Practitioner Notes
Authors: Sara Bradley, former Early Childhood Specialist at the A. Sophie Rogers School for Early Learning; and Leiah J. Groom, former Doctoral Candidate at the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy
BACKGROUND
The transition from preschool to kindergarten presents several unique challenges. Children may experience heightened anxiety about moving to a new classroom and changes to their daily routine. Transition practices, or strategies employed to ensure a smooth adjustment to kindergarten, are an important component to children’s success (Gelfer & McCarthy, 1994; Maxwell & Eller, 1994). To make the transition easier, teachers and parents can work collaboratively to provide children with the skills, knowledge, behaviors, and comfort necessary for success during this time.
STRATEGIES
Increase communication about kindergarten so children feel comfortable expressing their questions and concerns.
Work on kindergarten readiness skills in small groups.
Have preschoolers brainstorm and write questions they have about kindergarten.
Visit a kindergarten classroom.
Practice making adjustments to the daily schedule for older children (e.g. transitioning to lunch quicker).
Work with children on prosocial skills such as introducing yourself or asking a peer to play.
Add books about kindergarten to the class library, such as Mom, It’s the First Day of Kindergarten, Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten, and Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?
APPLICATION
In the spring, educators of a mixed-age preschool classroom in the A. Sophie Rogers School for Early Learning began to notice that many kindergarten-bound students were in need of more behavioral support than usual. In addition to the testing of limits, educators observed withdrawn behaviors, restlessness, and challenging behaviors from some students who typically navigate the classroom with ease. The suspicion that older students were beginning to feel anxious about upcoming changes was confirmed when one of the 5 year-olds stated, “I don’t know when I’m going to Kindergarten school. I won’t know who to play with.”
This opened a dialogue for students to express their ideas, concerns, and questions about kindergarten. Educators invited the nearby kindergarten to class for a Q&A time with current preschoolers. This was a great opportunity for preschoolers to discuss daily activities with kindergarteners, such as making new friends and shorter lunch time. Afterwards, educators worked in small groups with preschoolers to compare and contrast preschool and kindergarten.
LEARN MORE
- How to prepare your child for kindergarten
- Why school transitions matter
- Download a PDF version here. Transitioning to Kindergarten
- https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/transitioning-to-kindergarten
- http://mediasite.eq.edu.au/mediasite/Play/2b4af37aab224abcb2a84ad100166afc1d
- https://crane.osu.edu/files/2020/01/Ktransition.pdf
DID YOU KNOW… that the Crane and Schoenbaum Centers have an entire body of work on the transition to kindergarten? From research to practitioner notes to tips for parents, the collective body of work aims to deepen our understanding and better support all children during this important transition.