Transition Time

Coming in from school, waiting for an activity, navigating pick-up—transition times are part of every program.

When kids have to sit quietly and wait, behavior problems often increase. Turn transitions into time for building a sense of community, refocusing, and keeping kids energized and engaged.

Here's how:

• Be prepared with a bag of tricks for transitions that also build social skills, foster creativity, and channel energies positively.
• Start right by giving children a mental and physical break to help them shift gears.
• Warm up by using an opening that draws kids in and gets their minds oriented to what they'll be doing next.
• Watch the clock to see if activities seem too short or long and adjust to make transitions more smooth.
• Explore spaces and note where children are during transitions. Configure your space to better accommodate kids during downtime with activity centers for longer transitions, GraffitiWalls®, or space for physical activities.

Up Next: Program time for learning.