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Transitions

Children experience many transitions, including from home to an early care and education setting, between age groups or program settings, and from preschool to kindergarten. Supporting these transitions for children, families, and staff is critically important because even positive change can be challenging. How the foundation for positive transitions is laid across all levels of the system to support children, families, and staff through transitions can have far-reaching effects on children’s well-being and academic success. Program staff consider the long-term process of building and maintaining the capacity to support children and families at all levels. They also look at ways to improve how they connect and communicate within systems during transitions.

Classroom Transitions

Learn ways to help children use positive behaviors during classroom transitions..

Daily Separations and Reunions

Daily separations and reunions are part of the fabric of relationships. In center-based and family child care programs, they provide opportunities to develop a young child's skill at making positive transitions. 

Activity Calendar for Families

Explore this activity calendar for families includes month-by-month activity lists for supporting the kindergarten transition in the year prior to kindergarten entry.

Activity Calendar for Educators

Teachers can use this activity calendar to find  ideas to support children and families during their Head Start-to-kindergarten transitions.

Transition to Kindergarten

Preschool children transition into kindergarten more successfully when their schools and families take part in the preparation, and when their preschool and kindergarten teachers connect.

Transitions: From the Children's Perspective

In this video, learn what transition to kindergarten means from a child’s perspective. Find out what activities become important to children as they make this big change.

Tips for Helping Children Learn and Read

Reading is at the heart of all learning. Children begin to learn language skills as babies. This tip sheet shares how you can help build your child's reading and language skills in their early years.

HeadStart.gov

official website of the Administration for Children and Families

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