Some suggestions for handling transitions:
• Give a five minute advance notice to tell the group when the activity will end and what comes next
• Give children a chance to repeat what they are doing one more time before requiring them to stop
• Encourage children who are finished with their activity to help straighten the room or help set up the next activity (this gives children something positive to do during the transition and encourages responsibility)
• Tell children where to go next and what to do when they get there
• Make sure the area children are moving to is staffed and ready for children
• Avoid overcrowding in one small place (bathrooms and cubby areas can become congested)
• Keep the length of time children have to wait or stand in line as short as possible (the best way to get stragglers moving is to start the next activity)
• Dismiss children who get themselves ready quickly rather than making them wait
• Keep in mind that one staff member will have to stay in the area children are leaving until the last child is ready to move out
Have a special signal that lets children know a change is about to happen. Your signal might be:
- A song, chant, or a guitar softly strumming
- The lead caregiver sitting down in the group area, indicating group time is about to begin
- A small bell ringing once
- The caregiver’s hand raised with two fingers extended
- A necklace hanging on the wall, indicating there is room for another child in the art room, block corner, or bathroom
- A special sign you hang on the wall, indicating the outside play area is now open
(Avoid stating “That’s all!”) Use phrases such as:
- "You have one more minute”
- “When you are finished, please put your things away”
- “This will be your last time. Ready? Go!”
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