Starting childcare is a big milestone for both your family and your child. It’s normal to feel a mix of excitement and nerves on this first day. At Edu Kids Early Learning Centre in Brookfield, we warmly welcome you into our learning community. We believe every child deserves a safe, nurturing environment where they feel valued and ready to learn.
Our friendly educators focus on building comfort and familiarity: your little one will meet caring teachers and explore our bright play areas, helping them feel “right at home” from the start. Rest assured, the strong support and routines we have in place mean your child is in good hands on day one and beyond.
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How to Prepare Your Child for Their First Day at Childcare
How to handle the first day of daycare? Before day one arrives, a little preparation can make the transition much smoother for everyone.
Consider the following tips to handle the first day confidently:
- Visit and Explore: If you haven’t already, book a tour or orientation session at the centre. Walking through our classrooms and meeting the team beforehand helps ease anxiety. Familiarity with the environment (seeing toys, furniture, and play spaces) makes the first drop-off less intimidating for your child.
- Talk About It: Frame the big day as an exciting adventure. Tell your child, in simple terms, what to expect (“you’ll play with toys, make new friends, and have story time!”). Keep the conversation upbeat and brief, and answer any questions they have.
- Practice Routines: About a week before start, adjust bedtime and morning schedules to match the day-care routine. An earlier bedtime or earlier breakfast can help your child wake up fresh and ready for the centre’s day. Practice packing up together – making a game of it can turn it into fun.
- Pack and Label Essentials: Prepare your child’s bag with everything they’ll need (spare clothes, nappies or pull-ups, bottles, comfort blanket or toy, etc.). Label every item with your child’s name – it helps our staff keep track of belongings so nothing precious goes missing.
- Checklist and Comfort: What is a checklist in daycare? The night before, run through a checklist of items to pack so nothing is forgotten. Include a favourite cuddly toy or pacifier if it soothes your child – familiar comforts in a new place can make a big difference on day one.
By doing these simple steps, you and your child will feel more confident when the first day arrives. Remember, it’s a new routine for everyone at home too, so take it step by step and reach out if you have any concerns.
What to Expect on the First Day
What happens on the first day of daycare? Edu Kids is designed to be a welcoming and supportive place for new starters. On the first day, you can expect a warm welcome, a brief orientation, and a supportive goodbye process, followed by a day of engaging, play-based discovery for your child. Here’s a detailed guide to a typical first day at our centre:
- Warm Welcome: When you arrive, our friendly educators will greet you and your child. We’ll guide you through our check-in procedure and introduce you to your child’s key teachers. You’re encouraged to share any last-minute notes about your child’s mood or needs (nappy change, favourite story, etc.) as you settle in. Our staff are skilled at making children feel at ease with warmth and care.
- Saying Goodbye: What to say on the first day of daycare? Goodbyes can tug at the heartstrings, but a calm and positive farewell helps your child adjust more quickly. We recommend a brief, upbeat goodbye: a hug, a kiss, and a confident “Have fun today, I’ll see you soon!”. This reassures them that you trust the educators and that you’ll return. Children often pick up on your mood, so if you stay upbeat and caring, they will too. Never sneak away when a child is distracted, as it can cause a sense of betrayal and make it harder for them to trust their parents’ return in the future.
- A Day of Discovery: Once you’ve left, the children dive into the day’s activities. At Edu Kids Brookfield, the program is play-based and varied, with activities like arts and crafts, songs, stories, sensory play, and outdoor time. All activities are designed to be engaging and age-appropriate, so children begin to feel the fun in learning from the very first day. By afternoon, many little ones are happily making friends or looking at books at rest time.
- Updates and Pick-Up: While your child is busy, our educators keep an eye on how they’re settling. For your peace of mind, we share quick photo or app updates throughout the day using the Storypark platform. At pick-up time, your child’s teacher will share highlights: maybe a game they loved, a new song learned, or a friend’s name.
Settling In: Adjusting to Childcare
Is it normal for babies to cry all day at daycare? It is common for babies and young children to cry upon separation, especially on the first few days, but it is not normal for babies to cry all day at daycare. Our experienced educators are highly skilled at comforting new starters, using cuddles, sensory play, and distraction to soothe them quickly after the parent leaves. We focus on establishing trust and routine so they feel safe and secure. If a child continues to be distressed, we will contact you immediately.
How long does it take for a child to settle in daycare? How long until kids stop crying at daycare? The settling period is highly individual, but most children begin to settle and stop consistent crying within one to three weeks of starting childcare. Some children adjust in just a few days, while others might need several weeks to fully embrace the new routine. Consistency, positive goodbyes, and a trusting relationship with their key educator are the most important factors in a smooth transition.
Our Rooms and Programs
Edu Kids Brookfield is purpose-built with four dedicated rooms catering to every age and stage. Each room has age-appropriate toys and routines that match your child’s development stage.
Our programs are guided by the Australian Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and delivered by qualified, caring educators. In summary:
- Nursery (6 weeks – ~2 years) – A warm, soothing environment for babies and crawlers. Educators follow each baby’s individual routine (feeding, sleeping, nappy-changing) and provide plenty of sensory play and cuddles, so your infant feels safe and secure.
- Toddler Room (2 – 3 years) – A fun, active space where toddlers explore independence and social play. Through indoor and outdoor games, art, and music, children build confidence, gross motor skills, and early language while learning to play and share with others.
- Pre-Kinder (3 – 4 years) – A creative and social learning environment. Activities focus on imagination, early literacy, and numeracy concepts, plus plenty of group projects that foster teamwork and communication. Your preschooler will start to express ideas, follow simple instructions, and develop resilience in a supportive setting.
- Kinder (4 – 6 years) – A rich program designed to prepare children for school. We focus on literacy, numeracy, science, and the arts, while encouraging independence, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Our kinder curriculum helps children feel confident as they make the transition to big school.
Regardless of the room, each class is led by degree-qualified educators who tailor learning to your child’s needs. We maintain small group sizes so teachers can give focused attention and build strong bonds. You can expect a busy, fun-filled day structured around familiar routines (circle time, meals, outdoor play, rest) that make transitions smooth for little ones.
Nurturing Care and Qualified Educators
At Edu Kids Brookfield, our philosophy is rooted in love, care, and growth. We proudly provide a nurturing, inclusive environment where every child feels respected, valued, and part of the community. Our dedicated team of qualified early childhood professionals are passionate about partnering with parents.
They build secure, respectful relationships with each child, fostering empathy and a sense of belonging. In practice, this means your child’s emotions and unique needs are always considered. Our educators work closely with families to align routines (like sleep or feeding) so that children experience consistency between home and the centre.
We also take health and safety very seriously. From locked gates to secure nappy-changing routines and rigorous hygiene practices, every safety protocol is in place to keep your child well.
Every day at Edu Kids is an opportunity for joyful learning. We celebrate cultural diversity and encourage each child to express their personality – whether through play, art, or interaction with friends. Our modern indoor and outdoor facilities, balanced nutrition program, and partnership with families all contribute to a stimulating, supportive environment. In short, we aim to make Edu Kids Brookfield feel like a second home for your child, where they are free to explore, discover, and grow.
Join Our Edu Kids Family
The first day of childcare is the beginning of an exciting journey, and we’re here to make it positive and reassuring. If you have any questions or would like to see the centre in person, please get in touch – we’d love to meet you! Contact Edu Kids Brookfield at (03) 9955 5885 to book a tour or discuss enrolment options.
Let’s start this adventure together – we can’t wait to welcome you and your child to our nurturing community.