Chaotic and unpredictable routines can create an environment of disarray in the classroom. Explore why peaceful transitions are essential to creating calm, predictable, and engaging routines for young children. Next, the early educator will gather information on making fewer, shorter, and logical transitions. Finally, identify solutions and best practices to improve transitions in their classroom.

1. The Super Secret Solution to
Peaceful Transitions

2. Discussion
• Why are transitions so challenging?
• Why are they necessary?

3. Transition Tally
Based on your posted daily schedule:
• How many transitions do you have each day?
• How many minutes do you spend in transition?
• How much time do children spend waiting? (for the bathroom,
the sink, lunch, etc.)

4. The Super Secret Solution:
•Fewer Transitions
•Shorter Transitions
•Logical Transitions

5. Transitions Type
• In Room vs. Out of Room
• Whole group
• Small group
• Individual
• Obvious vs. hidden
• Change of activity level

6. Reducing Transitions per Day
In-Room
• Between centers
• To and from circle time
• To lunch
• To bathroom
• Clean up
Out-of-Room
• To playground
• Closing room

7. Do we need them all?
• Keep only the most critical/required
transitions
• Reduce transitions requiring clean-up

9. Keep it Short
• 90 second rule
• Organized room
• The right amount of materials
• Leave it out!
• Small group transitions work best

10. Logical Transitions
• Watch the children, not the clock
• Be flexible
• Eliminate waiting

11. Best Practices
1. Give an appropriate amount of warning
“In a moment…”
2. Make it a learning activity
3. Make it a game
4. Allow children to leave out their work for future play
5. Avoid completing transitions as a full group

12. Loose the Line!

13. Let’s Practice!
• Where can you eliminate a transition or two from your daily
schedule?
• Which transitions can you make shorter?
• When can you reduce waiting?

14. Conclusion
• Action Plan:
• Start
• Stop
• Keep
• Questions
• Best Practices