In a daycare setting, each classroom has different routines. The same is true for children, as they each develop their own routines. This is why transition time is usually one of the hardest portions of the day for children; young children feel insecure easily when they don’t know what to expect. As an Early Childhood Educator, I realize that telling or showing children what are we going to do next can help the transition go much smoother.
Children gather around an activity.
We typically let children know they have “5 more minutes”, as a warning for children to prepare for the next activity. It makes a big difference during transition times. Because children are young, it’s easy to forget that they have their own agenda and plans. I usually use “First…then..” statements to let children know what our expectations for the day are. Giving them time to prepare and know what is the next step helps them build up their self-esteem as well, as they feel we are including them in the process.
Singing songs such as “Clean up, clean up”and reading stories are also good ways to help transition. Pine room educators and I usually make up our own words and put them into different songs to catch the children’s attention. We enjoy the transition time songs and so do they. We are devoted to creating a positive and happy environment for helping children grow and learn.
