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!
Thank you so much for the transition posters for Pre-K. I can’t wait for my
students to learn them. This is a great help for teachers and greatly appreciated.