How to Create Smooth Transitions for Kindergarten Children

As a teacher of kindergarten for the last ten years, I have been able to create several strategies for smooth transitions. For a kindergarten age student, many of the experiences we take for granted are brand new, and the world is full of adventures waiting to happen. Some things that seem normal to adults, are frightening to a child who has never experienced them before. Kindergarten students need help transitioning to grade schools. They also need transitions to move smoothly from one activity to another. Here are some easy ways to provide transitions for kindergarten students.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Talk to your child about school, as well as other new experiences that may be occurring in their life. Your kindergarten student may have fears and misconceptions that you can lay to rest.
2. Give your child the knowledge he needs to feel safe in a new place. For example, make sure he knows his address and phone number, so that he knows no matter what happens, he can get home.
3. Set routines before school starts so your child won't be taken by surprise when school starts and her life changes. This does not mean getting to bed at a reasonable time the night before kindergarten begins. Routines can take weeks or months to get used to. Setting new routines help your child deal with other transitions that have nothing to do with school.
4. Consider leaving your child in programs with structured events. This will help him become used to socializing with other children and following a schedule with rules.
5. Use a signal or symbol to transition between activities. For example, a bell can mean that it is time to wash and get ready for dinner, or come to story time.
6. Music is a very effective tool in providing transitions for kindergarten children. Many times I will play some sort of silly song like "The Chicken Dance" to signify a transition is coming. Children are naturally drawn to music. They enjoy singing the clean up song when it's time to pick up toys or other songs they know have a specific meaning.