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.
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.
Learn how Head Start staff can partner with families and introduce the importance of the transition to kindergarten from the start.
This guide offers tips, organized across a timeline, for families to engage in the kindergarten transition and support their children throughout the process.
Find research-based practices and activities to help leaders create successful transitions to kindergarten. Use this information to support the four points of connection that are key to transitions.
Explore national kindergarten transition policies. Learn how these policies inform the decision-making and practices of Head Start and elementary school leaders as they support the transition process.
Discover information and strategies to help Head Start program staff support children who are dual language learners (DLLs) and their families as they make the transition to kindergarten.
Explore the key parts of successful kindergarten transitions. Learn how staff and elementary school leaders can use information, relationships, and alignment to support smooth transitions for Head Start children.
Explore strategies to support transitions from Early Head Start up to kindergarten. Discover how professional development and relationships between Head Start programs and receiving schools support the process.
View this video to learn how Head Start programs can partner with receiving elementary schools to provide stability and consistency for children and families transitioning to kindergarten.
Making a transition to a new care and learning setting can have an impact on families. Explore ways to support and help families feel secure as they get ready to make the move to a new setting.