Olivia starts a new daycare

We put Olivia in a new daycare last week. We were nervous about changing Olivia's situation (the parenting books all say that consistency with child care providers is very important to children.) But Olivia was getting too old to spend over 2 hours commuting every day. I took a day off work on Monday as her transition day (the thought being that I would leave her for only 3 hours on her first day.) On the way to the daycare, I told her that we were taking her to a new place to meet new friends. She looked a little nervous, but repeated 'new friends' to me as if she understood what was going on.

When we arrived at the daycare, Olivia immediately settled in and started playing. Another new girl was there with her father (who also stuck around to help ease the transition.) She started crying uncontrollably when her father left (she has been at home with her stay at home mom for 2 years.)

I wasn't planning to leave but stood up from the ground. Olivia immediately said 'Bye bye' and went about her business. (Even the grandma at the daycare was impressed by how confident and comfortable Olivia was in a new place.)

When I arrived to pick her up 3 hours later, she was pretty cranky. The teacher told me that Olivia had tried to steal the other children's blankets at naptime. (As we know, Olivia likes A LOT of blankets when she sleeps.)

I picked her up on the third day and she seems to have settled in well. She was excited to see me (and wanted to show me the piano,) but sat on my lap during storytime. She also ran up to the mini tables and chairs during coloring time. As we were walking out, she held both hands up to her head and said 'Hat!' (Even I didn't remember that she was wearing a hat that morning.)

We're pretty excited about the new daycare. There is a lot more outdoors and free play time than her former daycare. There's a playstructure and large sandbox on the premises, and they have one of those 6 seat strollers for outings to the playground. There is also story time and singing (the main teacher is a former preschool teacher.)