Visit Preparation for Parents
Before parents set off for a child visit, it can be helpful to help the parent prepare in advance. While special upfront work is not required each and every time, it is helpful to help parents get into a routine of thinking through these questions themselves as they get ready to see their children.
Some questions parents can ask themselves include:
- What are age appropriate activities I can do with my child(ren)?
- Are there any special supplies or plans I need to make ahead of time to help this visit go well?
- How do I feel about this visit? Do I feel excited? Happy? Anxious? Afraid? Mixed up? (They’re all normal!)
- Is there anything special going on with my child that I should know about? Do I need to touch base with the caregiver ahead of time?
- How can I well with my child’s caregiver? Are there things I do that help our relationship? Are there things I do that make it more difficult for the caregiver?
- How can I make the “saying goodbye” part of the visit easier on my child and on me? (Click here for a list of suggestions.)
- How can I manage my child’s behavior during the visit? What will I do if my child starts acting up?
- If I have more than one child at the visit, how will I give each of them my attention?
- Do I expect the caregiver to be present during the visit? How do I expect him or her to behave? Is this reasonable?
