During an average day at preschool or daycare, a child may do a great number of different things. They will say goodbye to their parent of guardian, say hello to their friends and teachers, play, do crafts, and eat lunch. They will go outside to enjoy some fresh air, and come in to play with play-dough or paint.
All of these things have something in common: To go from one activity to another, children have to transition to that new activity.
Although this might seem easy enough, it can fill young children with frustration or anxiety. They may not want to go back inside after a great time with their friends outside. They may feel too hungry to wait in a line for their lunch.
It’s fairly common for children to have some degree of difficulty with transitions, but the good news is there are ways to support them so those transitions are easier. Here are a few examples of ways a savvy teacher can help kids transition well.
Keeping a Routine
Goodbye is nearly always hard, but when you know you’ll be racing off to outdoor time right after, that knowledge can make leaving a parent easier. Keeping a predictable routine helps children know what to expect in their day, and can help them worry less.
Busy Work
If a child finishes their craft first, waiting around for others to finish so they can go on to the next activity can be difficult. Having coloring pages or other things to keep their hands busy can help make the transition go more smoothly.
Experienced teachers will have work like this on hand so that kids don’t have time to feel impatient or anxious about the transition to the next activity.
Making Transitions Fun
Sometimes, just turning transitions into a joyous moment can help make things flow more smoothly. Instead of dreading going inside, a teacher might break out bubbles and ask children to see if they can stomp the path of bubbles all the way inside.
By turning a transition into a game, it can be more fun for the children, and make it easier for everyone.
Singing can also be another great way of helping kids through transitions. A song for cleaning up can let children know it’s time to tidy away crafts or toys, while a song about lining up might help kids know what to do.
Transitions are tricky for children to navigate and can sometimes lead to tantrums if it’s something a child is reluctant to do. Fortunately, there are many strategies available to help children through these transitions.
The next time your child is stuck on a particular type of transition, try making it into a fun game or singing a song about it to see if it will help them cope a little better. Your child’s daycare teacher may also have additional ideas for how to help them through important transition times like pick up, drop off, lining up, or simply having fun.
