October 4, 2021 Transitioning from Home to Child Care Support the Transition to Child Care Starting child care can be a difficult transition for children and caregivers alike. While child care has numerous benefits, including access to highly skilled educators who are trained to support your child’s development, it takes trust to let someone educate and care for your child without you. During this transition, your child may express discomfort or fear. That is totally natural. Adjusting to a new environment and schedule and building relationships with new caregivers takes time. However, with the right support and preparation, you can ensure that your child’s transition to child care is successful which, in turn, will reduce your own worries and anxiety. What are the benefits of child care? Although the transition to child care can be scary, this new early learning environment actually offers many benefits to both you and your child, including (but not limited to): opportunities for children to build and practice their cognitive, physical, social, and emotional skills right under the guidance of highly skilled early childhood educators, opportunities for children to play and socialize with other children and adults, which can help build self-confidence skills, lifelong friendships, and more, more structure and routine in each day, which helps children sleep better, eat healthier, and support children’s overall well-being, exposure to a variety of play, art, music, art, and other child-led activities, a smoother transition to kindergarten thanks to increased practice making transitions between home, and activities and other classroom skills, the ability for parents and caregivers to return to work which helps to stabilize financial security and ensures that families can continue to advance their careers, access to a reliable set of educators who provide child care on a consistent basis, no questions asked or additional schedules to be considered, the addition of much needed alone time for parents and caregivers to complete tasks, errands, chores, recreational activities, self-care, and more, and opportunities for parents and caregivers to grow their personal support networks by building relationships with other caregivers, educators, and more. To learn more, view these resources from ABC Academy and The Gardner School. How can you support your child’s transition to child care? To prepare your child for their transition to child care, consider: visiting the child care program before their first day to familiarize them with the environment and educators; some programs offer a phased transition approach; talk to your child about child care, including what it will look like, how it will be different from home, where you will go, and when you will come back; ask your child how they are feeling and validate their experience; be kind to yourself as well but try to set a strong, confident example for your child during drop-off; read books or watch tv episodes together where the main character is starting child care or the first day of school; work together to brainstorm strategies your child can use when they are feeling sad, angry, anxious, or unsure in their new environment; some children bring a comfort item with them to help soothe them during the transition; and ask for a copy of the child care schedule in advance and start practicing it at home before the official start of child care. Learn More For information on how to find, choose, and afford high-quality child care, check out our printable family guide. If you live or work in Allegheny County, visit Allegheny Child Care to find a high-quality child care program near you. To learn more strategies, view the following resources: 7 Tips to Ease the Transition Into Child Care, HiMama 6 ways to help ease your child’s transition to daycare, Motherly How to Help a Toddler Adjust to Daycare: 8 Tips for Parents & Teachers, Wonderschool
Family Transitions and Routines: Resources Learn how to navigate family transitions. Whether your child is transitioning from home to child care, from child care to kindergarten, or from one activity to another, realistic expectations and consistent routines can help them prepare for new scenarios which, in turn, makes navigating these transitions easier for you as well. To learn strategies for building strong routines, discussing change with young children, navigating family transitions, and more, view the list of resources below. Children’s Books, TV, and Movies Suggested Children’s Books to Support Transition, Human Development Institute 14 books to help ease children through transitions, The Art of Simple 45 Books to Get Kids Through Life’s Trickiest Transitions, Real Simple 16 Books to Help Kids Get Ready for the New School Year, Read Brightly Book Lists That Help Kids Through Transitions, No Time for Flashcards Starting School: Books to Help Ease the Transition, Childhood 101 The Best Children’s Books About Death, Fatherly 12 Books to Ease Back-to-School Anxiety for All Ages, Scholastic Back-to-School Books, Common Sense Media Back-to-School TV, Common Sense Media Back-to-School Movies, Common Sense Media Kids’ Books About the Immigrant Experience, Common Sense Media Movies to Help Kids Deal with Grief, Common Sense Media Movies to Help Kids Understand Divorce, Common Sense Media Books to Help Kids Deal with Divorce, Common Sense Media Books About a New Sibling, Common Sense Media 10 Relaxing Books to Help Kids Drift Off to Dreamland, Common Sense Media Books About Puberty, Common Sense Media Kids & Teens Booklists, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Selected Children’s Books About Kindergarten, Head Start Routines and Rituals Building Structure, CDC Answers from Experts, CDC Quick Tips, CDC Creating Structure and Rules (Videos), CDC Family routines: how and why they work, Raising Children Network Tackling Transitions with a Toddler, Montessori in Real Life How to Get Preschoolers Into a Routine After School, PBS Kids Why family routines and rituals are important, Evergreen Psychotherapy Center Family rituals: what are they?, Raising Children Network Easing a Toddler’s Daily Transitions, Parents The Environment: Schedules and Routines, Virtual Lab School How to Create a Morning Routine for Your Kids, Develop Good Habits Bedtime Routines for Children, Sleep Foundation Empowering Our Babies With Rituals, Janet Lansbury Essential Elements of a Baby Bedtime Routine, Janet Lansbury The Importance of Schedules and Routines, Head Start Creating Routines for Love and Learning, Zero to Three 10 Reasons A Daily Routine is Important for Your Child (and How to Set One), Petit Why Kids Need Routines, Aha! Parenting It’s All Routine, Regarding Baby Parents’ Guide to Routines for Kids, pathways.org Routines, Rituals, Consistency, and Structure for Kids (Video), Julie B Routines: The Unexpected Power of Habits, Practices, and Rituals, TEDx Talks The Importance of Routines for Kids, Zero to Thrive 5 Reasons to Establish a Toddler Routine, Parents Disrupted Routines Dealing with Behavioral Challenges from Disrupted Routines, Encompass Do time changes, vacations and other changes affect your child’s behavior?, Morneau Shepell Transitions in Early Learning Moving from an Infant to a Toddler Child Care Classroom: Embracing Change and Respecting Individual Differences, NAEYC Transition to Child Care for Children from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds, ResearchGate Daily Separations and Reunions, ECLKC Helping Children Understand Routines and Classroom Schedules, CSEFEL Change Doesn’t Have to Be Hard: Classroom Transitions, Head Start Helping Children Make Transitions between Activities, CSEFEL Terrific Transitions | Scholastic | Parents, Scholastic Starting Kindergarten Kindergarten Transition, Trying Together Your Child Is Going to Kindergarten: Making the Move Together, Head Start Transition to Kindergarten: Resource Guide, Head Start Transitions Resources for Families, Head Start Transition to Kindergarten: Why It Matters and How to Promote Success, Head Start Kindergarten Transition Parent Handbook, AIU 3 8 Tips to Prepare for the First Days of School, Scholastic Transitioning to Kindergarten, NAEYC Transition to Kindergarten, ECLKC TRANSITION TO KINDERGARTEN, The PA Key Transitioning to Kindergarten: A Toolkit for Early Childhood Educators, AFT 9 Ways to Get Your Child Ready for Kindergarten, Understood Easing First Day Jitters: Strategies for Successful Home-to-School Transitions, NAEYC Transitions to Kindergarten, NAEYC Helping Kids Transition to Kindergarten, Kaplan Top Ten Tips for the Transition to Kindergarten, William James College Transition to Kindergarten, Ready Freddy 12 ways to help a child make the transition to kindergarten, Harvard Health Publishing Child Development Supporting Transitions: Using Child Development as a Guide, Head Start Infant/Toddler Transitions, Head Start Transitions: From the Children’s Perspective, ECLKC Playful Routines Five Essentials to Meaningful Play, NAEYC 10 Playful Solutions For Morning & Evening Routines, Positive Parenting Connection 9 Ways to Make Household Chores Fun, Scholastic How to make grocery shopping with kids fun, Focus on the Family Tips and Tricks to Make Bath Time Fun, Kids Kandoo 100 Simple Ideas for Parents to be Playful and Silly with Kids, A Fine Parent Mindfulness The Power of “Good Morning”, NAEYC Mindful Morning Meetings, NAEYC Adaptations and Targeted Support Supporting Dual Language Learners With Schedules and Transitions, Head Start Early Intervention Transition: Preschool Programs to School-Aged Programs, PA Dept. of Education The Importance of a Daily Schedule for Kids with ADHD: Sample Routines and More, ADDitude Challenging Behaviors Why Does My Kid Struggle with Transitions?, Charlotte Parent Planning Transitions to Prevent Challenging Behavior, NAEYC Reducing Challenging Behaviors during Transitions: Strategies for Early Childhood Educators to Share with Parents, NAEYC Responding to Behavior, CDC Answers from Experts, CDC Why kids have trouble following a routine or schedule, Understood Child won’t follow a routine or schedule? Try these 5 tips, Understood 5 morning problems solved, Today’s Parent When routines for your kids don’t work, you might be the problem, Being Dads 51 Mindfulness Exercises for Kids in the Classroom, Waterford.org When a Child Can’t Get Her Act Together in the Morning, Janet Lansbury Opportunities to Practice Creating Structure & Rules: Can We Make It Simple?, CDC Communicating with Your Child: What Would You Say?, CDC Giving Directions: What Would You Do?, CDC Using Discipline and Consequences: What Would You Do?, CDC Getting your children into a routine – DIY Routine Board (Video), And then she said Practice Routines: Daniel Tiger Bathtime Helper, PBS Kids Sample Schedules How to Create a Family Schedule (Spanish), Trying Together 5 Realistic Daily Schedules for Kids, From Ages 0 to 11, PureWow Daily Schedule for Kids (Printable), Mommyhood101 How to Build Cooperation, Independence and Listening Using a Printable Schedule for Kids, The Military Wife and Mom DAILY SCHEDULE • AGES 5-8, The Children’s Center Get Ready for Kindergarten! Activity Calendar for Families, ECLKC
How to Make Routines More Playful Add playfulness to your family routines! Life as the parent or caregiver of a young child can be hectic. From feeding and bathing to transportation and education, every day is packed with different responsibilities, tasks, and opportunities. Because of that, routines play a vital role in caring for a child. However, have you considered how playful your routines are? Why is play important? Your family likely participates in several routines throughout the day whether you know it or not. Tasks such as waking up, going to sleep, and even eating breakfast require a list of steps that need to be followed. While completing those steps is important, it is equally important to ask yourself, “Are these interactions developmentally appropriate for my child.” As you know, children thrive when they have opportunities to play. In fact, play is the primary way that children learn important cognitive, physical, social, and emotional skills. Adding play into your daily routines is not only developmentally appropriate, but it also supports your child’s long-term success and well-being. For tips on how to make routines more playful, continue reading below. How does play fit into my routines? When you think of the word “play”, what do you imagine? Do you imagine your child sitting on the floor with toys, running around the yard, or taking turns during a game? While all of those moments certainly are play, you can actually incorporate playful moments into every part of your daily routine, including things like: bath time or hygiene-oriented tasks, dressing and undressing, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, and traveling from one place to another. Any time is the perfect time for play, and you can support your child’s growth and development by adding unscripted, child-led moments of play into your family life. How can I make my routines more playful? Consider using the following strategies to make your routines more playful: 1. Challenge your child to get from one place to another in creative ways. Challenge them to move like a certain animal, hop on one leg, roll, walk in slow motion, run as fast as they can, or create their very own movement! 2. Turn dressing into a fashion show by adding music and asking them to walk the runway once they are dressed. Describe their outfit in a fun way as they walk, and even try walking the runway yourself! 3. When you are asking your child to do something, sing it to them instead. Try different tones, pitches, speeds, volume levels, and more to make it interesting or funny. 4. Try out something new during bath time. Use your child’s wet, soapy hair to give them a cool or funny new hairstyle. Give them a mirror so they can see it themselves! Create a playlist of your child’s favorite sing-along songs and host your own bath time musical! You can even bring in prop toys for an extra effect. Try dimming the lights and adding flameless candles for a relaxing change of scenery. You can even add calming music! Have your own spa day! Add bubbles to the bath, give each other facials or massages, do each other’s nails, make cucumber water, and relax! You can also find child-safe bath bombs and fizzies to add to the water. Get washable bathtub finger paint and let your child’s imagination run free! Bring in different waterproof items (or items that you do not mind getting wet) and let your child experiment by dropping them in the water! Do they sink or float? How fast do they move through the water? What would happen if they dropped it from higher up or lower down?. 5. Make grocery shopping more fun and engaging! Play I-Spy and see who can find something first! Talk with your child about what they see, hear, smell, feel, or taste. Tell stories as you go. Start with an opening line of “Once upon a time. . .” or “Long, long ago . . .” and have your child fill in the blanks! Continue the story with “then what happened?” or other prompting questions. Have your child sound out different words they see. Assign your child to coupon duty! Cut out your coupons in advance and ask them to look around for the items as you go. Set a budget and work with your child to find the best deals! If your child is older, you could even have them add up the prices as you go to see if you are under or over budget. 6. Invite your child to cook or bake with you. Ask your child if they would be your sous chef, aka second in command. Dress up as chefs or put on your special aprons! Assign your sous chef developmentally appropriate tasks such as cracking an egg into the bowl, mixing, measuring, counting, pouring, and more! Do not be afraid to make a mess. See how a flour handprint would look on a shirt or hand towel. Let your child decorate or arrange the food on the plate! 7. Turn chores into challenges! Set a timer and challenge your child to finish the task before time is up. Or sing a familiar song for the same effect! Make chores more fun by adding handheld objects like tongs, spatulas, or oven mitts. Challenge them to complete the task using only those items! Hide a stuffed animal in a pile of laundry and see who can find it first. But you have to fold the laundry as you go! Or make a sock puppet who assigns funny tasks or tries to match the wrong socks together. Host a scavenger hunt by making a list of items that need to be collected/picked up. Put on music during the chore. Every time the music stops, everyone has to freeze! Whoever moves first has to do two push-ups or pick up two items! 8. Talk with your child to brainstorm other fun ways your family can be more playful. Learn More For more information, see the following resources: Five Essentials to Meaningful Play, NAEYC 10 Playful Solutions For Morning & Evening Routines, Positive Parenting Connection 9 Ways to Make Household Chores Fun, Scholastic How to make grocery shopping with kids fun, Focus on the Family Tips and Tricks to Make Bath Time Fun, Kids Kandoo 100 Simple Ideas for Parents to be Playful and Silly with Kids, A Fine Parent
Common Early Childhood Transitions and Routines What are early childhood transitions? In early childhood, the term “transition” refers to situations in which children need to move from one environment, activity, or experience to another. These transitions typically include a shift in daily life, expectations, and relationships, which can create challenging feelings of anger, sadness, worry, or confusion in young children. Although life changes can be difficult, and there will be times when children express frustration, there are plenty of opportunities for parents and caregivers to help their young children prepare. Common Transitions Common early childhood transitions include: stopping one activity to begin another, shifting from a state of energized excitement to a state of sleepy calm before bed, moving to a new house, neighborhood, or location, moving from home-based parental care to child care, moving a child from a bassinet to a crib to a toddler bed, starting kindergarten or the first day of school, starting and finishing potty training, losing a loved one through death, divorce, or separation, new additions to the family through birth, adoption, fostering, or marriage, speaking multiple languages depending on the setting, changes in schedule or routine due to holidays or special circumstances, changes in health that may require medication or healthcare services, and staying at an adult’s house who is not the primary caregiver. Common Routines One way to help children cope with life changes is by setting consistent, reliable routines. Although it may not always seem like it, children crave predictability and consistency. In fact, they thrive when they have them. Common early childhood routines include: waking up and getting ready in the morning, getting ready for a nap or bedtime, preparing meals and eating together, doing after-school activities like sports, hobbies, or homework, and doing chores such as setting the dinner table or helping with laundry. What can you do? As a parent or caregiver, there is a lot you can do to support your child through transitions. Your approach will vary depending on the transitions, but consider the following questions: What transitions have I experienced and how did they make me feel? What types of support have I needed in the past? What will this transition mean for me, my child, and my family? How can I communicate these changes? What questions might my child have? Can I create opportunities for them to share their thoughts, feelings, and opinions? How can I make this transition as clear, easy, and fun as possible? How can I incorporate playfulness into this transition? Is my approach developmentally appropriate? Are there special circumstances that I need to be aware of or consider? How can I maintain predictability and consistency even as things change? What current routines does my family use? Are they successful? What could change? Learn More For more information, check out the following resources: Family routines: how and why they work, Raising Children Network Why family routines and rituals are important, Evergreen Psychotherapy Center Empowering Our Babies With Rituals, Janet Lansbury Supporting Transitions: Using Child Development as a Guide, ECLKC Why Does My Kid Struggle with Transitions?, Charlotte Parent Creating Structure & Rules: Can We Make It Simple?, CDC
Addressing Challenging Behaviors How to address challenging behaviors. In their resource “Reducing Challenging Behaviors during Transitions: Strategies for Early Childhood Educators to Share with Parents,” NAEYC provides information and strategies on how to help children work through changes in activities or routines. While this resource was written for educators, it includes helpful strategies that you can put into practice with your children. What is challenging behavior? The Center on Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) defines “challenging behaviors” as: any repeated pattern of behavior that interferes with learning or engagement in pro-social interactions with other children and adults, behaviors that are not responsive to the use of developmentally appropriate guidance procedures, and prolonged tantrums, physical and verbal aggression, disruptive vocal and motor behavior (e.g. screaming), property destruction, self-injury, noncompliance, and withdrawal. These behaviors can manifest under a number of circumstances, especially when your child is hungry, tired, confused, unsure, or not ready to end an activity. Communication delays, limited social and emotional skills, and intellectual disabilities may also shape a child’s response to a difficult transition. Individualized support that suits your child’s needs should be provided. Why are transitions difficult? Imagine a time where your everyday routine was off. Maybe you accidentally woke up later than usual, your coffee machine broke, or you find your car snowed in. Think about how you felt in those moments. When routines are interrupted or thrown off, it is easy to have an emotional response. You may feel angry, overwhelmed, sad, or uneasy. And those emotions may impact your day or communications with other people. Just as you feel those emotions, children feel the same things when their usual routine is disrupted. Transitioning to a new activity, environment, or experience is difficult. Imagine what it felt like when you first started your job or back to when you first started school. Those times are filled with uncertainty and require you to learn new things, make new relationships, meet new expectations, and adjust to a new schedule. However, as an adult, you have had the time and experience to build social, emotional, and coping skills to get through those transitions. Children, on the other hand, are still in the process of building and practicing those skills. That is why it is crucial to support your child as they navigate these shifts in their lives. Your actions and support act as a guide for your child, and the skills they learn (or do not learn) in early childhood will shape the way they cope with transitions throughout the rest of their life. How can you address challenging behaviors? Look at your family schedule and see if there are any transitions that are not necessary or that could be changed. Having a consistent schedule makes it easier for your child to predict what their day will look like and prepare. Use visual cues such as mini-schedules posted on a table or wall to help give them a clear picture of their day. Review it together in the morning and throughout the day. Add playfulness into your transitions by using music, singing songs, or making predictable notices to signal transitions. Consider what skills your child needs to make a transition. For example, if they need to brush their teeth before bed, can they complete that task independently, or do they need assistance from a trusted adult? If your child has not mastered that skill, find ways to practice it together and offer support. Teach your child a wide range of emotion words to help them accurately express how they are feeling. Validate their feelings and let them feel them freely. Practice mindfulness strategies together (such as belly breathing) regularly. Do not wait until a transition happens or until a difficult emotion is expressed to teach them. Practicing them in a calm state of body and mind is equally important as practicing them in a difficult moment. Learn More To learn more about addressing challenging behaviors, view this resource from NAEYC.
Children’s Books About Transitions Find books about childhood transitions. Are you looking for children’s books that talk about common childhood transitions? You are in the right place! See the list below to find books that talk about going to school, loss, changing family dynamics, and more. Transition to Child Care and Pre-k D. W.’s Guide to Preschool by Marc Brown Bye-Bye Time by Elizabeth Verdick and Marieka Heinlen Don’t Go! by Jane Breskin Zalben Adam’s Daycare by Julie Ovenell-Carter Carl Goes to Daycare by Alexandra Day Preschool, Here I Come! by David J Steinberg My First Day at Preschool by Justine Fontes What to Expect at Preschool by Heidi Eisenberg Murkoff Rosie Goes to Preschool by Karen Katz Maisy Goes to School by Lucy Cousins Preschool Day Hooray! by Linda Leopold Strauss and Hiroe Nakata Wombat Goes to School by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by James Dean The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak The Night Before Preschool by Natasha Wing I Love You All Day Long by Francesca Rusackas and Priscilla Burris The Invisible String by Patrice Karst The I Love You Book by Todd Parr Don’t Forget I Love You by Miriam Moss When Mama Goes to Work by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch When Mama Gets Home by Eileen Spinelli Charlie and Lola: I Am Too Absolutely Small For School by Lauren Child Monkey Not Ready for Kindergarten by Marc Brown Will You Come Back for Me? by Ann Tompert First Day by Joan Rankin Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney I Love You All Day Long by Francesca Rusackas This Is How We Get Ready by DK Friends at School by Rochelle Bunnett When Mama Comes Home Tonight by Eileen Spinelli Transition to Kindergarten How to Be Kind in Kindergarten by D.J. Steinberg Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes When You Go to Kindergarten by James Howe Countdown to Kindergarten by Alison McGhee All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold Sam and Gram and the First Day of School by Dianne L. Blomberg A New School Year by Sally Derby Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes Mae’s First Day of School by Kate Berube The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London Peppa’s School Day by Meredith Rusu Clifford Goes to Kindergarten by Norman Bridwell The Pigeon Has to Go to School by Mo Willems Welcome, Roberto! Bienvenido, Roberto! By Mary Schwartz Noodles: I Love School! by Hans Wilhelm Amanda Panda Quits Kindergarten by Candice Ransom Amelia Bedelia’s First Day of School by Herman Parish Kindergarten, Here I Come! by D.J. Steinberg Adventure Annie Goes to Kindergarten by Toni Buzzeo Sounds Like School Spirit by Meg Fleming I Got the School Spirit by Connie Schofield-Morrison Timothy Goes to School by Rosemary Wells Off to School, Baby Duck! by Amy Hest Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come! by Nancy Carlson Sorry, Grown-Ups, You Can’t Go to School! by Christina Geist This Is How We Get Ready by DK Take Your Pet to School Day by Linda Ashman Molly Rides the School Bus by Julie Brillhart School Bus by Donald Crews I Am Too Absolutely Small for School by Lauren Child Sparky and Eddie: The First Day of School by Tony Johnston Corduroy Goes to School by Don Freeman and B.G. Hennessy The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson Will I Have a Friend? By Miriam Cohen Milk Goes to School by Terry Border Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin Barnaby Never Forgets by Pierre Collet-Derby How to Get Your Teacher Ready by Jean Reagan Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes Bob and Flo by Rebecca Ashdown Oh My Baby Little One by Kathi Appelt The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, Ruth E. Harper, and Nancy M. Leak School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex Worries, Anxiety, and Grief First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg Ruby Finds A Worry by Tom Percival Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster by Michelle Nelson-Schmidt Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt I Am So Brave by Stephen Krensky I Can Do It Myself by Stephen Krensky Maybe Tomorrow? by Charlotte Agell I’m Sad by Michael Ian Black When Sadness Is at Your Door by Eva Eland One Wave at a Time by Holly Thompson Divorce Was It the Chocolate Pudding? by Sandra Levins It’s Not Your Fault, Koko Bear by Vicki Lansky Divorce Is the Worst by Anastasia Higginbotham My Family’s Changing by Pat Thomas Two Homes by Claire Masurel Dinosaurs Divorce by Marc Brown The Invisible String by Patrice Karst I Don’t Want to Talk About It by Jesse Franz Ransom A Family is a Family is a Family by Sara O’Leary The Family Book by Todd Parr Families, Families, Families! by Suzanne Lang Remarriage Do You Sing Twinkle? by Sandra Levins Families by Kerry McCluskey and Jesse Unaapik Mike When Otis Courted Mama by Kathi Appelt Step One, Step Two, Step Three and Four by Maria Ashworth I’ll Never Let You Go by Smriti Prasadam-Halls My Blended Family by Claudia Herrington The Ring Bearer by Floyd Cooper A Family is a Family is a Family by Sara O’Leary The Family Book by Todd Parr Families, Families, Families! by Suzanne Lang Loss of a Loved One When Dinosaurs Die by Laurie Krasny Brown Death Is Stupid by Anastasia Higginbotham I Miss You by Pat Thomas Lifetimes by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr Weekends with Max and His Dad by Linda Urban Road Trip with Max and His Mom by Linda Urban Ida, Always by Caron Levis and Charles Santoso Remembering Blue Fish by Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood The Yellow Suitcase by Meera Sriram The Dead Bird by Margaret Wise Brown Why Do I Feel So Sad? by Tracy Lambert, LPC Where Do They Go? by Julia Alvarez The Memory Box by Joanna Rowland From North to South by René Colato Laínez Death of Cupcake by Susan Nicholas, MD The Day My Dad Turned Invisible by Sean R. Simmons The Arrival of a New Sibling Olivia: A Guide to Being a Big Sister by Natalie Shaw I’m a Big Sister / I’m a Big Brother by Joanna Cole Henry Is a Big Brother by Alyssa Satin Capucilli Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keats 101 Things to Do With Baby by Jan Ormerod We Have a Baby by Cathryn Falwell Big Sister and Little Sister by Charlotte Zolotow Living in a New Place A New House by Jill Wenzel A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle The New Bear at School by Carrie Weston The Berenstain Bears’ Moving Day by Stan and Jan Berenstain My Very Exciting, Sorta Scary, Big Move: A Workbook for Children Moving to a New Home by Lori Attanasio Woodring The Good-Pie Party by Liz Garton Scanlon and Kady MacDonald Denton Moving Day! by Jess Stockham Hannah is My Name by Belle Yang Good-Bye, 382 Shin Dang Dong by Frances Park Lailah’s Lunchbox by Reem Faruqi I’m New Here by Anne Sibley O’Brien A New House by Jill Wenzel and Jan Westberg A Kiss Goodbye by Audrey Penn The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi Danbi Leads the School Parade by Anna Kim Dreamers by Yuyi Morales Bad Bye, Good Bye by Deborah Underwood Bunny Bungalow by Cynthia Rylant Henry and Mudge and Annie’s Good Move by Cynthia Rylant Mama’s Nightingale: A Story of Immigration and Separation by Edwidge Danticat Two White Rabbits by Jairo Buitrago The Seeds of Friendship by Michael Foreman My Name Is Sangoel by Karen Williams My Name Is Yoon by Helen Recorvits Here I Am by Patti Kim My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald Dear Baobab by Cheryl Foggo My Diary from Here to There by Amada Irma Perez Chocolate Milk, Por Favor by Maria Dismondy The Quiet Place by Sarah Stewart A Movie in My Pillow by Jorge Argueta Home at Last by Susan Middleton Elya Moving House by Anne Civardi and Stephen Cartwright I Like Where I Am by Jessica Harper Nana in the City by Lauren Castillo Alexander, Who’s Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move by Judith Viorst and Ray Cruz Bella and Stella Come Home by Anika Denise and Christoper Denise Augustine by Melanie Watt Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity by Theresa Thorn 10,000 Dresses by Marcus Ewert Elena’s Serenade by Campbell Geeslin Introducing Teddy by Jessica Walton Neither by Airlie Anderson I am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings Be Who You Are! by Jennifer Carr One of a Kind, Like Me by Laurin Mayeno Learn More To learn more, view these articles on children’s books that support transitions. Best Books: Our Recommendations for Families, Common Sense Media Suggested Children’s Books to Support Transition, Human Development Institute 14 books to help ease children through transitions, The Art of Simple 45 Books to Get Kids Through Life’s Trickiest Transitions, Real Simple 16 Books to Help Kids Get Ready for the New School Year, Read Brightly Booklist – Books for Class Transitions, Books for Topics Book Lists That Help Kids Through Transitions, No Time for Flashcards Starting School: Books to Help Ease the Transition, Childhood 101 The Best Children’s Books About Death, Fatherly 12 Books to Ease Back-to-School Anxiety for All Ages, Scholastic
Your Child is Going to Kindergarten: Family Guide (ECLKC) Your child’s transition to kindergarten! The transition to kindergarten is a big moment for children and caregivers alike! You may be feeling proud and excited, or sad and uncertain, about the changes that this transition will bring. Know that your experience and emotions are welcome and valid and that with a bit of preparation, your family can be ready for the first day! Your Child is Going to Kindergarten To help children and caregivers prepare for kindergarten, the Head Start Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) created a family resource entitled, “Your Child is Going to Kindergarten: Making the Move Together.” What is included? The resource includes recommended tasks for the months leading up to and the first week of kindergarten, including: when to talk with your child’s current educator, ask about kindergarten transition activities, and learn more about the new school; when to arrange a school visit with your child, what to do when you are there, what to bring with you, and what to ask; how you can prepare and key things to consider during summer, the week before school, and the night before school; and things you can do during the first week to make the transition easier. This resource is available online and as a printable PDF. Learn More To view more kindergarten transitions strategies from ECLKC, visit the Head Start website. For additional tips, see our Kindergarten Transition Family Guide.
Transitions, Routines, and Rituals: What are They and Why Do They Matter? Learn how routines and rituals can help. From the moment a child is born, they experience a significant change in their environment or experience, also known as a transition. After leaving the womb, they take their first breath and begin feeding, no longer relying on the placenta for oxygen or nutrients. While this transition is significant, early childhood is filled with many others. To support families in navigating transitions, Trying Together developed the following family resource. It includes information on transitions, routines, rituals, and strategies families can use to help their children work through changes in routine successfully. Download this resource as a PDF in English and Spanish. What is a transition? In early childhood, the term “transition” refers to situations in which children need to move from one environment, activity, or experience to another. Common transitions include: shifting from a state of energized excitement to a state of sleepy calm for bed, moving from home-based parental care or child care to kindergarten, moving to a new house, neighborhood, or state, and losing a loved one through death, divorce, or separation. It can be hard for young children to navigate these transitions, especially when they include things they are not familiar with. Although it may not always seem like it, children crave consistency. In fact, they thrive when they have it. So it is understandable that when something changes their day-to-day experience or challenges them to switch from something they like to something they do not like, they are going to resist or feel hesitant. These transitions often include multiple steps as well, which can confuse or overwhelm children in the moment. That is why it is important to talk to children about the transition before it happens. That way, they know what to expect and have time to prepare. What support can families offer during transitions? Families can navigate and work through transitions together by: creating a consistent family schedule that includes routines and rituals, describing what the transition will look like and how it may feel, asking your child how they are feeling and what they want to know, using vocal visual timers to let children know when a transition is coming, offering children choices when possible to give them a sense of control, adding playfulness to your transition through song, dance, rhymes, or movement, and teaching children mindfulness strategies like belly breathing or mindful coloring. What are routines and rituals? One way to add consistency into your child’s life is through a family schedule. These schedules typically consist of several routines throughout the day, such as morning routines, bedtime routines, and everything in between. They are made up of individual action steps that need to be followed to complete a larger goal, such as getting ready for bed, taking a bath, or going to school. These routines are critical to a child’s wellbeing, and it is important that their daily schedule remains as consistent as possible each day. However, another element to consider is the addition of rituals. While rituals are similar to routines, the difference between them is the intention behind the action. For example, if your goal is to simply get ready for bed, you might bathe your child, change them into pajamas, brush their teeth, and tuck them into bed. That would be considered their nighttime routine. A nighttime ritual, on the other hand, adds meaning to daily actions by fully focusing on the experience and fostering a sense of belonging. For example, bathing before bed could include a simple play activity while in the bath followed by a gentle baby massage and attentive, loving interactions as you change them into their pajamas. Instead of focusing on completing the action, rituals focus on the connection between caregiver and child. Why are family rituals important? According to the Evergreen Psychotherapy Center, children from families with meaningful rituals do better academically and socially. In fact, in addition to enhancing a child’s sense of belonging, family routines and rituals: improve emotional self-control and reduce stress, increase trust, comfort, and a sense of security, reinforce family stability and identity, and strengthen caregiver-child relationships. Examples include family mealtime, cultural traditions, morning snuggles, a special handshake during drop-off, and more. To learn more, visit: bit.ly/evergreen-center or bit.ly/rituals-au Questions to Consider Does my family have a consistent schedule or routine? How am I preparing my child for this transition? How can I make sure my child feels safe, loved, heard, and valued? Am I allowing space for my child to express their feelings, thoughts, and opinions? How can I incorporate mindfulness into our daily lives? Additional Resources Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series Developmentally Appropriate Parenting is a family resource content series developed by Trying Together as an effort to empower caregivers to create high-quality experiences at the earliest stages of their child’s life. To learn more, visit: tryingtogether.org/parenting-resources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website features information on building family routines, creating rules, communicating with children, and more. To learn more, visit the CDC website: bit.ly/cdc-routines Raising Children Network The Raising Children Network website features articles on family rituals, routines, and more with content specific to children at every age level. To learn more, visit: bit.ly/rituals-au Montessori in Real Life Montessori in Real Life has a great blog piece on tackling transitions with a toddler. Additionally, their website features blog posts on transitioning from naptime to quiet time, creating a daily rhythm, and more. To learn more, visit: bit.ly/toddler-transitions
Kindergarten Transition: A Guide for Families How to navigate kindergarten transition. The transition to kindergarten marks the beginning of a new era of parenting and childhood that includes longer school days, new relationships, and new family routines. To support families in navigating this transition successfully, Trying Together developed the Kindergarten Transition Guide for Families. Readers will learn why kindergarten transition matters, about common steps to prepare for, and strategies that can help. Download this resource as a PDF in English and Spanish. What is Kindergarten Transition? Kindergarten Transition describes the critical period in which children shift from primarily learning at home or in an early learning program to entering a kindergarten classroom. It can include the series of months leading up to and after a child’s first day. Why does it matter? A successful transition to kindergarten leads to better long-term outcomes, including: higher ratings of social-emotional competence, reduced stress at the beginning of the school year, and an increased likelihood of forming new relationships, improved academic growth in kindergarten, including an increased likelihood of reading on grade-level by third grade and higher high school graduation rates, and an increase in family involvement over the year. At what age do children start kindergarten? If you live in Pennsylvania and your child is five, or will be five by the start of the school year, it is time to register them for kindergarten! School year start dates vary from mid-August to September depending on the school district. How to Register 1. Identify which school your child will attend for kindergarten. Use Google to search for “kindergarten registration” followed by your town, city, or borough name. Visit each school’s website to view their student outcomes, calendars, enrollment data, and more. If you live in Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Fayette, Greene, or Westmoreland County, visit Trying Together’s Kindergarten Transition page to access a list of school districts, websites, and deadlines. If you live in the Pittsburgh Public School District, you can use their online tool to search for schools by grade range or your address. 2. Register your child for kindergarten. Complete the enrollment form. Depending on the school, this could be completed through a paper form, online form, or over the phone. You must provide proof of your child’s age (birth certificate), two current proof of residency documents (lease, deed, utility bills, etc.), and a copy of your child’s immunization records. Prepare these documents before enrolling. Some school districts open kindergarten registration as early as February and offer family events in March or April. The earlier you register your child, the better. Make sure your child has plenty of time to adjust to the new setting. What supports a successful kindergarten transition? Although the transition to kindergarten will look different for each school, family, and child, there are three key elements that support a successful transition: a child who knows what to expect, has practiced school-day routines, can express their worries and feelings openly, and has access to individualized support as needed, families who build relationships with school staff, participate in family engagement events, and proactively prepare their child for the transition to kindergarten, and school staff who welcome students and families through multiple methods (events, emails, phone calls, etc.), communicate regularly with families, and work to ensure families are prepared for the transition to kindergarten. What can families do? As a parent or caregiver, there is a lot you can do to help your child prepare for kindergarten. Set up a day for your child to visit the school, their classroom, and the playground before the first day. This will help them feel prepared. If you register for kindergarten early, many school districts hold community events for incoming kindergarten students and their families in the spring (such as literacy or math nights) and summer (orientation or kindergarten camp) prior to the new school year. Practice school routines at home (morning and nighttime routines, songs, using a lunch tray, walking in line, following a schedule, bathroom breaks, etc.). Start these routines early! Do not wait until one week before school starts. Practice skills such as dressing, undressing, tying shoes, and hand-washing to help them feel more confident using these skills at school. Teach conversation starters that your child can use to introduce themselves, make friends, ask questions, or assert a need. “Hi, my name is _____.” “I like _____. What do you like?” “Do you want to play?” Read books about kindergarten together before and after school begins. Ask your child what they are most excited about, if they are worried about anything, and if they have any questions. Let your child know that kindergarten is a place to have fun and make new friends and that you are excited to hear stories about their day at pickup. Relate this transition to a familiar experience they had such as child care, pre-kindergarten, or the first time they stayed at someone else’s house. If your child is anxious, validate their emotions and ask about their worries. Share a story about a time you were anxious and how you got through it. Send a list of your child’s allergies and medications to your school’s nurse and your child’s teacher before school starts. Label all of your child’s school items (backpack, pencil case, lunch boxes, etc.) with their name and your phone number. Create a pickup and dropoff plan and practice it, including who is and who is not allowed to pick them up at school. Choose a safe adult password. If the school allows, send your child to school with a comfort object. They may only get to see it at rest time but having it can help make them feel more comfortable. At dropoff, reassure your child that you will pick them up at a specific time and share your goodbyes. Lingering for too long can make it more difficult. Try to be positive. What might schools offer? An Open House event that includes a tour of the school, a meet-and-greet with the teachers, an overview of school expectations, and the curriculum. A Kindergarten Orientation Packet with information on school procedures, classroom rules, parent expectations, daily schedules, needed supplies, contact information, the curriculum, preparation tips, and more. An opportunity for new students to ride the bus before the first day of school. Discussions on services your child will receive through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) if they require one. If your child has an IEP prior to kindergarten, these conversations must begin in February before the school year begins. Regular communication (email, phone, text) to provide updates, discuss your child’s interests and needs, and share resources or opportunities. If you speak a language other than English, you have the right to an interpreter and materials written in your home language (registration information, report cards, policies and procedures, parent handbooks, special education services, etc. ). School-wide activities that provide opportunities for children and families to socialize. If the school is hosting an in-person event for families, ask them if child care and/or transportation services are being offered (if you need them). For more examples, view this handout from the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center. Additional Resources The Hi5! Partnership The Hi5! Partnership shares kindergarten registration deadlines, kindergarten transition information, and more with families in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Family Engagement Toolkit To reinforce parents and early learning professionals in their work to create strong partnerships, Trying Together created a Family Engagement Toolkit. View the toolkit to access relationship-building strategies, resources, and more. Individual Education Plans (IEP) For information on Individual Education Plans and the transition from early intervention services in pre-kindergarten programs to kindergarten, view these resources: A Family Guide to Inclusive Early Learning in Pennsylvania: bit.ly/iep-family-guide Answers to Frequently Asked Questions: bit.ly/ei-faqs Early Intervention Transition: bit.ly/ei-transition Support for Limited English Proficient Families The United States Department of Justice and Department of Education created a fact sheet that answers common questions about the rights of families with limited English proficiency. The document is available in Arabic, Spanish, Chinese, Cambodian, Hmong, Korean, Laotian, Russian, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and English. National Association for the Education of Young Children The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) website features articles on kindergarten transition, school readiness, and more.
How to Create a Family Schedule Create a family schedule that works! As a parent or caregiver, you know how hard it can be to juggle daily responsibilities. From work and education to meals and transportation, families have to organize an intricate schedule of tasks and activities. While it can be overwhelming, creating a family schedule can help with identifying what needs to happen when, by who, and for how long. Every family is unique, so create a schedule that works for yours. It can be as loose or as firm as you need. The best type of schedule is a schedule that meets your family’s needs. To get started, follow the steps below and work together as a family to identify what does and does not work. How to create a personal or family schedule: 1. Print out a copy of the Schedule Planner on pages two through five. 2. Fill out your family’s schedule priorities, routines, and wants. Start with yourself. When done, move to another family member. Depending on the size of your family, you may need an additional paper for brainstorming. 3. Add in your priorities, routines, and wants into the calendar. Start with your priorities and block off dedicated hours for those tasks. That will make it easier to identify open times for other tasks or wants. Invite your family members to make their own schedules. This encourages them to be a part of the planning process and helps them better understand their schedules and routines. You can work with young children to create a schedule together. Ask them to talk about what they do after they wake up, at school, before bed, and in between! If the calendar is not big enough, use it as inspiration and create your own! Make it playful by decorating it in different colors, writing utensils, stickers, and more! Or draw it on a whiteboard or chalkboard so you can update it as needed! 4. Talk about your schedules together. What looks the same and what looks different? Keep your schedule on hand, post it on your fridge or a wall, or add it to your phone calendar. Make sure children can easily access their schedules every day. Making copies can be useful for when children stay elsewhere, such as at a family or loved one’s house. Keeping at least the required elements of the schedule consistent helps maintain your child’s well-being and ability to transition successfully. 5. Review your schedules together at the beginning of each day and refer to them often. Let children know if something in the schedule needs to change on a particular day and why it is changing. Try to keep your schedule as similar as possible each day. Think About Your Daily Routines What must you complete? Make a list of tasks you must complete on a daily basis and how long they typically take. Examples include drop-off, pick-up, grocery shopping, working, bathing, cooking, homework, and medications. What routines and rituals do you have in place? List at least three routines or rituals (morning, family meals, etc.) you have and the required steps. What would be nice to accomplish? Make a list of tasks that would be nice to accomplish throughout the week and how long they typically take. Examples include activities, hobbies, and social gatherings. What is recommended for children? At least 15 to 20 minutes of reading per day. Opportunities to play throughout the day (imaginative, cooperative, nature, parallel, etc.). A variety of play activities throughout the day for children ages three to five and at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day for children ages six to seventeen. For more physical health recommendations, read our family guide. Recommended Activities List Consider adding these activities into your family schedule, or create your own activity ideas! For young children, it is helpful to write short words with big letters and draw a picture of the activity on their schedules. Common Chores Making and Eating Breakfast Making and Eating Lunch Making and Eating Dinner Making and Eating a Snack At Work Doing Laundry Doing the Dishes Taking Out Trash or Recycling Sweeping the Floors Mopping the Floors Taking Care of My Pet Cleaning the Bathroom Cleaning Up Grocery Shopping Common Elements of Routines Drop Off Pick Up Brushing and Flossing My Teeth Taking a Bath / Shower Changing My Clothes Putting on My Shoes Packing My Backpack Medication Homework Set the Table / Clear the Table Quiet Time Nap Time Bed Time Family Outing Fun Activities Going to the Playground Going on a Walk Singing and Dancing Together Spending Time Outdoors Play Time Creative Time and Self Expression Reading a Book or Storytelling Snuggles with Someone I Love Visiting a Friend or Loved One Watching TV or a Movie Together Talking About Our Days Together Dedicated Time with a Loved One Playing Tag Doing Animal Yoga Additional Resources Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series Developmentally Appropriate Parenting is a family resource content series developed by Trying Together as an effort to empower caregivers to create high-quality experiences at the earliest stages of their child’s life. Zero to Thrive Zero to Thrive believes that the period from pregnancy through early childhood is an essential time for mitigating the multi-generational effects of inequity, trauma, and adversity. Their website features resources on routines, transitioning to child care, and more. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website features printable resources on creating a family schedule checklist, family rules, and chore charts.
