A Gentle Start: Why We Phase-In the Montessori Way

Imagine Your Child’s First Day

You’ve just arrived at a brand new job. You don’t know anyone. Some of your colleagues seem to speak in a different language. You don’t know where anything is, what’s expected of you, or when your day will end.

It’s nerve-wracking.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could go home after an hour, regroup, and try again tomorrow, this time with a bit more confidence?

This is what it’s like for your child starting in a new classroom even if they’ve been in the building before.

The Early Childhood (EC) program is a whole new world: new teachers, new routines, new classmates, and for many children, a new level of independence.

That’s why PCA uses a phase-in schedule to help them transition gradually and joyfully.

We understand it’s not always convenient for working families. It requires childcare coverage, rearranged work hours, and planning ahead.

Unfortunately, children won’t understand that their parents have to work and therefore need to “drop” them off.

They are likely thinking, “I have been abandoned in this strange new place where I know nothing.”

After years of experience, we’ve come up with this thoughtful transition process for the young child. When a child skips or rushes through phase-in, drop-offs can become tearful and drawn out.

Concentration at school suffers. But when we stick to a thoughtful, child-centered phase-in schedule, we often see calm, tearless goodbyes sooner and more importantly, children who feel safe and ready to learn in the long run.

🧠 Why Phase-In Matters: A Montessori Perspective

The phase-in schedule reflects Montessori principles of respect, consistency, and empathy. It’s more than just a logistical tool, it’s part of how we honor your child’s development and create the foundation for a love of learning.

1. A Smoother, Happier Transition

For a young child, entering a new school can feel overwhelming, even a veteran daycare attendee. Everything is unfamiliar: new teachers, new classmates, new routines, even a new language (in our case, Mandarin immersion!) The phase-in process gives children the time they need to process and adapt without feeling thrown into the deep end.

2. Stronger Bonds with Teachers

Trust is key. A gradual start allows teachers to personally connect with each child, helping them feel safe and supported. Instead of managing an entire class of new students all at once, teachers can give more individual attention in those first few days.

3. Confidence-Building for Children

Imagine being dropped off at school and feeling lost or unsure of what to do. This can lead to separation anxiety, and in many cases, tears at drop-off, sometimes for months. The phase-in schedule helps children gain confidence little by little, so that by the time the full schedule starts, they know what to expect and feel ready for it.

4. Less Stress for Parents in the Long Run

Yes, we know adjusting work schedules and logistics for the phase-in week is tough. But what’s tougher? A child who cries at drop-off every morning for weeks or months because they didn’t have a chance to adjust.

We’ve seen it firsthand. One PCA family shared that before joining our school, their child cried at drop-off for 10 minutes every morning, nine months in a row. After following our phase-in process, those same parents were amazed to see their child walk into the classroom with a smile just two weeks later.

5. Setting the Foundation for a Love of Learning

At PCA, we’re not just helping children “get through” school. We’re nurturing independence, confidence, and joy. A positive start builds trust and shapes a child’s relationship with learning for years to come.

🗓 Phase-In Schedule

(Please note that PCA requires all children to be potty trained to begin the EC program.)

Day 1 - 8:15-9:15 AM • Drop-off at the door with a calm, confident goodbye.

• At pickup (9:15 AM), we will bring your child out when they are ready. Please do not ring the bell.

• It’s normal for children to cry at first. Rest assured, our teachers will comfort and guide them gently.

• Prepare your child beforehand by asking how they’d like to say goodbye: a hug, kiss, or high five?

• If you have items to give or questions to ask, please do so after pickup to avoid disrupting their focus.

  
  

Day 2 - 8:15-10:15 AM: Same quick, confident goodbye at the door.

Day 3 - 8:15-12:30 PM: Child stays through lunch.

Day 4 - 8:15-3:00 PM: Child stays for full day including nap.

Day 5 - Full Extended Schedule Begins

We do not recommend skipping any part of phase-in. If your child becomes sick or cannot participate in the phase-in process properly, we recommend repeating the last completed day in order to allow for proper adjustment time for a young child.

💡 How to Prepare at Home

Even if your child has been with us in the Toddler program, they will still need a phase-in when they move up to the early childhood (EC) room. EC is a new classroom with new teachers, different expectations, and more independence.

You can support a successful transition by:

✅ Arranging flexible work or childcare coverage.

✅ Talking about school with excitement.

✅ Practicing the morning routine.

✅ Trusting the process.

💬 Final Thoughts

We wouldn’t ask you to rearrange your week if we didn’t believe this was one of the most important things you can do to help your child succeed.

This 4-day schedule sets the foundation for:

• Tearless goodbyes

• Smooth drop-offs

• Confident, focused learners

  
  

Thank you for trusting us to guide your child through this important milestone. We’re honored to partner with you and can’t wait to watch your child thrive in their new classroom!