Fairfax Early Childhood Partnership Monthly Early Childhood Tips for Today

Supporting Children with Transitions 

5 Things to Know or Do:

1. Develop a classroom schedule and daily routines with transitions only when needed, a balance of active and quiet activities, and adequate time allowed for children to complete activities.

2. Post the classroom schedule at children’s eye level, include pictures, and review the schedule with children throughout the day in order for them to know what is coming next.

3. Provide ample notice to children prior to the next activity/transition, use verbal and nonverbal cues.
4. Use transition times for additional learning opportunities, sing songs, engage with rhyming and fingerplays, and other movement activities to reduce wait time and keep children engaged. This reduces the opportunities for challenging behaviors to arise.
5. Provide adult or peer support to children during transitions.

 4 Children Read Alouds

1. What to Expect at Preschool by Heidi Murkoff. (FCPS | Public Library) From the author of What to Expect When You Are Expecting, Heidi Murkoff brings comfort and support along with Angus the lovable answer dog to children and families experiencing preschool for the first time. 
2. D.W.'s Guide to Preschool by Marc Brown. (FCPS | Public Library) Arthur's mischievous little sister, D.W., presents an entertaining guidebook, filled with a wealth of advice on naps, snacks, and playtime, for coping with the first day of preschool.

    

3.  Clean-Up Time by Elizabeth Verdick. An award-winning author/illustrator team offers a fresh look at the times and transitions all toddlers face daily, giving young children the tools to handle routines with confidence and cooperation. Part of the Toddler Tools series, Clean-Up Time can be shared before (or during) the desired "time"; or whenever toddlers need encouragement with routines.
4. A Recipe for Bedtime by Peter Bently. (FCPS | Public Library) This recipe for a bedtime routine unfolds in the form of an  adorable set of step-by-step instructions. By the end, little ones will be all tucked in and drifting off to sleep. Soothing, lyrical text and warmly rendered artwork will make this book sweeter than pie!

3 Links to Visit

1. National Association for the Education of Young Children: Reducing Challenging Behaviors during Transitions: Strategies for Early Childhood Educators to Share with Parents
2. Child Mind Institute: Why Do Kids Have Trouble With Transitions
3. Raising Children, the Australian Parenting Website: Transitions for Children: Helping Children Change Activities

  2 Videos to View

1. Managing the Classroom: Classroom Transitions 
2. Change Doesn't Have to Be Hard: Daily Classroom Transitions that Support Children (37 minute webinar): 

 1 Point to Access Research

1. Head Start Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center Supporting Transitions: Using Child Development as a Guide (PDF)

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