10 Preschool Transitions
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.
What are Transitions
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! 🙂
10 Preschool Transitions
Today I’m going to be sharing with you 10 transition songs and chants to help your preschool day run smoothly.
Wiggle Your Fingers, Stomp Your Feet!
This chant is great for helping a child get their wiggles out and ready to focus on school!
Do You Know What Time it Is?
This is a great song for practicing time! Maybe if you’re transitioning from playtime to school time, then you would sing this song to signal that school is starting.
Movement Song
This is a happy song to sing anytime during the day! It’s also wonderful for talking about emotions and getting the wiggles out!
Clean Up Songs
Here are 2 songs that are fun to sing when its time to clean up!
Color Song
I love this song for practicing colors! It’s also excellent for learning to follow directions.
This is the Way I Move!
This is a wonderful way to get your child moving and exercising while singing!
Finger on Your Lips
I use this song when I want my students to be quiet and listen.
Little Wiggle
This is a perfect chant to help get the wiggles out! And we all know that preschoolers need that!
Washing Hands Song
Here is a simple song to sing while washing hands!
Criss Cross Applesauce
Check out this chant to help students sit down quietly.
Try them out and see if these transition activities make a difference in your classroom!
Free Printable
If you’d like to download this printable and start using it with your students right away, just fill out the form below! The printable will be sent to your inbox.
Video
To hear the songs and chants, check out my video below!
Frequently Asked Questions
Start by telling your students that you are going to teach them a new song. Sing it a couple times and invite students to start singing it with you. It may take a few times for them to catch on but they will!
Under the title of the song, it says what tune it is. They are all well-known nursery rhymes or folksongs. You can look it up on YouTube if you aren’t familiar with the tune. I hope to make audio versions of each song in the future!
I only have the one video included in this blog post. I also hope to make these songs into videos soon.
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