NAEYC Provides Tips for Helping Children Transition to Classroom Setting

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has shared tips for caregivers on how to help children get used to transitioning into a classroom environment.

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It can be challenging for children to say goodbye to their caregivers when they are dropped off at child care in the morning. To help children transition into their new setting, NAEYC has compiled a list of 11 tips to help with this transition.

Methods recommended in NAEYC’s article include everything from discussing a child’s daily schedule or talking about feelings to establishing a goodbye routine. 

The full list of tips includes:

• Find out how the program makes children feel comfortable as they start by asking for the name of the child’s primary caregiver and how you can share information about your family or routines.

• Review the daily schedule with your child.

• Help your child get to know the primary caregiver first before you leave them at the program.

• Establish a predictable goodbye routine - for example, wave from the window or share a hug.

• Give your child tools to use when missing family - such as a photo of the family or a special toy.

• Share at least a few words of your home language with your child’s teacher.

• Share your child’s favorite things to do with the teachers.

• Make homemade books for your child about the daily routine - including the transition from home to school - so they can rehearse the day’s plan to cope.

• Talk about feelings and don’t be offended if your child is upset with you; it’s common for children to feel angry at parents for leaving them.

• Create a reunion ritual, checking in with your child’s teacher about the day.

• Be timely. Returning at the same time each day prevents your child from worrying and makes drop off the next day easier.

For the entire list and their descriptions, read NAEYC’s article.