The moment a child moves from the warm, playful world of Kita to the structured, exciting world of school is one of the biggest changes in early childhood. Parents, educators, and children all feel it: a mixture of anticipation, curiosity, and sometimes anxiety. In this article, we’ll walk through that transition step by step, offering practical tools, heartening stories, and detailed checklists to help families and professionals navigate the shift with confidence. Whether you are a parent, a preschool teacher, a primary school teacher, or a caregiver, you will find specific strategies, activities, and explanations designed to make the transition successful for everyone involved.
Why the Transition Matters
The change from Kita to school is more than a calendar event. It marks a shift in expectations, routines, social dynamics, and the child’s role in learning. In Kita, play is central to learning, often guided in a flexible manner by adults. In school, structured learning, academic goals, and classroom routines become more prominent. Understanding these differences is crucial because they shape a child’s daily life, self-esteem, and long-term relationship with learning.
We often underestimate how perceptions and feelings influence a child’s readiness. For some children, the transition stimulates curiosity and a sense of achievement. For others, it triggers separation anxiety or resistance because the environment feels unfamiliar or the expectations seem unclear. Addressing emotional readiness, alongside practical skills, reduces stress and supports a positive start to school life.
Successful transitions occur when adults—parents, caregivers, and teachers—work together to create continuity. The goal is not to rush a child to perform at a particular level but to scaffold their development so they feel capable, understood, and excited about the new stage. Good transitions foster resilience, social skills, and a love for learning that lasts a lifetime.
Understanding the Differences Between Kita and School
Before we plan a path forward, it’s helpful to clearly map the differences between Kita and school. This helps set realistic expectations and identify the specific areas where children need support.
In Kita, the emphasis is on child-initiated play, social-emotional development, and exploration. Educators are facilitators who observe, scaffold, and support learning through play. Typical day structures are flexible, allowing free play interwoven with short group activities, rest, and outdoor time.
In school, the structure is more formal. The day has clearer divisions—lessons, breaks, and transitions. There are specific learning objectives, assessments, homework in some contexts, and greater peer group sizes. Teachers need to manage the learning of many children simultaneously, often using whole-group instruction and independent practice.
Understanding these differences helps caregivers and teachers plan practical ways to bridge the worlds: maintaining play-based learning while introducing predictable routines, helping children develop longer attention spans through engaging activities, and cultivating classroom behaviors like taking turns, raising hands, and listening to instructions.
Key Areas Where Children Experience Change
There are several domains where children experience the most noticeable changes during the transition. We will explore each domain and offer strategies for support.
- Daily structure and routines: School schedules are often more rigid. Introducing predictable routines at home and in Kita helps children adjust.
- Instructional demands: School may require longer periods of focused attention and following multi-step instructions.
- Social environment: Children may face larger peer groups and new social expectations like collaborative tasks and conflict resolution.
- Emotional expectations: A greater emphasis on self-regulation, independence, and responsibility often accompanies school readiness.
- Assessment and feedback: Schools may use assessments to monitor progress, which can feel unfamiliar to children used to more informal feedback.
Emotional Readiness: The Heart of a Smooth Transition
When families and educators speak of readiness, they often focus on cognitive skills like recognizing letters or counting. But emotional readiness is the foundation. A child who feels secure, supported, and able to voice concerns will cope much better with the change. Emotional readiness includes the ability to manage separation, express feelings, ask for help, and engage in group activities without persistent distress.
Helping a child emotionally prepare is a gentle process. It begins with listening and validating the child’s feelings. Saying things like, “I hear that you’re nervous about your first day,” normalizes feelings and opens space for problem-solving. Role-playing, storybooks about starting school, and visiting the school together can transform abstract worries into manageable pieces.
Another key aspect is building the child’s confidence in small steps. Celebrate small successes—putting on their coat, packing their bag, sitting through a short group activity—because each success builds a sense of mastery that helps in a new environment.
Techniques to Strengthen Emotional Readiness
Below are effective techniques that families and Kita staff can use to support children’s emotional transition:
- Gradual exposure: Visit the school playground, meet the teacher if possible, and have staggered shorter visits before the first full day.
- Role play: Use dolls or action figures to act out the school day—arrivals, lessons, breaks, and saying goodbye to parents.
- Storytime: Read books about starting school that depict feelings of excitement and nervousness, and discuss the characters’ solutions.
- Predictable routines at home: Bedtimes, morning routines, and mealtimes practiced consistently make the school day less surprising.
- Separation practices: Start with short separations from parents and gradually increase time, praising the child’s resilience when they manage.
- Emotion naming and regulation: Teach simple techniques like deep breathing, counting to five, or squeezing a small toy when upset.
Practical Skills for School Readiness
Practical skills help children navigate the daily mechanics of school life. These include fine motor skills for handling pencils and scissors, gross motor skills for playground activities, self-help skills like dressing and eating independently, and basic pre-literacy and numeracy skills. Importantly, these skills can be taught through play and everyday routines; you do not need formal drills.
Before a child’s first school year, aim to strengthen a wide range of everyday abilities so the child can focus their energy on learning rather than managing practical frustrations. The point is not perfection, but increasing the child’s independence and confidence.
Checklist: Practical Skills to Build
Here is a useful checklist families and educators can use to assess and support practical skills:
| Skill Area | Examples | Activities to Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Self-help | Getting dressed, managing fasteners, using the toilet independently | Practice buttoning, zipping, and tying; role-play morning routines; make a “getting ready” song. |
| Fine motor | Holding a pencil, cutting with scissors, manipulating small objects | Playdough, threading beads, drawing basic shapes, snipping paper with safety scissors. |
| Gross motor | Running, jumping, climbing, balance | Play at the park, obstacle courses, dance, simple sports games. |
| Pre-literacy | Name recognition, storytelling, basic letter familiarity | Read daily, point out letters in signs, play rhyming games, sing alphabet songs. |
| Pre-numeracy | Counting objects, recognizing shapes, comparing sizes | Counting snacks, sorting toys by color or size, simple measuring activities. |
| Listening & Attention | Following a short instruction, staying in a group activity | Simon Says, short group story times, turn-taking games. |
| Social Skills | Sharing, turn-taking, resolving simple conflicts | Board games, cooperative building activities, guided social interaction practice. |
How to Teach These Skills Through Play
Children learn best through meaningful, motivating activities. Here are examples of playful approaches that strengthen practical skills without feeling like lessons.
Cooking together is a fantastic way to practice measurement (pre-numeracy), following sequences (listening & attention), and using utensils (fine motor). Building with blocks strengthens spatial awareness and fine motor coordination. Storytelling puppet shows boost language skills and confidence in speaking in front of others.
Turn everyday tasks into games: a race to get dressed (without pressure), a song to remember the steps for washing hands, or a treasure hunt that requires counting and following clues. These activities are effective because they integrate multiple skills in a fun context, and children can’t resist returning to play that feels enjoyable.
Supporting Social Skills and Peer Relationships
School brings more peers and structured group activities. A child who can collaborate, resolve disagreements, and make new friends will likely settle quicker and feel more included. Social competence is a combination of communication, empathy, negotiation, and self-regulation.
Caregivers and teachers can proactively foster these skills by arranging playdates, supervising small-group activities that require cooperation, and explicitly teaching language for negotiating and resolving conflicts: “Can I have a turn in two minutes?” “Let’s share the red truck; you can play with it next.” Modeling and role-playing these phrases helps children internalize social rules.
Activities to Build Social Competence
- Cooperative games: Activities where success depends on teamwork like simple relay races or creating a group art project.
- Turn-taking exercises: Musical chairs with a friendly twist, passing a talking object during circle time so each child has a chance to speak.
- Conflict-resolution role-plays: Use puppets to act out disagreements and practice using calm words to solve them.
- Small-group learning: Grouping children in pairs or trios for building tasks so they practice sharing responsibilities.
- Emotion coaching: Help children label emotions and suggest appropriate responses: “When you feel angry, take three deep breaths.”
Working Together: Kita, Parents, and School
When all adults involved create a partnership, transitions are remarkably smoother. Communication, shared expectations, and coordinated activities ensure children receive consistent messages and support. Both the strengths and concerns from the Kita should be shared with the receiving school so teachers can tailor introductions and support.
Some practical collaborative steps include joint visits, shared files about each child’s interests and learning profile, transitional meetings between Kita staff and school teachers, and welcome events that bring families and school staff together. These practices make the school environment familiar and send a powerful message: adults are united in supporting the child.
What to Include in a Transition File
A transition file or portfolio is a concise and respectful way to pass important information from Kita to school. It should focus on the child’s strengths, routines, interests, and any areas needing attention. Avoid overly clinical language; aim for an accessible, positive summary.
- Child’s basic details: full name, preferred name, date of birth, language(s) spoken at home.
- Daily routines: nap times, dietary needs, special items the child relies on for comfort.
- Developmental highlights: favorite activities, social strengths, learning preferences, any concerns.
- Strategies that work: calming techniques, motivators, behavior supports that have been effective.
- Health and safety notes: allergies, medications, important medical history.
- Examples of the child’s work: photos, drawings, recordings of a favorite song or story to show personality.
Ideas to Strengthen Collaboration
Here are practical suggestions for making educator-parent-school collaboration meaningful:
- Schedule a short joint meeting with the child’s Kita educator and a representative from the receiving school to discuss the child’s strengths and needs.
- Organize a “meet and greet” event at the school for children and families to explore the environment and meet staff informally.
- Create a simple shared communication sheet that travels between home and school for the first few weeks to note successes and worries.
- Invite school teachers to visit the Kita occasionally so they can observe familiar behavior contexts and form initial bonds with the children.
- Set clear, achievable transition goals for the first term, such as “child can stay for full school day without distress” or “child can participate in a small group activity for 15 minutes.”
Practical Routines and Strategies for Home
At home, routines are the scaffolding that make school schedules easier to handle. Predictability reduces anxiety and improves self-regulation. Families can adopt small changes that accumulate into big effects on the child’s experience at school.
Start building routines months before the school starts if possible. Review school day timings and gradually shift the family’s daily rhythm to match: earlier bedtimes, consistent morning sequences, and practice of backpack packing. Even small rituals like a goodbye hug, a secret handshake, or a calming 60-second breathing routine signal stability and emotional preparedness to the child.
Sample Morning Routine
| Time | Activity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 | Wake up, morning stretch | Gently transition from sleep, reduce morning rush |
| 7:15 | Get dressed (child helps) | Build independence and fine motor practice |
| 7:30 | Breakfast together | Nourishment and social start to the day |
| 7:50 | Pack bag (child checks checklist) | Fosters responsibility and organization skills |
| 8:00 | Leave for school | Predictable departure and a chance for a connecting ritual |
Evening and Bedtime Routines
Evening routines that calm the body and mind support daytime attention and emotional regulation. A simple routine might include a wind-down playtime, a calming bath, reading together, and a predictable bedtime at the same time every night. Avoid screens at least 30–60 minutes before sleep as they can interfere with sleep quality.
Use bedtime as a chance to reflect on the day: ask the child for their “best part” and “one thing they’d change.” This habit strengthens communication and helps adults notice small signs of stress or excitement that may need attention.
Day-One Strategies and What to Expect
The first day of school is a landmark event. While it can be full of joy and excitement, it may also include tears and unexpected reactions. Prepare for the day, but remain flexible. Children often take time to adjust, and it’s perfectly normal for the first week or even the first term to be a period of gradual settling.
Families should refrain from making elaborate promises or threats about the first day; keep expectations simple: “We’ll say goodbye at the gate and I’ll come back at pick-up time.” Short, clear goodbyes that aren’t drawn out tend to be less upsetting than extended rituals that increase the child’s anxiety. Create a calm and confident tone; children pick up on adults’ emotions.
Checklist for Day One
- Label all items: backpack, lunchbox, clothing, and any comfort items.
- Pack a familiar snack and a water bottle.
- Bring a family photo in the backpack to offer comfort if needed.
- Ensure the child has practiced a goodbye ritual so they know what will happen.
- Plan for a positive arrival: allow time to get to school without rushing.
- Communicate with the teacher about any immediate needs (e.g., the child’s comfort item or medical requirements).
Teachers’ Role: Creating a Welcoming Classroom
Teachers play a pivotal role in guiding children through the transition. The classroom environment should be predictable, warm, and rich in opportunities for choice, play, and early learning activities. An inviting classroom includes labeled spaces, clear visual routines, a cozy reading corner, and accessible materials that children can use independently.
Teachers can also employ small-group activities that ease the child’s entry into school life. For instance, buddy systems that partner new entrants with slightly older or more socially confident children create supportive connections. Teachers should also be attentive to non-verbal cues; children sometimes communicate anxiety through changes in appetite, sleep, or play patterns rather than words.
Classroom Strategies to Ease Transition
- Use visuals for daily schedules: pictures that show the sequence of the day help children know what to expect.
- Create a “welcome station” with activities that are easy to start independently: coloring, puzzles, or sensory bins.
- Implement short, varied learning cycles: rotate between teacher-led activities, small-group tasks, and free play.
- Plan a “getting-to-know-you” week with lots of low-pressure social activities—circle games, partner building, and storytelling.
- Encourage parental involvement during the first weeks: parents can volunteer or participate briefly to ease separation anxiety when necessary.
Addressing Special Needs and Diverse Backgrounds
For children with additional needs—sensory sensitivities, language delays, medical conditions, or significant anxiety—the transition requires extra planning and communication. Early individualized support plans help ensure these children receive the accommodations they need to thrive. This may include sensory breaks, adapted seating, one-on-one support, or visual schedules tailored to the child.
Culturally and linguistically diverse children also need sensitive approaches. Schools and Kita should honor home languages, invite families to share cultural practices, and ensure that language learning is scaffolded through visuals and gestures. Strengthening home-school communication with translators if needed helps families feel included and empowered.
Practical Steps for Inclusive Transition Planning
- Start individualized planning early and involve parents, therapists, and any specialists.
- Use transition timelines with clear milestones and responsibilities for each adult involved.
- Introduce classroom aides or support staff gradually so the child can build rapport.
- Create a sensory-friendly corner with soft lighting, calm materials, and noise-reducing options.
- Maintain cultural responsiveness: celebrate festivals from different cultures, include multilingual labels, and encourage family storytelling days.
Parent Anxiety: Managing Adult Emotions
Adults’ emotions shape the child’s experience more than we often realize. If parents or caregivers are visibly anxious, children may pick up cues that school is a dangerous or stressful place. Managing parental anxiety helps stabilize the child’s transition.
Practical ways to reduce adult anxiety include getting informed about the school routine, meeting the teacher, visiting the school environment, practicing drop-offs ahead of time, and sharing concerns with professionals who can provide practical advice. Joining parent groups and discussing experiences with other families also normalizes the process and offers peer support.
Tips for Parents to Manage Their Feelings
- Acknowledge your feelings: it is natural to feel proud, nervous, or nostalgic.
- Prepare practically: knowing the logistics reduces uncertainty.
- Share positive narratives about school with your child: talk about friends, fun activities, and learning exciting things.
- Plan a small celebration or ritual after the first day to mark the milestone without overwhelming expectations.
- Use calming self-care techniques—short walks, breathing exercises, or a quick chat with a friend—before and after drop-off.
Sample Activities and Games to Prepare for School
Below are simple, fun activities designed to build the specific skills needed for school. Each activity is playful and can be adapted to the child’s interests and developmental level.
1. Listening Lotto
How it works: Create cards with pictures of familiar objects and call out one item at a time. Children cover the matching picture with a token. This strengthens listening skills and vocabulary.
Why it helps: Following verbal instructions is an essential classroom skill. It also teaches children to focus on auditory information and respond appropriately.
2. The Morning Checklist Race
How it works: Create a visual checklist for morning tasks (brush teeth, dress, pack snack). Time the child and celebrate when tasks are completed in order.
Why it helps: This boosts independence, sequencing, and responsibility while adding a playful competitive element.
3. Storytelling Circle
How it works: In a small group, start a story and ask each child to add a sentence. Use a talking stick so only the holder speaks.
Why it helps: Builds language skills, turn-taking, listening, and imagination.
4. Sensory Path
How it works: Create a path with textured mats, balance beams, and jump spots. Children follow the path to a “quiet corner.”
Why it helps: Enhances motor planning, body awareness, and provides a regulated way to release energy during the school day.
5. “I Can Do It” Jar
How it works: Each time the child completes a new independent task, add a marble to the jar. Celebrate when the jar is full.
Why it helps: Reinforces independence and gives a visual representation of progress and mastery.
Communication: Language to Use With Children
How we talk to children has a big impact on how they interpret the school transition. Use language that is clear, supportive, and empowering. Avoid loaded phrases that might stir anxiety: instead of “Don’t be scared,” try “It’s okay to feel nervous. When you’re worried, you can tell me or your teacher.” This acknowledges feelings and provides a strategy.
Use positive framing: emphasize what children can do and present school as a place for discovery. Simple scripts for common situations make interactions less stressful: “When you feel upset, you can go to the teacher or take deep breaths.” Repeat these scripts so children internalize them and are more likely to use them in stress moments.
Helpful Phrases
- “I know this is new, but you are ready for this step.”
- “Let’s practice together so you’ll feel more confident.”
- “If you need help, the teacher and I will listen.”
- “Tell me one fun thing you did today.” (Encourages positive reflection)
- “Everyone learns at their own pace—no rush.”
Monitoring Progress: What to Watch For
After school starts, adults should observe how children adapt over time. Most children will show signs of settling within a few weeks, but others may take longer. Look for positive indicators such as improved participation, increasing independence, better sleep, and growing friendships. Persistent signs of concern—sudden regression in toileting, severe sleep disturbance, intense daily distress, or withdrawal—warrant closer attention and possibly a professional consultation.
Keep communication open with the school. A short weekly note about how the child handled the day, or a quick conversation at pick-up, provides valuable early information. Teachers appreciate balanced feedback—knowing home behaviors helps them interpret school behaviors, and vice versa.
When to Seek Extra Support
- If a child consistently cries or refuses school beyond the first few weeks.
- If there is a regression in previously mastered self-help skills or communication.
- If a child shows signs of severe anxiety, such as panic or nightmares, that interfere with daily life.
- If the child isolates and has no peer interactions for a prolonged period.
- Any sudden behavioral changes following the transition that are concerning.
Real-Life Stories: What Parents and Teachers Experienced
Hearing real stories can be comforting and informative. Here are anonymized summaries of common scenarios and what helped in each case.
Story 1: The Hesitant Explorer
Sara loved her Kita but became clingy during her first school week. Her parents and teacher used a three-step plan: a short morning photo in her bag, a “goodbye handshake,” and a daily ritual where Sara would show her parents one drawing at pickup. Within two weeks, Sara began to greet her teacher confidently and reported “I played a game!” at home each evening. The key was consistent, small rituals that connected home and school.
Story 2: The Busy Bee Who Struggled to Sit Still
Alex had trouble sitting through circle time. The teacher introduced movement breaks and a sensory stool so he could wiggle while attending. At home, Alex practiced short listening games and yoga stretches. Gradually, Alex could participate in longer group activities and felt proud of his growing focus. Adapting the classroom environment to a child’s needs made learning accessible.
Story 3: Language Barriers Turned into Strengths
Leo’s family spoke a language other than the school language at home. Initially shy, Leo blossomed when the teacher used picture cards and welcomed relatives to share songs in Leo’s home language. The classroom embraced multiple languages, and Leo became a cultural bridge, teaching a simple song to classmates. Inclusion strengthened Leo’s identity and warmed the class community.
Checklists and Resources
Having clear checklists relieves stress and helps everyone stay on the same page. Below are checklists for parents, Kita staff, and school teachers. Following them doesn’t guarantee perfection, but it increases the odds of a smooth, emotionally supportive transition.
Parent Checklist
- Visit the school and meet the teacher if possible.
- Practice school routines at home (sleep, wake-up, dressing).
- Read books about starting school and talk about feelings.
- Label all items and practice bag packing with a checklist.
- Establish a calm and predictable goodbye ritual.
- Communicate openly with teachers about routines, needs, and strengths.
- Keep realistic expectations and celebrate small successes.
Kita Staff Checklist
- Document key strengths, interests, and strategies in a transition file.
- Schedule meetings with receiving school teachers where possible.
- Organize school visits or invite teachers to Kita for introductions.
- Practice school-like routines gradually with children.
- Support families with practical information and reassurance.
School Teacher Checklist
- Plan a welcoming first week with low-pressure social activities.
- Use visuals and predictable routines to reduce uncertainty.
- Be available for brief parent conversations at drop-off or pick-up.
- Implement small-group strategies to ease social integration.
- Request a transition file and ask questions about effective strategies for each child.
Recommended Resources
Books, children’s stories, and websites can provide ideas and comfort for families and educators. Seek resources that portray starting school as a normal mixture of feelings and offer practical strategies. Libraries, community centers, and local family services often organize orientation sessions and playgroups that are valuable.
Long-Term Perspective: Setting the Tone for Lifelong Learning
The transition from Kita to school is not just about the first weeks of classes; it’s a formative period that can influence a child’s view of learning and school for years to come. When children experience consistent support, acknowledgment of their feelings, and opportunities to succeed, they develop positive attitudes toward education. Conversely, a rocky transition left unaddressed can create long-lasting stress or avoidance behaviors.
Therefore, we should think of the transition as the start of an ongoing relationship between family and school. The skills and habits built during the first school year—curiosity, persistence, social skills, and the ability to ask for help—become the foundation for academic growth and well-being. Investing time and care in these early moments yields dividends across the child’s developmental trajectory.
How to Keep the Momentum Going
- Celebrate learning milestones and keep track of progress in a positive way.
- Encourage curiosity through field trips, library visits, and family learning projects.
- Keep communication channels open with teachers so small concerns are addressed early.
- Continue play and free exploration outside of school to nourish motivation and creativity.
- Model a growth mindset: praise effort and strategies rather than innate ability.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What if my child cries every day for a month?
A: Continued crying beyond a few weeks should be discussed with the teacher and, if needed, pediatric professionals. Some children take longer, especially if they are sensitive or have had recent family changes. A coordinated plan with consistent strategies can help, and sometimes short-term additional adult support is beneficial.
Q: Should I teach my child to write before school?
A: Basic pencil control and a familiarity with drawing and shapes are helpful, but formal handwriting instruction is typically taught at school. Focus on fine motor play—drawing, cutting, and playdough—rather than formal letter tracing, which can be stressful for some children.
Q: How can I help my child make friends?
A: Arrange playdates, practice social scripts, and support turn-taking. Teachers can facilitate buddy systems. Encourage children to ask peers to join their play and practice simple phrases like, “Would you like to play with me?”
Q: Is separation anxiety harmful?
A: Separation anxiety is a normal developmental phase for many children. It becomes a concern when it persists intensely and starts to interfere with the child’s daily functioning. Gradual exposures and consistent, calm routines often reduce anxiety over time.
Q: How long does the transition take?
A: There is no single timeline. Many children adjust within a few weeks, while others may take several months to settle fully. Plan for a gradual adjustment period and celebrate small successes along the way.
Final Thoughts: A Partnership for a Bright Start
The transition from Kita to school is a unique, emotionally rich passage for families and educators. It is a time of endings and beginnings—leaving a familiar, play-centered setting and entering a broader world of learning and social growth. The best transitions are grounded in shared communication, consistent routines, emotional support, and an emphasis on the child’s strengths. We should remember that the goal is not perfection but connection and confidence. With preparation, kindness, and collaboration, we can make this milestone a joyful starting point for years of curiosity and growth.
Take the next steps with small, manageable actions: visit the school, create a simple morning routine, practice one new emotional regulation strategy, and set up a short meeting between Kita staff and the school teacher. Each small step creates a bridge across this important transition. Together, we can help children walk across it with courage, curiosity, and joy.
Appendix: Additional Activities, Templates, and a Two-Month Transition Plan
Two-Month Transition Plan (Suggested)
Use this adaptable plan starting eight weeks before school begins. Adjust timing and activities to match your family’s schedule and the specific school calendar.
| Week | Focus | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 8–7 weeks | Familiarization | Visit the school grounds, start reading books about school, create a picture-based morning checklist. |
| 6–5 weeks | Routines & Self-help | Practice dressing, packing bag, and bathroom independence. Move bedtimes earlier gradually. |
| 4–3 weeks | Social & Emotional | Arrange playdates, role-play saying goodbye, practice calming techniques and turn-taking games. |
| 2–1 weeks | Simulations & Logistics | Do a mock school morning, visit the classroom if possible, meet the teacher, label items, finalize supplies. |
| First two weeks of school | Support & Reflection | Keep routines, monitor settling, celebrate small wins, communicate with the teacher, and adjust strategies as needed. |
Sample Visual Morning Checklist Template (Text for Printing)
- Wake up
- Brush teeth
- Wash face
- Get dressed
- Eat breakfast
- Put on shoes
- Pack backpack
- Say goodbye
Simple Calm-Down Script
Teach the child this short, repeatable script for moments of upset:
- Stop and breathe in for 3 seconds
- Breathe out slowly for 3 seconds
- Say: “I can ask for help” or “I can take a break”
- Choose a calm corner or tell an adult
Closing Note
Transitions are powerful. They shape how children learn about themselves, their capability, and their relationships with adults and peers. The move from Kita to school is a time to be gentle, intentional, and collaborative. When adults partner to provide predictable routines, emotional coaching, and warm relationships, children step into school with resilience and joy. Thank you for investing time in this important passage: your care today builds tomorrow’s confident learners.
