Life is full of transitions: little ones, medium-sized ones, big ones and enormous ones. There are many throughout the day, and often, we don’t even think about them. In Early Childhood Education, we are particularly aware and mindful of transitions for the children.
Viewing transitions for children as a pathway rather than a single event is often a helpful way to think about them. Some children (and adults) find transitions challenging. For some, moving from outside play to inside or getting ready for lunch or morning tea pose some difficulty. Others take these smaller transitions in their stride but find the transition to a new service or room, or even the start of a new term presents a challenge. Supporting children in Early Childhood to understand the transitions, routines and practices is helpful to ensure that they feel comfortable.
At this time of year in the ELC, children are beginning to talk about and experience some bigger transitions. For children in the Oak and Bay Room, many are talking about heading to school, becoming a Prep child and visiting either the Carey Prep Centre or their new school. Opportunities for multiple visits through the orientation program are helpful to all children (and their parents). Prep/Foundation is exciting but also just the next step in the progression of their education. Often, talking with the children about what is the same as kindergarten and what is different is a great way for the children to think in concrete terms about what they notice.
For our Music Room children, the opportunity to visit the Oak and Bay Rooms, meet the teachers, and explore the rooms and the two different playgrounds is also important. The visit starts in the security of the Music Room, and is carried out in a relaxed manner with their current staff before comfortably returning to their current room.
We can also help by understanding that the concept of time is very different for young children. They seem to feel they wait an eternity for their birthday each year, whereas, as we get older, some of us feel they come around very quickly. An hour can be a long time when doing something you don’t like to do and a short time when doing what you love; hence, the wait from now until February, when the school year begins again, feels like a long time away.
Our aim as educators is to help the children feel comfortable, safe, secure and confident and to support their feelings of uncertainty or worry. Opportunities for open conversations and visits to the new spaces are helpful – and discovering a new playground and playroom helps too!
Wendy Seidler
Director of ELC Kew
