Inhaltsangabe / Table of Contents/Table des matières
Settling in at the crèche often hits parents sooner than expected: the child has only just come into the world and already the settling in at the crèche begins. For all involved, parents and child, this is a pretty big, but also very exciting step. Despite all the anticipation of regaining a bit of freedom, parents also have to think about things: Is it perhaps still too early? Is my child ready? Shouldn’t we wait another year? While the children get to know new caregivers, the parents have to build trust and learn to let go. We at cocon day care understand you and your concerns and therefore accompany you every step of the way as you and your child enter this great new stage of life. With this article, we would like to answer all your questions and explain to you what the process of settling in at the cocon day care centre looks like, what exactly the Berlin Model is and how the transition to kindergarten as well as the transition to school is accompanied.
Why is settling in at the crèche important?
What exactly is settling in? The term describes the first weeks that the child is allowed to spend in the nursery. This initial period is usually quite overwhelming: so many new impressions, new smells, new faces, new rules, new routines and so many unknowns that first have to be processed. This can be quite a lot for a little person at first and usually the child needs time to get used to it all. Changes that happen too abruptly often make a child helpless and lead to frustration. In addition, there is the lack of a familiar caregiver.
Of course, the new situation also offers many exciting things, such as other children or new toys to discover. Nevertheless, these unfamiliar things are very appealing at first and should be introduced to the child bit by bit, a little more each day, so as not to overtax him or her. The unknown feeling of separation is also something the child is confronted with for the first time during the settling-in phase and should be accompanied carefully.
The settling-in period has a considerable influence on how carefree the child will experience his or her time in the day care centre. The child finds its place in the group, learns to trust its new environment and feels secure and strengthened. According to research on the settling-in period, a positive experience when entering the nursery also supports the child’s later coping with new beginnings in life, such as the transition to school.
The settling-in period makes the temporary separation easier for both the children and the parents.
Settling-in procedure according to the Berlin Model
There are different familiarisation models, whereby the Berlin model is most frequently practised in Germany. We at the cocon day care centre also believe that the parent-assisted, gentle acclimatisation is the best and so this model is also successfully used by us. Positive feedback from our mothers and fathers encourages us in this.
The Berlin Model is above all very needs-oriented. The decision about the time of separation and the procedure is individually adapted to the situation and the conditions of the child. The goal is a careful and gradual acclimatisation to the new environment so that the separation from the parents is easier. The approach that it is better and easier for the child to bring about a quick separation – similar to ripping off a plaster – is fortunately outdated. We at cocon share the opinion of the founders of the Berlin Model that a slow familiarisation with the nursery, in which the parents are involved, works best.
The Berlin Model is divided into 4 phases:
Basic phase
At the cocon day care centre, each family is assigned a permanent reference teacher with whom an initial interview takes place. In this meeting, the exact procedure is explained and all questions concerning the child’s needs are clarified. The first three days are used to get to know each other and to gain trust. The parents explore the group room together with the child for about 1-2 hours and then begin to become more passive from the second day onwards, so that the reference teacher can make contact with the child. This works best through play – because play can build trust.
Separation phase
At the earliest from the fourth day, an attempt at separation takes place, which is clearly discussed with the parents in advance and asks for their own willingness to do so. In this attempt, the parent leaves the room after some time for a short moment. If the child can be calmed down by the educator or if the child even reacts calmly to the situation, this first attempt at separation should last about 30 minutes. It is important that the parents consciously say goodbye to the child and do not simply leave the room. Initially, the settling in process takes place exclusively in the group room, as this represents a constant for the child. Our pedagogy works in a closed concept, which means that the children always start the day in their familiar environment, i.e. within their group in their group room.
Stabilisation phase
Gradually, the separation phases are extended and the bond with the teacher is strengthened. The parent can now withdraw more and more. In this phase, it is especially important to us that parents and children get the time they need. If the first attempt at separation does not work so well, we take a little more time with a second attempt and extend the phase of getting to know each other.
Final phase
As soon as the teacher has been accepted as the new caregiver, the parents no longer need to stay at the nursery. At this point, the settling in process is complete. Usually this is the case after about 3 weeks.
Advantages and disadvantages of the Berlin model
ADVANTAGES
- Parents receive a plan about the process.
- Slow, gentle and careful familiarisation.
- Individual adjustment of the settling-in period at any time.
DISADVANTAGES
- Settling in can be time-consuming.
- Longer settling-in period for children who are only in the nursery part-time.
Familiarisation with the kindergarten
At the cocon day care centre, the acclimatisation or transition from the day care centre to the kindergarten is carried out by the teachers themselves. Through accompanied visits to the kindergarten, the toddler is prepared for the transition at an early stage until he or she ultimately wants to stay there. During these visits, the child gets to know all the new daily situations and the new group room while participating in various activities. In the weekly KigaClub project, topics such as “Colours and shapes” or “My body” are worked on in a differentiated way with the children according to a structured concept in order to prepare them inhatically for the transition to kindergarten. In addition, social-emotional skills such as the practice of understanding rules are acquired through play.
If an external child comes directly to the kindergarten, the acclimatisation process is similar to the Berlin model described above.
Transfer to school
The final milestone that we are privileged to accompany at the cocon day care centre is the transition from kindergarten to school. For this, we work with an in-house preschool concept that prepares the children professionally for the demands of school within the framework of German, English and French preschool. In addition, the children are strengthened emotionally so that at the end of the kindergarten year they can proudly say that they are finally allowed to be a school child. It is important to us to promote the child’s strengths so that the child enjoys learning and exploring.
We are in close contact with the Sprengel and Munich public schools in order to constantly align our in-house pre-school concept with the requirements for school readiness.
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