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Question:
I am a new grad from the early childhood education program and have secured the most amazing job with a daycare centre in my town. I am a little nervous as I will be in charge of my own room. Any tips on how to make my classroom inviting for the new children?

Answer:
Now that the new school semester is starting, parents will want to know that their child is comfortable in their new room. Use these tips to help make the children feel welcome.

Start with a clean, and orderly room. Make sure the windows sparkle, the floors are swept, carpets are clean, and the shelves are dust free. If anything needs painting, make sure it is painted prior to the children’s first day.

Decorate your room. Nothing says Welcome more than children’s art displayed on the wall. Bright colours on the wall can make a room feel inviting. A calendar of events or a birthday wall is also colourful. If you don’t have any children’s art, posters are a great way to spruce up a blank wall.

Make sure you have the children’s cubbies ready with their names. A labelled cubby shows the children where they can place their personal belongings.

Set up learning centres with toys and inviting materials. Children can feel comfortable knowing they can spend some time playing with fun toys as they become familiar with the classroom and routines.

Be as flexible as possible until the children learn the routine and rules of the class. Remember that children may feel homesick for the first little while and will need your gentle guidance to help them adjust.

Create individual communication logs so parents can write messages to you and you can let them know how their child’s day went.

A warm, welcoming classroom will help parents and children make the transition easier if the classroom is fun and exciting for the children.

For answers to your questions, send us an email at info@canadianchildmagazine.ca