What does “transition” mean?
The dictionary defines transitions as the process of changing from one form, state, activity, or place to another. Throughout our lives each of us will go through many transitions: marriage, beginning a career, the death of a loved one, or becoming a parent. All of these transitions can be difficult as you adjust to the new experiences. If you were to ask a group of adults about their life transitions, a good many will reflect on their first days of school. Some will recall it as a pleasant, enjoyable experience while others will wince and cringe at the memory. What we do as parents and as professional educators of young children can make a tremendous difference in how these future adults will respond to the question of how they viewed their first school experiences.

Why is it so important to provide effective transitions?
There is a great deal of information indicating that a child’s success in school can be linked, at least in part, to effective transition practices and activities. Children’s early experiences lay the foundation for enjoying school and performing well.

Purpose of this website
This website is a collaborative effort of the SERVE Regional Educational Laboratory and the National Head Start Association. Our goal is to provide a wide variety of transition information and resources for families, professionals, and community partnerships to use as they address children’s transitions into kindergarten.

Website users are granted permission to download materials to distribute for educational purposes. None of the forms or materials may be reproduced to generate revenue for any individual or program. Materials in Word may be altered for individual program use.

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