Relationship-building During Transitions
Explore strategies to support staff and families in navigating transitions, with a focus on relationship-building during times of change.
Transitions
Children experience many transitions, including from home to an early care and education setting, between age groups or program settings, and from preschool to kindergarten. Supporting these transitions for children, families, and staff is critically important because even positive change can be challenging. How the foundation for positive transitions is laid across all levels of the system to support children, families, and staff through transitions can have far-reaching effects on children’s well-being and academic success. Program staff consider the long-term process of building and maintaining the capacity to support children and families at all levels. They also look at ways to improve how they connect and communicate within systems during transitions.
Aggregating and Sharing Data About Children’s Progress During Transition to Kindergarten
Learn how data-sharing between programs and receiving schools can lead to more successful transitions for children and families.
Collaboration Meeting Planning Materials
Explore this collection of resources that support collaboration between the Office of Head Start (OHS) and public schools to improve the transition to kindergarten.
School Visit – Virtual or In Person
Learn how staff can help parents and family members prepare for an in-person or virtual school visit and become fully engaged in their children’s new school.
Host a Transition-to-Kindergarten Summit: Supporting Materials
Smooth transitions to kindergarten depend on strong partnerships. Find ways to use these materials to help organize and carry out a successful local transition summit.
Family Engagement and Transition to Kindergarten
Discover resources and videos on the importance of engaging families and partnering with them in the transition to kindergarten.
Transition to Kindergarten: Engaging Families
Learn how a Head Start program partners with families as they prepare for kindergarten. Explore ways to partner with families and receiving elementary schools during children's transition to kindergarten.
Launching the Transition Process
Learn how Head Start staff can partner with families and introduce the importance of the transition to kindergarten from the start.
Support Transitions for Infants and Toddlers
Read these ideas for supporting the many kinds of transitions children and adults experience in Early Head Start.
Daily Separations and Reunions
Daily separations and reunions are part of the fabric of relationships. In center-based and family child care programs, they provide opportunities to develop a young child's skill at making positive transitions.