Smooth early childhood transitions are key to ensuring positive outcomes for young children the world over, but in today's fragmented early education systems, it's difficult to ensure continuity among programs and services. Early childhood professionals will help change that with this book, the first to propose a comprehensive, practical framework for repairing fissures in the system and making transitions successful for young children globally. A groundbreaking resource for a wide range of professionals, including principals, school-based administrators, program directors, district supervisors, and curriculum specialists, this book brings together the best thinking on ealry childhood transitions from leading researchers and practitioners around the world. Focusing on both vertical and horizontal transitions, the expert contributors give readers the in-dept guidance they need to: develop a coherent, connected framework of curriculum and instruction across the pre-K-Grade 3 continuum; enhance transitions for infants and young children with disabilities and their families; address the specific issues dual language learners face during transitions; align early learning standards, curricula, and assessments; improve all aspects of school readiness; improve transitions through better accountability policies; and understand how transitions are affected by a wide range of factors, including poverty, cultural and linguistic diversity, and the child's neighbourhood. Through invaluable case studies on diverse programs, readers will get practical insight into what really works and apply the lessons of real-life success stories. And with the clear and useful analysis of up-to-date research, policy, and practice, professionals will see where the field is today and where it needs to go to support better transitions.

In early childhood settings, children spend much of their time handwashing, dressing, napping, and on other routines and transitions. Turn these routine daily activities into learning experiences. By using transitions wisely, you not only help children develop skills but also run a more efficient, calm program environment. In addition to discussions on developmental issues, environments, educational values, and hygiene, this book includes examples of games and rhymes that help children accomplish daily transitions with ease. Not just another activity book, Routines and Transitions is the most comprehensive review of current theory and practice in this area; an excellent introduction and training manual for new child care staff; and an in-depth refresher course with new insights for experienced caregivers.

Have you ever had trouble persuading a group of toddlers to switch from one activity to another? Then this book is for you! A must-have resource for teachers who work with this youngest age group, Simple Transitions offers more than 400 tips, ideas, and easy-to-do activities.

The contributors of this book seek to find how children cope with transition from home to the first settings of their education and whether there are ways in which professionals can better support and empoer children in transition.

"The text is wide-ranging and discusses different approaches and examples of good practice in supporting transition, from around the world. ... Supporting Transitions in the Early Years gives early years practitioners a real insight into the theory that should underpin high quality everyday practice for everyone engaging with young children." Early Years Update Supporting Transitions in the Early Years explores the whole range of early childhood transitions, rather than simply looking at starting school or pre-school. It helps parents, practitioners, policy-makers and Early Years students at every level, to understand and support the successive transitions made by young children from birth to five. Starting from a discussion of the rapid pace of change in current societies, and children's need to acquire flexibility and resilience in adapting to change, it offers examples of transitions such as: Babies and toddlers moving into under-3s care Pre-schoolers moving into school Reception children moving into formal learning classrooms Support for the transitions of children with English as an additional language or special needs At each stage, individual case studies are discussed in relation to relevant theories of development and learning, and contemporary perspectives on children's well-being and children's rights. The international case studies offer clear examples of the ways that adults in high-quality settings can work together with parents to strengthen children's positive dispositions. The book highlights key qualities - resilience, resourcefulness and reciprocity - which adults should seek to foster in children, to facilitate their current transitions and prepare them for a future of change. The author also underlines the importance of listening to children from birth onwards, if we are to offer the kind of caring and educative environments that will best support their well-being.

There are many transitions that children experience before they are five, including the first major transition from home to an early years setting. Successive changes can have a serious impact on young children and stress, separation and insecure attachments can affect not only a child's emotional health but also cognitive and intellectual development. Understanding Transitions in the Early Years explains why transitions matter and provides practical guidance on how to support young children's developing emotional resilience and equip them to embrace change in the future. Aimed at practitioners and students, the book: draws together evidence from neuroscience, attachment theory, child development and childcare practices provides a context for practitioners to empathise with children and families as they relate to their own understanding of the impact of change and transition looks at ways to reduce the number of transitions including the key person approach offers guidance and practical strategies for practitioners, managers and head teachers for supporting children through transitions. Including case studies, examples of good practice and questions for reflection this thought-provoking text emphasises the little things that practitioners can do for the individual children in their care to help them feel secure and confident when dealing with change.

Designed to facilitate professional development and critical reflection in the leadership of services for children and families, this book will enhance the understanding of readers from a range of disciplines and at varying levels of study. Packed with case studies depicting the experiences of children and their families in transition and exploring a wide range of scenarios, the chapters: - explore transitions from a range of perspectives - discuss the value of developing collaborative practice in deepening awareness of children′s views and experiences - look at examples of contemporary practice - consider the ethics, policies and law relating to current issues - enrich the reader′s understanding of professional responsibility Each chapter contains a chapter overview, a case study and suggestions for further reading. This book is relevant to all practitioners working with young children and their families and to all those studying early childhood. Lyn Trodd is the Head of Multi-Professional Education at the University of Hertfordshire