Transitions to Kindergarten - post

As many preschool classes prepare to conclude the year and support children moving on to kindergarten, this article offers practical transition strategies for educators and families.

Going to #kindergarten is an important life event. Preschoolers can feel excited—and a bit worried, too. Families have similar feelings, knowing their child is going to the “big school.” Preschool teachers want the children in their classrooms to be ready for kindergarten. For a broader look at whole-child preparation, see how child care programs can build meaningful school readiness. In this article, we’ll give you some tips to help children prepare. Educators who want to deepen their practice can explore Are They Ready for Kindergarten? Buy Now $35.00 and Reading Aloud and Storytelling Buy Now $16.00; these courses offer professional development, not a guarantee of state or school-district compliance. Some ideas are for children who will move to a new elementary school. Others are for children who will stay in the same building, usually a pre-K to elementary setting. You’ll also find suggestions to support families so they can help their children with the transition.

How can educators help children prepare to move to a new school?

A transition is a sustained developmental process, not a single first-day event. Children may need time to become familiar with new people, routines, environments, and expectations. Use predictable, low-pressure experiences to make unfamiliar situations more concrete, and respond to each child’s questions without promising that every concern will disappear.

• Ask children what they think will happen at school, then distinguish what they know from what they are still wondering. Revisit unanswered questions with a kindergarten teacher or the child’s family.
• Use photos, maps, stories, or pretend play to introduce arrival routines, classroom spaces, lunch, rest, and asking an adult for help. Avoid presenting one child’s future school as identical to another’s.
• Notice changes in behavior, play, or separation reactions. Offer a trusted adult, visual reminders, and repeated chances to talk or play through the transition; communicate observations respectfully with families.
• Plan follow-up contact after school begins. Ask families how the child is settling in and, with appropriate permission, coordinate with school staff if a child would benefit from additional continuity or support.

Keep activities inclusive of children with disabilities, varied communication styles, and different family circumstances. Invite families to share relevant information about routines, home languages, strengths, and needed supports, while safeguarding confidentiality and following program policies.

• Talk with the children about their feelings about the change. Share your own feelings, too. Children should have many opportunities to talk about their fears and concerns. Educators can also review ways to support children’s kindergarten emotions for additional ideas. It is okay to say you will miss them and that you are also proud they are growing up and moving on.
• Write and illustrate a class book about children’s and teachers’ feelings about going to kindergarten.
• Invite a kindergarten teacher to visit your program to explain what happens in kindergarten and answer questions. Prepare the children beforehand. If you have not done so yet, introduce the K-W-L format (what we know, what we want to know, what we have learned).
• Make a list of the children’s ideas about what kindergarten is like.
• Support the children who are going to different schools. Ask parents to take photographs of the school the children will attend and share them with the class. Use them to lead a discussion about what to expect and build #confidence.
• Make a bulletin board about kindergarten using all the photographs and comments from the children.

How can a familiar school make the transition easier?

Arrange several visits to kindergarten classrooms throughout the year so children can become familiar with the setting and routines before the transition. For more program-level approaches, read how child care programs can prepare children for the kindergarten transition. When preschool and kindergarten classes do joint activities, the preschoolers tend to feel more comfortable when moving on to kindergarten. These practices align with NAEYC’s practical transition recommendations, including classroom visits, conversations about feelings, and coordination between educators (Transitions to Kindergarten). Head Start also identifies family-school, child-school, program-school, and community-school connections as important elements of effective transitions (Transition to Kindergarten).

How can educators and families support kindergarten readiness?

Alongside strategies that ease children’s transition to a new classroom, educators can help families understand kindergarten readiness as a combination of developmental skills, relationships, and learning experiences. For additional readiness perspectives, see milestones that matter beyond ABCs and 123s. Kindergarten readiness includes emerging independence in personal-care routines, such as handwashing and toileting. It also involves the motor coordination and balance needed for activities such as riding a bicycle, skipping, or participating in group games, as well as the fine-motor control required to grasp and use a writing tool. Children are developing the capacity to regulate their behavior, communicate emotions verbally, and engage with age-appropriate mathematical, literacy, and other academic learning.

What learning activities can families use at home?

Many families already engage in home activities that reinforce children’s experiences and learning in your program. For additional preschool preparation ideas, explore ways to prepare preschoolers for kindergarten success. Emphasize that everyday interactions can contribute to children’s continuing development and learning. Encourage families to:

• Read to their child every day and support #literacy and #language
• Provide crayons for drawing and scissors for cutting
• Do playful number activities such as counting, telling the number before and after a quantity, and telling how much you have when there is one more or one less than a quantity
• Offer markers, Legos, and other small manipulatives to support development of their child’s grasp and fine motor coordination
• Give their child opportunities to make decisions and smart choices
• Institute early bedtimes and provide healthy meals

How can families connect with the kindergarten school?

You can help support families by reminding them of kindergarten orientation and open house dates in your area. Families can support kindergarten transition activities with their child. They can

• Attend an open house in the fall (many schools have these)
• Attend orientation in the spring
• Visit the school and meet the kindergarten teacher
• Shop for school supplies (teachers typically provide a list)

How can preschool and kindergarten teachers coordinate?

Preschool and kindergarten educators can strengthen continuity by networking, sharing relevant information, and planning collaboratively. See how preschool programs can prepare children for kindergarten for related program strategies. Either group can initiate this collaboration. In some communities, preschool, kindergarten, and first-grade teachers convene to identify shared instructional priorities and coordinate transition practices. Educators seeking additional planning ideas may also find Lesson Planning for Preschoolers Buy Now $24.00 relevant; check with your employer or licensing agency about whether any training applies to a particular professional-development requirement. This collaboration demonstrates to families that educators are working together to support children’s learning and progress toward early learning standards. It can also reassure families that children will continue receiving support as they adapt to kindergarten expectations.

What are the key takeaways for a smooth kindergarten transition?

Plan the transition as an ongoing partnership among children, families, preschool educators, and kindergarten staff. Give children concrete ways to become familiar with the new setting, support their independence and learning through everyday routines and play, and check in with families as adjustment continues. Adapt the approach to each child’s strengths, communication, and support needs rather than treating readiness as a single checklist.

This article was from:  TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN  |  VOL. 6, NO. 4              

BY MARIE KIELTY, ANGELE SANCHO PASSE, AND SHERRIE ROSE MAYLE