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.
The link for the printable just goes to a blank screen. 🙁
It has been fixed. Sorry about that!
Got it, thank you so much! This is a wonderful resource and is appreciated. 🙂
The link for the free printable does not work and just goes to a black window.
I’m sorry! Thank you for letting me know. It’s been fixed.
I tried to print the transition song but the click funnel name popped up along with a black screen. Should I have clicked somewhere else?
Thank you!
I’m sorry! That screen should’ve had a place to put your email address in. If you weren’t able to get it, please email me at angela(at)teachingmama(dot)org and I’ll send you the printable.
There’s nothing better than singing to help with transitions. Thank you for all these helpful resources!!
I totally agree!
Did you write the Little Wiggle chant? I put it with some music (“I have a little turtle”) and want to make sure I give credit to you if you wrote it. Thanks!!
Yes I did. Thanks!
Can I listen to the songs in YouTube or sent to my email?
You can find the songs on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5_qCH9z4_g&t=2s
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.
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!