Some children are naturally outgoing, and others are on the quiet side. If your child tends to spend time alone and gets really quiet around strangers, you may be a little worried about sending them to a daycare center where they'll basically have to spend all day with people they don't know. Thankfully, there are ways for shy children to do well in — and even benefit from — time in childcare. Follow these tips to ease the transition and turn this into a positive experience for your little one.

1. Have someone babysit your child in your own home first.

If your child has never been without you for an extended period of time, then sending them straight into daycare—which involves a strange environment and strange people—can be really overwhelming. A good in-between step is to have an adult friend come babysit your child in your own home a few times. The first time, leave for just an hour or two. Then leave for half a day, and finally, a full day. This will help your child learn that they can trust and talk to other adults in your absence.

2. Stay with them at first.

Some parents insist that the best way to introduce a child to daycare is to just drop them off at the door and not linger. But for a really shy child, this can be traumatizing. Plan on taking them to daycare for the first time on a day when you can afford to stay. While you are there, help them initiate interactions with other children, and encourage them to talk to the teacher. This will help them get used to the environment of the daycare without having to also concentrate on being alone.

3. Start with just a few hours.

Now that your child is somewhat used to being without you and is also familiar with the daycare environment, combine the two. Leave them alone at daycare for just an hour or two the first time. This will reassure you them that you are coming back; you have not abandoned them. Work your way up to a half day and then a full day. If you need to be at work during some of this time, see if a friend can watch your child in your home a few days a week, and they can go to daycare on alternate days, at first. After a week or two, you can then send them to daycare full time. 

For more information, reach out to child care centers like Lighthouse  Academy.