You want to provide the best early childhood experience for children and their parents. But you don’t have easy access to high-quality training. We provide you with relevant, research-based, and Biblically-sound training and on-demand courses so that you and your staff can confidently care for and teach young children.
Making the Most of Transitions: Strategies for Every Age Group
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Hey Reader! Transitions in our early childhood classrooms can be tricky, but they’re also valuable learning moments. In general, transitions are just moments when we move from one activity to the next – sometimes that means we’re cleaning up and leaving the room and sometimes, the transitions are much more subtle as we move from napping to waking! I googled a few resources and was reminded again about how much children learn during transition times! Are you intentional in how you handle them throughout the day or are you typically just shouting (not really yelling, but trying to make yourself heard above the playful noises of your students) out instructions as the time draws near to “do the next thing”? Here are some ideas for making transitions an intentional part of your teaching plan for each age group. I also included some developmental cues for you as well. Infants (Birth-12 Months): Gentle Cues & ConsistencyFor infants, transitions should be slow, predictable, and soothing. Babies thrive on routine, so keeping a steady flow to the day is key. Toddlers (12-24 Months): Movement & EngagementToddlers are active explorers who may resist transitions if they feel interrupted. Keep them engaged and moving! Two-Year-Olds: Hands-On & Playful RoutinesTwos are starting to understand routines but still need lots of reminders. Make transitions interactive and fun. Three-Year-Olds: Visual Cues & Simple IndependenceThree-year-olds love to feel independent, and visual cues help them know what’s coming next. Four-Year-Olds: Storytelling & Social ConnectionFours are developing strong imaginations and social skills, so using stories and group activities can ease transitions. Five-Year-Olds: Independence & LeadershipFive-year-olds are ready for more independence and responsibility in transitions. No matter the age, keeping transitions engaging, predictable, and developmentally appropriate makes the classroom experience smoother for both children and teachers. Which transition strategies work best for your group? We want to know! Need more ideas? Listen to this week’s podcast episode with Louisa Forguson! Cheering you on this week! -Your ECCN team
Colossians 3:16 "Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." |
Early Childhood Christian Network
You want to provide the best early childhood experience for children and their parents. But you don’t have easy access to high-quality training. We provide you with relevant, research-based, and Biblically-sound training and on-demand courses so that you and your staff can confidently care for and teach young children.
Hey Reader! Block play is more than just stacking and knocking things down—it’s a powerhouse of learning for young children! When preschoolers engage with blocks, they are developing critical skills that support their growth in multiple areas. What are they learning? Let’s take a look: Hands-On Math Skills: As children build towers and create structures, they are exploring early math concepts like counting, measurement, symmetry, and spatial awareness. They learn about balance and stability,...
Hey Reader! Sometimes, at this point in the year, we start just going through the motions of teaching rather than keeping things interesting for our students. I get it! It’s so close to the end of the school year, and a lot of us are just counting down the days until summer break! This is also the time of year when we see “spring fever” behaviors coming out – could it be that our complacency is creating a little boredom in children so they are figuring out their entertainment because you...
Hey Reader! Have you ever thought about your “theology of disability”? I only recently heard this terminology in a conversation with Sandra Peoples at our Director’s Retreat. Basically, it just means “What do you think about God as it relates to disabilities”? Scripture clearly tells us that humans were created in God’s image – ALL humans. In multiple places in scripture, we see references to behaviors or actions that point to some form of disability in some of the people that God chose as...