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Written by Amie Andrews, Nominated Supervisor Castle Hill
What to Expect on Your Child's First Day at Childcare
The first day is a big one for everyone. Here is what it actually looks like and how to make it easier.
What Happens at Drop-Off
Most centres have a structured drop-off process designed to make the transition as smooth as possible. An educator will greet you and your child at the door or at the room entrance, take your child’s bag, and begin redirecting their attention toward an activity or other children while you say goodbye.
The key is keeping the goodbye consistent and brief. A long, drawn-out farewell tends to increase anxiety for children, not reduce it. At Dashing Ducks Castle Hill and Dashing Ducks Croydon, our educators are experienced in supporting children through this moment every single day.
How Long Should You Stay at Drop-Off
A good rule of thumb is five to ten minutes at most. Arrive, hand your child to an educator, do a clear and warm goodbye, and leave. Most children who are still upset at the door settle within a few minutes once the parent is gone. Many centres will send a photo or a quick message to let you know your child has settled, so you are not left wondering all day.
If you are finding drop-off particularly difficult, talk to the director. There may be a settling-in strategy that works better for your child specifically.
What Your Child Will Do During the Day
A typical long day care day follows a routine that balances structured activities, free play, outdoor time, meals, and rest. The morning usually includes a welcome period with open play, followed by a group activity such as a story, craft, music, or movement. After morning tea there is often outdoor play, then lunch, then rest or quiet time for younger children.
The afternoon typically involves more play, an afternoon snack, and then a wind-down period as families arrive for pick-up. The exact schedule varies by age group and centre.
How Mealtimes and Naps Work
Most childcare centres provide morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea. Some, including Dashing Ducks, prepare fresh meals on-site. If your child has dietary requirements, allergies, or strong preferences, communicate these clearly when you enrol and again directly to the room educator before the first day.
For children who still nap, centres have dedicated rest periods with cots or mats. Let educators know your child’s usual sleep schedule and any settling habits they rely on at home, such as a comfort object or a particular routine before sleep.
What Separation Anxiety Looks Like and Why It Is Normal
Crying at drop-off is completely normal and does not mean your child is unhappy at childcare or that they are not ready. It means they love you and notice when you are gone, which is healthy attachment behaviour. Most children who cry at drop-off stop within five to fifteen minutes of a parent leaving.
Separation anxiety tends to peak between 10 and 18 months but can appear or reappear at any age, particularly after a break from care such as holidays or illness.
When Does It Get Easier
For most children, the settling period lasts two to four weeks. By the end of that time, the majority of children are walking in happily and engaging with educators and other children without distress. Some children settle in a few days. Others take closer to six weeks, particularly if they are younger or have had limited experience being away from their primary carer.
If your child is still very distressed after six weeks, speak with the director. It may be worth reviewing the number of days they are attending or working with the educator to try a different settling strategy.
How Educators Will Help Your Child Settle
Good educators do not just wait for children to settle on their own. They actively work to build a relationship with each new child. This means getting down to the child’s level, following their interests, introducing them to one or two other children rather than the whole group at once, and checking in regularly throughout the day.
At Dashing Ducks Castle Hill, each child is assigned a key educator who takes primary responsibility for their care during the settling period. This consistency matters enormously.
What to Tell Educators Before the First Day
The more your educator knows about your child, the better they can support them. Before the first day, share your child’s comfort objects, sleep preferences, food likes and dislikes, any words or signals they use to communicate needs, things that make them anxious, and things that reliably make them happy. A short written summary is useful if there is a lot to cover.
You can contact us before your child’s start date to arrange a conversation with their primary educator so nothing important gets missed on day one.
How to Prepare at Home in the Days Before
Start talking about the centre in a positive and matter-of-fact way in the week or two beforehand. Read books about starting childcare. If you visited the centre, reference things your child saw there: the sandpit, the fish tank, the particular toy they played with. Familiarity with even small details reduces first-day anxiety.
Practice the drop-off routine at home if you can. Say goodbye clearly, say when you will be back in terms a child understands (“after lunch” or “when the big hand is on the 12”), and follow through. Predictability is reassuring.
What to Pack on the First Day
Check with your centre what they require, but most will ask for a change of clothes (two is safer), nappies if your child is not yet toilet trained, a water bottle, sunscreen, a hat, and any comfort object your child relies on. Label everything clearly. On the first day, a familiar item from home in the bag can make a meaningful difference to how settled your child feels. Before you start, it is also worth reading our Child Care Subsidy guide for NSW families to confirm your likely out-of-pocket costs.
What to Expect in the First Few Weeks
The first few weeks often look like two steps forward, one step back. Your child may seem happy and then have a difficult drop-off after a weekend. They may be fine at the centre and then exhausted and emotional at home in the afternoon. This is normal. Group care is stimulating, and fatigue shows up at home rather than at the centre.
Stay in regular contact with the educators during this period and trust the process. Most families find that by the end of the first month, childcare has become a normal, comfortable part of the week. If you have any questions or concerns before starting, get in touch with us or learn more about how we work at Dashing Ducks.
First days look much the same at the daycare Croydon families settle into, with an educator assigned to your child from the moment you arrive.
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