave.
Our nursery is often a busy place, particularly during drop-off and pick-up times. Occasionally, our caregivers have their hands full, holding infants or helping a child to adjust. If you anticipate that your child might need extra attention during this separation, we ask that you keep this busy time in mind. Please stop at the nursery before the rush and stay for as long as you want.