Home Infant Toddler Program Transition Handbook

Helpful Hints for a Smoother Transition

Transition involves talking and working together with others in your home, school, and community. The following activities and tips have been useful to North Carolina families involved in the transition process.

• Start early. You can never begin a transition process too soon. Keep a simple journal (notebook) about your child'’s activities, interests, and milestones. Medical reports and previous evaluation summaries are important. This notebook will quickly provide information to your child's service provider during that transitional period. Think about these early years as a time to learn more about the programs in your community.
• Be prepared to share any ideas that have worked for you with your child (e.g., behavior strategies, communication systems, likes and dislikes).
• Ask your child's teacher if your child can bring a comfort item from home (e.g., stuffed animal or favorite toy) during the transition period.
• Explain to your child's teacher how you can be reached when questions arise.
• Visit and tour your child's future school with and without your child.
• Encourage communication between your school personnel and private provides who work with your child.
• Find out what the Preschool Program offers for new families and choose how you will participate (e.g., open house, observation scheduling).
• Meet as many school employees as you can who will be a part of your child's school day (e.g., secretary, bus driver, janitor, teacher, principal.)
• Get to know your child's new teacher and meet him or her before school starts; let the teacher know how you could help your child in the classroom, or find other ways to help.
• Ask your child's new teacher for a list of times when the two of you can talk during the year. Find out other ways you can communicate with each other on a regular basis (e.g., notebook system, phone calls, email).
• If your child will have a teaching assistant, meet him or her before the start of the school year and watch how he or she works with other children. Be willing to share what you know about your child to help the teaching assistant understand your child’s needs (e.g., positioning techniques, feeding, communication, as well as likes, dislikes).
• Ask about ways to link with other families in your community (e.g., Parent-to-Parent Support Groups, Family Resource Center, Health Department resources, Cooperative Extension Services, etc.).
• Ask about special transportation, if needed.
• Check buildings to see if they are accessible. Look at how the room is arranged, restroom adaptations, etc.
• Ask your child's new teacher or specialists to observe your child in his or her current program.
• Talk with other families of children who have already moved into the Preschool Program.
• If local support groups are not available, contact the Family Support Network (FSN) at 800-852-0042 or the Exceptional Children's Center (ECAC) at 800-962-6817.
• Attend the PTA or PTO meetings of your school.

Adapted from Families and the Transition Process: Primary Style
Kentucky Early Childhood Transition Project.

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