Every child is different, some will adapt quickly others may take longer and both are acceptable  Your stress and reaction towards the situation will affect your child's reaction Do not leave without saying goodbye to your child, this will increase their anxiety A short, precise goodbye works best Consistency and routine is important for children to feel secure. Drop-off and pick-up at the same time daily is optimal. (Dropping off at the same time daily means that your child joins the group during a certain activity or while certain children are there before them. If things are out of order, they know.)  If your pick-up time is different or the person picking up is different, let the teachers know so we can pass the message along to your child and minimize their anxiety. (If you are not there at the same time daily, they may not be able to read the clock, but they know that 'after snack' Dad comes and you are not there, it causes some children a lot of worry.) We are professionals educators, we are use to and deal with this exact situation VERY often Staff will ensure your child is not in distress and will keep them comforted as long as it takes for them to be calm and feel secure We do not rush children into any activities, groups or interactions, we allow them to observe and approach at their own pace Some children may 'do well' and have no or very little tears for the first week and 'all of a sudden' go through difficult drop-offs. It's almost like a 'delayed reaction' and when they realize that they will continue to come to the school, they have a reaction. Again, it's something we see often.  Every child adjusts and is successful at separating from their parents. (We have yet to see a child who cannot become independent. However, we have seen parents who are unable or not ready to let their child become independent from them, that's different.) You want to show a confident and secure body language and words. (Breakdowns and tears to be kept out of view of the children. If you feel like or need to cry (totally understandable reaction to an emotional situation by the way), wait until your child is out of view. If you need support, our educators can support you, the parent, just as well. We understand that it is a difficult thing to see our child cry and not want you to leave and the many of us who are parents have been through it also.) Every other parent who has a child in childcare or school has been through the same emotions as you. Reach out to your parent friends for support.  Don't be embarrassed or ashamed, we have seen it all before...