Most parents read books about new babies to their children. Parents may also introduce their children to newborns when they have the opportunity, and they may talk about what a new baby can and cannot do. If the family is adding an older child through adoption or foster care, the same sorts of activities will help children prepare. Activities like these can also occur in child care settings. You probably should include some of these stories and discussions if you're aware that a child in your group is expecting a new sibling.
Many hospitals offer sibling preparation classes.
Young children who attend can see where their mother will stay if she is going to the hospital. They can also learn what new babies are like and how to avoid hurting them. All these ways of preparing children for the first set of changes they will experience can be very helpful. Prepare children for the way they should behave with the new baby. Parents often worry that their older child may be too rough with the baby.