Positive and Smooth Transitions

Just4Kids Childcare LLC would like to help children and their families have positive and smooth transitions into and during childcare.

Here are some strategies that can help make transitions in childcare smoother:

• Plan ahead: Consider your daily schedule and identify when transitions will be needed. You can create visual schedules, such as timetables and reminders, to help children understand daily activities and transitions.

• Use routines: Routines can help prepare children for transitions and engage them in the change. For example, you can use a special song or instrument to signal when it's time for clean up.

• Use transition activities: Transition activities can help children know what to expect and make positive choices during change. You can try songs, fingerplays, visualization scenarios, listening games, guessing games, memory games, clapping games, or exercising and stretching activities.

• Use verbal and nonverbal cues: You can try getting everyone's attention two minutes before the transition. You can also use positive reinforcement, such as praise, high fives, stickers, snacks, or points toward a new toy.

• Give clear instructions: You can try asking children to repeat back what you said.

• Model appropriate behaviors 

• Stopping one activity to begin another

• Moving from a state of excitement to a state of calm before bed

• Moving to a new location

• Moving from home-based care to childcare