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<p>Outside of their parents, the relationship your child has with their caregiver will be one of their most important during their childhood years. It’s only natural that you—as the parent—would want to develop just as strong of a relationship with that caregiver, too.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Building a strong relationship with your caregiver is beneficial in so many ways, but especially when it comes to sharing those day-to-day details that contribute to your child’s growth and development. Creating consistency, aligning on responsibilities, and working towards common goals for your child are all easier when you and your caregiver are on the same page.</p>



<p>But while your child likely spends hours a day with their caregiver and has ample opportunity to work on that relationship, parents often get much less facetime. And that facetime is usually during child care pickups and drop-offs, which can be hectic, chaotic, and don’t lend themselves well to fully coherent conversations.</p>



<p>That doesn’t mean you can’t create a strong relationship, or even a friendship, with the people you trust to care for your child. Here are five ways to build a stronger relationship with your child’s caregiver:</p>



<h3>1. <strong>Prioritize pickup or drop-off as often as your schedule allows.</strong></h3>



<p>If you’re able to make it work, try to pick up and drop off your child with their caregiver. That twice-daily facetime with caregivers will allow you a chance to connect in real life and start to build the foundation of a regular relationship. Even if it’s a just a quick handoff, drop-off and pickup gives you an opportunity to quickly exchange details about your child, and stay in the loop about their daily goals, accomplishments and struggles. That face to face connection also shows your child that you trust your caregiver, which can help <a href="https://go.vivvi.com/surviving-separation-anxiety-worksheet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reduce separation anxiety</a>.</p>



<h3>2. <strong>Show care and respect.</strong></h3>



<p>Model the type of care and respect you’d like your child to show your caregiver—and any other person they meet. Take the time to make eye contact and say hello and goodbye. Ask them how they’re doing, and listen to the answer. We know mornings are bleary-eyed—maybe you haven’t even had your latte yet! But a few moments of kind greetings can not only help you build a strong relationship with your caregiver, but also help start their day with a smile.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The same goes for pickup time…even when you’re in a rush. A simple, “Thank you for your work today, have a great evening,” shows you value the hard work they do all day. Let your child chime in with their own <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/articles/goodbye-rituals-toddlers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">goodbye ritual</a>, and even add a hug or high five, if it’s comfortable. Bonus: children thrive on routine, and this goodbye ritual is a great way to support their learning.</p>



<h3>3. <strong>Volunteer to help out or visit during the day.</strong></h3>



<p>While we know that not every job allows for a daily daycare visit, try to build in some time to drop by your child care provider every so often to help out. Even if your program isn’t a co-op, volunteer to help at lunch time, or come by and<a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/articles/best-kids-picture-books-to-teach-generosity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> read a special book</a> with your child’s class. You can even offer to help the staff prep or clean during off-hours when students are not in session. Taking some work off of your caregiver’s plate will likely go a long way towards showing you care—and it also gives you more opportunity to get to know them and see them in action.</p>



<h3>4. Ask about things other than your child.</h3>



<p>Your caregiver has a whole entire life outside of their work with your child! The best way you can get to know your caregiver, or strengthen the relationship you already have, is to acknowledge that they’re more than a caregiver, they’re also a human. Ask your caregiver what they like to do in their free time: Are they a foodie? Do they rewire vintage speakers? Maybe they’re into film photography? Remember: not every caregiver is comfortable revealing life outside your child care’s doors, so be respectful of their boundaries.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>5. Remember you&#8217;re on the same team.</h3>



<p>In the best shared relationship, your caregiver should feel comfortable being honest about your child’s learning, behavior and <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/articles/science-early-childhood-brain-development" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">development</a>. While it’s not always easy to hear feedback that’s less than glowing, try to receive information about your child with an open mind, and remember you and your caregivers are working towards the same goal: how to best support and nurture your child’s growth.</p>


Building a strong relationship with your caregiver is beneficial, but it takes an effort! These 5 things will help your caregiver connection.

How to Build a Strong Relationship with your Caregiver


<p>As if the return to work transition wasn’t challenging enough for new parents, the timing often coincides with that critical stage when you’re trying to develop healthy sleep habits for your baby. For parents who are <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/family/articles/getting-ready-for-daycare" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">transitioning to a group child care</a> environment, those baby sleep habits are suddenly a shared responsibility—and your new child care providers may not necessarily share the same strategies. </p>



<p>So, how can we help our babies develop healthy sleep habits when they’re not in our care for a good part of the day? And how can we make sure our babies get the sleep they need at daycare?</p>



<p>“It&#8217;s totally normal to worry—I was also anxious when my daughter was starting daycare,” says Hadley Seward, founder and pediatric sleep consultant at <a href="https://www.bonnenuitbaby.com/">Bonne Nuit Baby</a>. “Even if sleep is disrupted initially, it&#8217;s likely that it will come together as the child gets used to the new environment. It can be nerve-wracking to hand over control of your child&#8217;s sleep to another caretaker, but focus on what you <em>can </em>control.”</p>



<p>It’s not all a game of chance, though, Seward says. There are practices you can work on at home to support your baby’s sleep health when they’re at their child care provider. Whether you’re working on independent sleeping, dealing with two different naptime schedules or have an overtired, cranky baby from all that daycare stimuli, there are ways you can support your child’s sleep health and ease your own mind.</p>



<p>Focusing on what you can control is the thesis of Seward’s tips here. As parents, we have to accept that we cannot control every second of our child’s day. What we can do, though, is give them the skills and tools necessary to be an active participant in their own sleep journey.  </p>



<p>Here are five of Seward’s best tips for helping your baby get enough sleep during the transition to child care:</p>



<h3>1. <strong>Focus on independent sleep.</strong></h3>



<p>Seward’s biggest advice for babies four-months-old and older is be to work on independent sleep for naps <em>before</em> starting in group child care. If your baby is able to get themselves to sleep without the need for rocking or patting, they’ve already conquered the first obstacle of napping without mama. The surroundings are new and that can be disorienting for your baby, but trust that your baby will become familiar and comfortable in their new space soon.</p>



<h3>2. <strong>Implement a clock-based schedule.</strong></h3>



<p>While newborn babies sleep often and on their own schedule, starting around four- or five-months-old, parents can begin to set a more consistent clock-based schedule for their child.  That means meaning your baby should consistent nap at specific times during the day and <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/articles/top-sleep-training-tips" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">go to sleep</a> at a set time each night. </p>



<p>Sticking with a clock-based schedule will make it easier to ensure consistency between child care days and at home days. It’s okay if your home nap schedule differs from your child care schedule.</p>



<h3>3. <strong>Plan for an earlier bedtime.</strong></h3>



<p>Help your child stay well-rested during their transition to group child care by offering an earlier bedtime. Consider moving your baby’s bedtime a little bit earlier during this transition time. </p>



<p><strong>“</strong>Oftentimes the biggest impact on sleep during the first few weeks of daycare is that the child is <em>exhausted</em> at the end of the day—in a good way,” Seward said. “They&#8217;ve had a fun day with their new friends, but it&#8217;s also a lot of stimulation. For this reason, I highly recommend that families plan for an early bedtime the first few weeks of starting a new a new child care routine.”</p>



<h3>4. Expect bad nap days and compensate sleep accordingly.</h3>



<p>Bad nap days happen occasionally, whether you’re at home or in a child care setting. When your child has a bad nap day at child care, you can compensate at home with an earlier bedtime. Good communication with your child’s caregivers goes a long way!</p>



<p>“On the days when my daughter didn&#8217;t nap well at daycare, I offered a super early bedtime so she could stay well-rested,” Seward explains.</p>



<h3>5. Accept that different sleep schedules happen.</h3>



<p>If your child’s child care sleep schedule is different from the home sleep schedule, don&#8217;t panic. Seward says you should continue to offer your child their <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/family/articles/how-to-build-early-math-and-literacy-into-your-daily-routines" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">usual routine</a> when they’re home with you, and trust that your child will adjust to the new schedule.</p>



<p>Stay in close contact with your caregiver; remember they are an extension of your parenting team and they should be just as invested as you are in creating a healthy sleep foundation for your baby. When your baby gets quality, healthy sleep, everyone wins! </p>


If you're transitioning your baby into a group child care environment, their sleep habits are suddenly a shared responsibility. Here's how to make sure you and your caregivers are on the same page.

5 Tips for a Smooth Sleep Transition into Child Care


<p>It&#8217;s never too early to address race and antiracism with young children. Experts say that racial bias can start <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170411130810.htm">as young as 6 months</a>, and parents’ actions and conversations can have a big impact.&nbsp;</p>



<p>But for parents of kids who are too young to communicate or understand much more than when to eat, drink, sleep, what’s the best way to start the conversation?&nbsp;</p>



<p><a href="https://www.tabithastbernard.com/parent">Tabitha St. Bernard-Jacobs</a>, writer, activist and anti-racism educator, says a parent’s actions can speak as loud as their words.<br><br>Here are 5 ways to infuse anti-racism into your child&#8217;s daily life.</p>



<h3>1. <strong>Invest in continuous unlearning and learning for yourself</strong>.</h3>



<p>Antiracism involves learning and action in support of all communities that have been historically and are currently marginalized. Raising antiracist kids means first understanding the role race, racism and antiracism play in our society and in our lives. It’s important to be a continuous student when it comes to antiracism. It is also completely okay to let one’s child know when you need to do more research and come back to them.</p>



<h3>2. <strong>Be intentional about who is in your community.</strong></h3>



<p>“People tend to spend time with others they have the most in common with,” says St. Bernard-Jacobs. For families of color in this white-centered society, infusing antiracism is a natural part of equipping kids with the necessary tools to exist in a multiracial world. But if one’s family is all white, as well as parent friends, playdates, neighbors and school teachers, those children are seeing an existence that does not reflect the reality of the global majority. </p>



<p>One recent study suggested that <a href="https://www.romper.com/life/the-myth-of-the-perfect-time-to-discuss-race-with-your-child-33303089">90% of the people that infants usually interact with</a> are people of their own race, and that reducing or mitigating bias in those early months can be done if the parents’ circles are representative of the wide range of identities in our communities.</p>



<h3>3. <strong>Start age-appropriate conversations.</strong></h3>



<p>Many kids are ready to talk about race long before their parents think they are, according to a <a href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/xge-xge0000851.pdf">study by the American Psychological Association</a>. Kids have the capacity to process social and racial dynamics much earlier than age 5. That may not mean sitting a toddler down and talking about systemic racism or white supremacy, she says, it can be about drawing their attention to what they see: “Do you notice the color of the doll’s skin in comparison to yours?” </p>



<p>Parents can also center social justice and equity by talking about fairness, which is something that children start to understand from young; that’s a great jumping off point for a bigger conversation about justice.</p>



<h3>4. <strong>Be deliberate about the items in your home.</strong></h3>



<p>Choose books and other media that represent people from a variety of backgrounds. While this includes books about heroes or historical figures from the global majority, it also means finding books that feature characters of color in everyday settings. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CoQgGS_OXmj/">(There’s a great list for Black History Month here!)</a> “For kids of color, it’s reaffirming to see people that look like who they are,” says St. Bernard-Jacobs, and for white children, it equips them with the tools to be changemakers. Use the same strategy for dolls, toys and even art supplies.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>5. <strong>Continue to learn, and evolve your conversations with your child.</strong></h3>



<p>This is not a one-and-done conversation. “The conversations you have with your child are going to be different as they age and as you learn more,” says St. Bernard-Jacobs. “Pull away from the idea that what you say or do has to be perfect. It’s going to be messy. But you’re modeling for them what it means to have humility.” Stick with it, even when the conversation is hard.</p>



<p>Want to hear more from Tabitha St. Bernard-Jacobs? Check out our webinar <strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrJ6oj388bU&amp;t=998s" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“Talking about Race with Young Children.”</a></strong> </p>


It's never too early to address race and antiracism with young children. For parents, these 5 actions can speak louder than words.

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