Lesson 1 of 6 · 10 min
Set up the handover before day one
Goal: Know who receives your child, who can collect, and what the teacher needs to hear from you
It's 7.45am at the childcare centre at your void deck. Your two-year-old is holding on to your leg, the teacher is busy with another child, and you need to catch the MRT. You're not sure who to hand him to, or whether to stay or go.
Most of that stress can be sorted out before day one. This lesson shows you how.
Call the centre before the first day. Ask who will receive your child at the door, how settling in works there, and what they can adjust. Some centres offer an orientation visit, shorter first sessions, or let your child bring a comfort item from home. Ask rather than assume, because every centre's staffing and rules are different.
Also ask who to contact if your child stays very upset, and how the centre tells you about anything urgent.
Three things to settle before day one
- Who receives your child. Get the teacher's name and where the handover happens.
- What the teacher needs to know. The name your child answers to, home languages, how they show a need, and your comfort phrase. Allergies, medicine and care instructions go through the centre's official forms.
- Who drops off, who picks up, and who is the backup. Everyone on that list must be on the centre's authorised pick-up records.
Grandparents and helpers need the same set-up. If Ah Ma or your helper will do pick-up, she needs to be on the centre's authorised list, just like you. Follow the centre's ID and authorisation rules. A message in the family chat doesn't update the centre's records.
Share sensory or communication needs in plain words, such as "He covers his ears when it's noisy." That helps the teacher help him.
Make it familiar first. Let your child get to know the new people and the order of the morning before the first full day, then adjust with the teachers.
If the centre allows it, a short play visit with you or another familiar adult is enough. You'll also find out which questions you still need to ask.
What to say
Telling your child about the first morning
Say
- Tomorrow you'll go to school and Teacher Aisyah will be with you.
- I'll give you a hug at the door and say goodbye.
- Ah Ma will come back for you after afternoon snack.
Avoid
- You won't cry, okay?
- I'll be right outside. (If you won't be.)
- Be good or Teacher will scold you.
How Farah set it up. Farah's 22-month-old hears Malay at home, and her mother does two drop-offs a week. Farah asked the centre which comfort item was allowed, and gave the teacher one short Malay comfort phrase with its meaning.
She added her mother to the authorised pick-up list through the centre's official process. Her mother and the teacher now use the same handover words, and the family has one contact person for a hard morning.
What would you do?
Ah Gong offers to pick up your son today, but he isn't on the centre's authorised list yet. What do you do?
Tell Ah Gong to mention your name at the door
Makes sense, the teachers have seen your family many times. But the centre has to follow its pick-up rules, and a familiar name isn't enough. Contact the centre first.
Send the teacher a quick message in the class chat
Quick and tempting when you're at work. But a chat message may not count as authorisation, and the teacher may not see it in time. Use the centre's official process instead.
Call the centre, complete their authorisation steps, then confirm with Ah Gong
The centre knows the change is approved, and Ah Gong won't be turned away at the gate. Then tell every adult which plan is on.
Quick check
What matters most to confirm before day one?
Show the answer
Who receives your child, and who is allowed to pick up
No one can promise a settling-in timeline. Knowing who takes over from you, and who can collect, keeps your child safe from the first morning.
Quick check
Your child has a food allergy. Where should that information go?
Show the answer
Through the centre's official health and care forms
A note to the teacher helps too. Allergies, medicine and care instructions need to go through the centre's official process, so every staff member who needs it can see it.
Your private note
Saved on this device only. We never see it.
What the rest of the course covers
- Lesson 2: make a short photo or drawing story of your real morning.
- Lesson 3: a goodbye you can repeat at the door, even when there are tears.
- Lesson 4: what to ask the teacher about the hours after you leave.
- Lesson 5: one plan for grandparents, helpers and whoever does pick-up.
- Lesson 6: review what's working, and know when to act on a concern.
Remember
Settle who receives your child, and who can collect, before the morning rush.
Try this week
For the next 3 days, settle one handover question with the centre each day: who receives your child, how settling in works, and who is on the pick-up list.
Sources
- Separation anxiety (opens in a new tab), HealthHub. Checked 19 October 2026.
- How can parents provide feedback on preschool safety and wellbeing? (opens in a new tab), Early Childhood Development Agency. Checked 19 October 2026.
- Getting help: support services available (opens in a new tab), MSF Family Assist. Checked 19 October 2026.