Preschoolers LOVE music. They enjoy moving, making sounds, and singing! There’s something about music that draws them in and points their attention at whoever is making music.
A few summers ago, I took a class on early childhood transitions with a lot of preschool teachers. The course was designed to help teachers plan out an effective schedule and transitions to help decrease the number of behavior issues that happen throughout the preschool day. After taking the class, I was inspired to write more songs and transitions for preschool teachers and homeschoolers to use.
First of all, what is a transition? A transition is something that helps moves children from one activity to another. An example would be from lesson time to story time or clean up time to snack time. Transitions can be rhythmic chants, songs, or short stories. It is super important to have these transitions as a classroom teacher. Whenever you have dead time, that’s when the behavior problems start happening! (Am I right fellow teachers?!) Something I really love about transitions is that it introduces kids to music, rhythm, and rhyming. You do not need to be a great singer to use these at home! Just try your best and your child will love it! 🙂
Today I’m going to be sharing with you 10 transition songs and chants to help your preschool day run smoothly.
1. Wiggle Your Fingers, Stomp Your Feet!— This chant is great for helping a child get their wiggles out and ready to focus on school!
2. Do You Know What Time it Is?–a great song for practicing time! Maybe if youre transitioning from playtime to school time, then you would sing this song to signal that school is starting.
3. Movement Song –a happy song to sing anytime during the day!
4. Clean Up Songs–Here are 2 songs that are fun to sing when its time to clean up!
5. Color Song— a fun way to practice colors!
6. This is the Way I Move!–a wonderful way to get your child moving and exercising while singing!
7. Finger on Your Lips–a song to use if you want children to be quiet and listen.
8. Little Wiggle–a perfect chant to help get the wiggles out of your little ones!
9. Washing Hands Song–a simple song to sing while washing hands!
10. Criss Cross Applesauce–a chant to help them sit down quietly.
Try them out and see if these transition activities make a difference in your classroom!
I love these transition song and ideas, i definitely use it in my class. Thank you !
Hey Angela, thanks I have just started working in a pre school. Songs like these really help us a lot to run class smoothly. I have pinned several ideas shared by you.
Thanks a lot. I am regular reader of your blog from now. Cheers!
Thank you for the PRINTABLES.
SO cute, and SO fun!!! Thanks for inspiring us and creating joy in the journey!
Totally agree! As a music teacher, I know exactly how well students respond to musical elements as transitions. Thanks for spreading the good word! I tell my younger class teachers this all the time, but they have a hard time buying in. Maybe this will convince them.
I will have to try this with my 3-4 years old at work.. If you can give me hints for circle time I will appreciate it💗
These are great, I think every preschool teacher has times where they ‘lose’ the class for whatever reason, these will be handy!
I already use these is there one I can use to transition from breakfast to line up for outdoor time
Stay tuned! I’m just weeks away from launching my new book with 150 transition songs/rhymes. It includes lots of line up songs and outdoor songs.
Thank you.
I’ve pined several useful ideas for my preschoolers from you 🙂
I really liked the idea. It will help me introducing making transitioning smoother in the classroom to my teachers during training times. Good job!
Thank you so much,l love these songs…..can’t wait to try them tomorrow
I love your songs. I stole some of them & I know it’s a good one if i can remember it!! I’m looking for a show & tell song, any suggestions??
I need help ASAP!
I’m a preschool teacher of young tot’s. They are just turning one to about 14 months and when we transition inside from outside play they come inside hysterical. Some of them walk and some crawl. They have a routine for about a few days then they break it by the way need attention, from going to sleep early, to needing a snack before lunch. One still gets a bottle and the rest freak out… ANY SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE!?!?!?!
I just love them and Iam sure that these all will help me in my school
thanks a lot
Love this
I would like to have thatsend to my email thank you
You just made a homeschooling mom very happy today. Me! Thanks for sharing this.
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So happy to hear that, Sylvia! Thank you!!