From the Guidelines
Changing a 3-year-old child from a 3-year-old class to a 2-year-old class at daycare is not recommended and could potentially reset her adjustment process. This decision could have a negative impact on the child's social and developmental progress, as consistency in environment and routine is crucial for adjustment 1. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, pediatricians should emphasize the importance of play in promoting healthy child development and maintaining strong parent-child bonds, and changing the child's class could disrupt this process 1.
Instead, it is recommended to maintain the child's current placement in the 3-year-old class and focus on strategies to help her adapt. This can be achieved by working closely with the daycare staff to identify specific triggers for her distress and developing a consistent approach to address them 2. Implementing a gradual separation routine, such as staying for short periods initially and slowly increasing the duration, can also help the child adjust to the daycare environment. Additionally, considering bringing a comfort object from home, like a favorite toy or family photo, and establishing a goodbye ritual that's quick, positive, and consistent can provide the child with a sense of security and comfort.
It is also important to note that play is integral to the academic environment, and it ensures that the school setting attends to the social and emotional development of children as well as their cognitive development 2. Reducing time for physical activity and free play can have negative repercussions on children's ability to learn and adjust to the school setting. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize the child's need for play and socialization in the 3-year-old class, rather than moving her to a younger class. If the child's difficulty persists, consulting a child psychologist for personalized strategies can provide additional support and guidance.
From the Research
Readjustment Requirements for a 3-Year-Old Child
- Changing a 3-year-old child from a 3-year-old class to a 2-year-old class at daycare may require readjustment, as it involves a transition to a new environment and potentially different social and educational settings.
- Research on emotional well-being in children suggests that such transitions can impact a child's emotional state, with studies indicating that children's perception of an activity as play can influence their emotional well-being 3.
- However, there is limited direct evidence on the specific effects of changing a child's daycare class on their readjustment and emotional well-being.
- A study on the impact of physical activity programs on social and emotional well-being in at-risk youth found mixed results, highlighting the complexity of factors influencing children's emotional well-being 4.
- Another study on the effects of exercise training on quality of life, symptoms of depression, symptoms of anxiety, and emotional well-being in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus also found conflicting results, suggesting that individual responses to environmental changes can vary greatly 5.
- A review and meta-analysis on the associations of childhood adversity with emotional well-being and educational achievement found that adverse childhood experiences can have profound negative implications for emotional well-being and academic achievement, emphasizing the importance of considering the potential impact of environmental changes on children's well-being 6.
- Overall, while there is no direct evidence on the specific topic of changing a 3-year-old child's daycare class, research on emotional well-being and child development suggests that such a change may require readjustment and highlights the importance of considering the potential impact on the child's emotional state 7, 3, 4, 5, 6.