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September 4, 2014

Calming the Back-to-School Jitters

Introducing our guest blogger: WatchMeGrow. Doodle Bugs! Children’s Centers partner with WatchMeGrow to offer high-quality streaming video at all of our centers. Parents of children at Doodle Bugs! can securely log in to see important moments during their child’s day at child care. Parents feel connected and see first hand the extraordinary level of care and education Doodle Bugs! provides.

It’s the back-to-school season and for many parents it’s also their child’s first day, or week, at Doodle Bugs! – either after a long summer break or the first time ever. These beginning days can be filled with anxiety; parents’ hearts pounding as they put on an “I’m so excited” smile. Despite being completely confident in the choice to enroll with Doodle Bugs!, leaving your “baby” is scary. That’s why Doodle Bugs! offers WatchMeGrow streaming video at every center.

WatchMeGrow asked parents who use their streaming video service how best to use the feature to feel connected and avoid getting hooked into a PinWMGterest-style web marathon that leaves work to the wayside.

Schedule times to check in: Setting a specific time to log in and check in on your little one gives you a bright spot of connecting with your child during the work day. You can set the times based on your child’s schedule. If you know there is outdoor play before lunch, check in at that time to watch her laughing and going down the slide.

Keep communicating: Streaming video shouldn’t be the only way you connect with your center. It’s hard to know how your child is progressing or interacting with the classroom through the webcam alone, so don’t replace talks with the center director or teacher with webcam viewing. If you have questions or need an update on your child’s progress, schedule some time to have a conversation. Teachers who have first-hand interactions with your child are your best resource.

Everything is fine…really. Children are resilient and are typically more independent than parents believe. She may have been crying and clinging to your leg when you left her this morning, but most children overcome those emotions minutes after you leave. Teachers are skilled at helping children resolve their anxiety and help them move on to being an active participant in the classroom.

According to WatchMeGrow, seven minutes is the average time parents are logged in throughout the day. That means most parents are logging in a few times a day for just a couple minutes; enough time to bring a smile to their faces. Know that you are not alone this fall season.

To sign up for WatchMeGrow streaming video at your Doodle Bugs! center, go to www.watchmegrow.com/signup.