Starting at an early learning centre is a big moment not just for your tamariki, but for you as a parent too. It’s completely normal to feel a mix of excitement and nerves. Will they settle? Will they miss me? Will they feel at home?
At Growing Wings, we understand these concerns and work closely with families to make the transition as smooth as possible. Through a series of settling visits, children have time to explore, build relationships with their kaiako, and become familiar with their new environment before their official start date. Our kaiako will guide and support you with making sure this isn’t hurried and taken at your pace and your child’s.
The good news is that settling in isn’t meant to happen all at once. At a well-prepared early learning centre, it happens gently, over a series of visits, so your child has time to find their feet before their official start date. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how settling and transition visits work, why they matter, and how you can help your little one feel safe and confident from day one.
What are settling and transition visits?
Settling and transition visits are short, relaxed visits your child makes to the centre before they officially start with you right there alongside them.
Think of them as gentle stepping stones. Rather than a child’s very first day being a full day in a brand-new place with brand-new people, transition visits break that big change into smaller, friendlier pieces. Your child gets to explore the space, meet their kaiako, play, and slowly get a feel for the daily rhythm, all while you’re close by, and over a few visits, the unfamiliar becomes familiar.
At Growing Wings, our kaiako usually begin by introducing children to their home room and key kaiako, creating a calm and welcoming starting point. During the first visit, we follow your child’s interests, whether that’s reading a book, exploring the outdoor environment, engaging in sensory play, or simply staying close to you while they observe. This relationship-based approach helps children feel safe, build trust, and develop a sense of belonging before they begin attending independently. Over a few visits, the unfamiliar becomes familiar, helping your child feel confident, secure, and ready for their early learning journey.
Why transition visits matter
For a young child, starting somewhere new is a genuinely big deal. The Ministry of Education’s early childhood curriculum, Te Whāriki, recognises that beginning at an early learning service is a significant transition and that during times of change, children often need extra reassurance, affection, and patience. Big changes can stir up big feelings, and that’s completely natural.
Transition visits give children the time and support to work through those feelings at their own pace. A few of the reasons they make such a difference:
They build trust before the big day. When a child has already met their kaiako and played in the space a few times, their first official day isn’t a leap into the unknown.
They create a sense of belonging. Children settle far more easily when they feel welcomed and that is reflected in the centre. Transition visits are when those connections start to form.
They let relationships grow. Te Whāriki puts relationships at the heart of early learning. Visits give your child, you, and the teaching team time to get to know one another and that relationship is the foundation everything else is built on.
They give kaiako a head start. When teachers learn about your child in advance what soothes them, what excites them, how they like to be comforted they can respond to your tamariki as an individual right from the start, rather than spending those early days playing catch-up. Education Review Office research has found that knowing about a child ahead of time helps teachers get to know them more quickly.
Sophie’s Transition Journey
When Sophie came for her first transition visit, she stayed very close to Mum. She watched the other children playing but wasn’t quite ready to join in. One of her kaiako sat beside her and began talking about the things Sophie was interested in, offering gentle encouragement without any pressure to participate.
During the visit, the kaiako noticed Sophie’s curiosity about the outdoor environment. Together, they explored the garden, looked for insects, and spent time at the sandpit. This gave Sophie an opportunity to connect with her kaiako through something that felt familiar and enjoyable.
Over the next few transition visits, the same kaiako greeted Sophie each time, helping to build a trusting relationship. Sophie became more confident exploring the environment, began joining other children in play, and would often seek out her kaiako to share her discoveries.
By the time Sophie started attending independently, she knew the routine, recognised familiar faces, and felt comfortable in her learning environment. What made the difference was having a responsive kaiako who followed Sophie’s interests, respected her pace, and took the time to build a genuine connection. This helped Sophie develop a strong sense of belonging and confidence, laying the foundation for a positive start to her early learning journey.
At Growing Wings, we understand that every child’s transition story is unique. By taking time to build trusting relationships with children and whānau, we create the conditions for tamariki to feel safe, secure, and ready to learn.
What a series of transition visits usually looks like
Every child is different, so there’s no fixed number of visits. That said, here’s what the journey often looks like:
The first visit
The first visit is usually short and low-key. You stay with your child the whole time as they explore, play, and meet their kaiako. There’s no pressure to do anything in particular, just being in the space is enough.
Following visits
The following visists gradually build familiarity. Your child might start joining in with a kai (meal) time, or a favourite activity, getting a feel for the daily routine.
As confidence grows
As confidence grows some families choose to try a short period where they step away for a little while, perhaps a quick coffee nearby, so your child can experience by themselves for a short period of time.
The aim is to move at your child’s pace, so that by their official start date, the centre already feels like a home away from home.
How you can help your child settle
You know your tamariki better than anyone, and your calm, encouraging presence is one of the most powerful settling tools there is. A few things that genuinely help:
Talk about it positively beforehand
In the days leading up to a visit, chat about the fun things they’ll do and the friends and teachers they’ll meet. Your child takes their emotional cues from you if you’re relaxed and upbeat, they’re far more likely to be too.
Keep goodbyes warm but brief
When it’s time for you to step away (even just across the room), a confident, loving goodbye works better than a long, drawn-out one. Lingering can accidentally send the message that there’s something to worry about.
Bring a comfort from home
A favourite soft toy, a family photo, or a familiar blanket can be a real anchor for a child in a new environment.
Keep routines predictable
Familiar, unhurried routines, a special goodbye phrase, a wave at the window, help children feel safe because they know what’s coming next. Little rituals like these are surprisingly powerful.
Trust the process, and the team
Some wobbles are completely normal. Settling isn’t a straight line, and a teary morning doesn’t mean anything has gone wrong.
Parent Testimonial
Starting early learning was a big step for our family, and naturally we felt nervous about how our son would settle. From the very first transition visit, Becks and the team made us feel completely supported. They took the time to get to know our son, followed his interests, and kept us updated every step of the way. One of the things that meant the most was receiving photos and messages during those early visits. Seeing him smiling, exploring, and beginning to connect with his kaiako gave us so much reassurance. We never felt out of the loop and always knew how he was doing. The team encouraged us to create a simple goodbye routine, which helped make drop-offs predictable and reassuring for our son. Before long, he was confidently walking in, ready to play and learn. Looking back, we truly feel the transition process was one of the best decisions we could have made for our son. The care, communication, and genuine relationships the team built with him gave us confidence that he was exactly where he needed to be.
– Growing Wings Parent
It’s okay if the first few goodbyes are teary
If your child cries when you leave, please know this is a normal and healthy part of settling, not a sign that they’re unhappy or that you’ve done something wrong. It simply means they love you and feel your absence, which is exactly as it should be.
Skilled kaiako are wonderful at gently supporting children through these moments, and most little ones settle not long after drop-off. A good centre will always keep you in the loop. Many, including ours, use a parent app so you can see photos and updates throughout the day and head off to work with peace of mind.
Read more about the parent app we use and how it helps parents stay updated every single day.
How Growing Wings supports your child’s transition
At Growing Wings, relationships are at the very core of who we are so we take settling in seriously, and we take it gently.
We encourage a series of transition visits before your child’s official start date. These visits help your child become familiar with the environment, their kaiako, and the daily routines, while giving you and your whānau the chance to build a genuine relationship with the teaching team. By the time your tamariki starts, they’re arriving somewhere that already feels warm and familiar.
To help us truly understand your child from the very beginning, we have an All About Me and Rituals form. This is your space to share everything our kaiako might need to know; how your child likes to be settled, their favourite things, comfort routines, family words, and the little details that make your tamariki comfortable. It means we can care for your child in a way that feels consistent with home, right from their first visit. And through our primary carer approach, your child will have a special ‘go-to’ kaiako who builds a strong, trusting bond with them, a familiar, reassuring face throughout their journey with us.
At Growing Wings, each child is supported by a key kaiako who takes a lead role in building a strong relationship with the child and their whānau. While all kaiako get to know and care for every child, the key kaiako provides a familiar and consistent connection, particularly during transitions and settling periods.
For example, when Sophie started at Growing Wings, one kaiako took the lead in supporting her transition. They greeted Sophie each morning, spent time learning about her interests, and built a relationship with both Sophie and her whānau. During transition visits, this kaiako stayed nearby, inviting Sophie to explore at her own pace and providing comfort and reassurance when needed.
As Sophie became more confident, her key kaiako shared updates, photos, and stories with her family, helping everyone feel connected and informed. Having a familiar adult who knew her well meant Sophie always had someone she could turn to for comfort, support, and encouragement.
This primary care approach helps children develop a strong sense of trust, belonging, and emotional security. It also creates a meaningful partnership between kaiako and whānau, ensuring important information, milestones, and learning experiences are shared and celebrated together.
At Growing Wings, we believe these strong relationships provide the foundation for children to feel safe, valued, and confident as they begin their learning journey.
We’d love to show you around and talk through how we can make starting early learning a happy, confident experience for your whole whānau.
Book a tour at one of our Hamilton or Whangamatā centres today.
Frequently asked questions
How many transition visits will my child need?
There’s no fixed number, it depends entirely on your child. Some settle after a couple of visits; others need a few more. We follow your tamariki’s lead and work with you to find the right pace.
Do I Stay With My Child During Transition Visits?
Yes. For the first few visits, we encourage parents to stay with their child. Knowing you’re nearby helps your child feel safe and secure as they begin exploring their new environment.
As your child becomes more comfortable, they’ll start building trust with their kaiako, exploring independently, and gaining confidence. Every child’s journey is different, so we’ll work alongside you to determine what feels right for your family. Our kaiako will guide you through what this can look like.
What If My Child Cries at Drop-Off?
It’s completely normal. In fact, it’s often a sign of a strong and healthy attachment. You are your child’s safe place, so it’s natural for them to feel upset when saying goodbye.
Our kaiako understand that these moments can be emotional for parents too. Through warm, consistent relationships and reassuring routines, children gradually learn that their whānau will always come back and that their kaiako are safe, trusted adults who care for them.
A consistent goodbye ritual, such as a hug, a special phrase, or a window wave, can make a big difference and help children feel more secure.
What Age Can My Child Start?
Growing Wings welcomes children from 3 months to 6 years of age.
We provide nurturing, age-appropriate environments that support children through every stage of their early learning journey, from infancy through to their transition to school.
Do You Gather Any Information From Parents Before Hand To Help With The Transition?
Yes, we send a form to parents to fill out consisting of information regarding their child’s current daily rituals that we can take into account.
How do I get started?
The easiest first step is to book a tour. You’ll get to see our centre, meet the team, and we can chat through transition visits and enrolment together.
