Ideally, the first day of Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten is seen as an exciting day filled with proud families taking photos of their children and meeting their teachers. However, for many children, the first day of school can be filled with angst from all the unknown events and overwhelming environments. What we do beforehand to prepare children and families can make a remarkable difference in children feeling confident and secure in starting school.

Child care providers can collaborate with families to create a transition plan that provides resources and activities to support children and families on their new journey. By creating a transition plan, we not only help families navigate the hurdles of enrolling their children in TK/K, but we also help children understand the environment and activities that will soon be part of their daily routine.

To help children with the transition, providers and families can read books about starting school, provide activities that introduce routines of a classroom, talk about and look at videos or pictures of the common areas in a school, and practice strategies for navigating complex emotions. By focusing on the social-emotional development and the well-being of children and families in a holistic way, children will be better prepared to have a smooth transition and a successful start to school!

There are many new things a child will experience when starting school. Many people forget to consider that a school bus is loud and overwhelming, or that a young child might not know how to open their food in the lunchroom. You can help them feel independent and confident in their ability to meet expectations at school by watching videos, looking at pictures, reading, and discussing all the new experiences they will soon have.