Welcome to Kids & Company

Congratulations! You’re about to start something wonderful, and a little preparation goes a long way toward making it feel easier for both you and your child. Here’s how to set your family up for a smooth start: 

Take care of the paperwork. Complete your enrollment forms in Kindertales and make sure your emergency contacts are current before your first day so you don’t need to worry about any of those formalities when you first bring your child into care. 

Line up any medications. If your child requires any medication while in care, ensure you have what’s needed and enough to leave medication at the centre for thier time in care. Remember to bring any required medications with their completed authorization forms on your first day or during your transition schedule. 

Label everything. Clothing, shoes, diapers, wipes, creams — anything that comes with your child. It’s the simplest way to make sure everything that arrives at the centre also finds its way home again. It’s a good idea to label everything in bulk before you start at the centre so that it’s not something you have to think about every morning. Don’t forget that Kidco families can get 40% off of the exclusive Kidco Label Pack with code KCLABELS at Mabel’s Labels. 

Every family settles in at their own pace. We’ve found the below tips are helpful for when children transition into care and can make the adjustment smoother for everyone: 

Ease into new routines. Little ones thrive on predictability, so it helps to start a few weeks early. Shift bedtime and nap schedules to match their new day, keep bedtime routines consistent, and you can even practice the morning drive so it feels familiar. 

Help them imagine what school will be like. Visit the centre together beforehand if you can, talk to them about the new routine and that they’ll say goodbye to you and then go have fun inside with their new friends and educators.  

Read stories on the theme. Stories are a wonderful way to spark conversations and children’s imagination. For older children, try reading books about starting child care to spark excitement. (We share some recommendations in a blog post below!) The more your child can picture their new adventure, the more they’ll look forward to it.  

Have grace! It’s completely normal for children to feel sad, anxious, or even a little angry as they adjust — and it’s an adjustment for the whole family, too. Naming those feelings and reassuring them goes a long way. (For you, as well!) Remember, we’re in this together, and our team is here to support every step. 

Please label everything with your child’s name — that way, everything that comes to the centre also makes it home again.  

• Diapers and wipes 

• Diaper cream, ointment, and/or powder 

• A full set of extra clothing 

• Formula or breastmilk, as needed 

• Comfort items, like a pacifier or soother, if needed 

• Weather-appropriate outdoor clothing for the season 

• Indoor and outdoor shoes 

• A water bottle (Infants don’t require) 

Don’t forget that Kidco families can get 40% off of the exclusive Kidco Label Pack with code KCLABELS at Mabel’s Labels. 

First, know that this is completely normal — and it’s actually a healthy part of growing up. Separation anxiety is a common stage for older infants and toddlers, who feel worried when their primary caregiver is out of sight simply because they haven’t yet learned that you always come back. Starting child care can be a wonderful building block in that development, as your child discovers, day after day, that you’ll unfailingly be there at the end of it. 

The easiest way to say goodbye is to keep it short and sweet: a kiss, a hug, an “I love you, and I’ll be back at the end of the day,” and then a hand-off to our educators. It can be hard to do, but a quick, confident goodbye avoids prolonging a tricky moment or turning goodbyes into a long routine down the road. 

And you won’t be left wondering how things are going. Between our secure webcams (at select centres), Kindertales daily digital reports, and an always-available Centre Director, you can check in anytime. Most families are pleasantly surprised to find that once the goodbye is over, their child settles right in and starts building warm, trusting connections with their educators and new friends.