Indooroopilly Montessori Children's House

Settling your child into the Centre

You may find that you have mixed feelings when placing your child at IMCH for the first time. Guilt, relief, anxiety and optimism are all common feelings. Staff understand this may not be an easy time for you. They will not consider any of your feelings to be silly, but will seek to find ways to support you and your child.

Children cannot always express the wide range of feelings they have when starting something new. When asked, they may say nothing or very little or perhaps focus on one or two negative incidents. Much more is happening. Parents should not always take a child’s stated experiences literally.

Children feel IMCH is different and behave differently from when at home. They are becoming socialised members of a small community which entails great effort and occasionally stress, when first adjusting. Sensitive listening when children return home from the Centre and a chance to ‘let down’ is therefore advised. They may be overtired but too stimulated to rest.

This is not the time to question them intently. By reading the daily activity sheet you will have a starting point for future conversation.