Transitions can be really difficult for a lot of young children, especially for many with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Big changes often bring along big emotions, uncertainty and worries. For some children with SEND, changes to their routine can be particularly challenging and they will need more support. Starting school, nursery or even moving rooms in an early years setting can be one such example and it is really important we help children with these transitions.
Young children learn so much through play and therefore I wanted to share two play-based activities that you can do to help them adjust to the idea of starting school or moving rooms, alongside your other transition activities.
BIG SCHOOL COLLAGE
Suitable for: pre-schoolers about to start Reception
Have fun creating the ultimate collage to showcase some of the new things children will experience when they start school, looking at what the new school will look like and their routines. This can be done with photographs printed from the school website or, if you are able to, photographs the children have taken with you during a school visit. This is a lovely activity that gives children the space and opportunity to open up about any concerns they have about starting school.
Equipment
Large sheet of paper, printed photographs of key aspects of the school: classroom, pegs, dining hall, etc., glue stick and scissors.
How to
- Discuss with the children that they are going to be starting Reception at school in September.
- Ask them what they already know about their school.
- Show them photographs of their school, chat about what the photographs are of and where they were taken.
- Support the children in creating a collage of the pictures, sticking them onto their paper.
- Suggest adding drawings to go next to each picture, such as a drawing of their coat next to the coat pegs or their lunchbox in the dinner hall.
- If you have some different fabrics, they could stick these to the collage too – for example, a soft material next to the picture of the carpet time.
Alternatives
You could support the child to create a photo book of their school.
Extension activity
If they are able to, children could start writing simple words next to some of the photographs, such as ‘pegs’.
Skills developed
- Language and communication
- Motor skills
- Emotional regulation
- Working memory
TEDDY BEAR TRANSITION
Suitable for: babies and toddlers
This activity is wonderfully engaging for little ones and starts to gently introduce the idea of moving from one room in the early years setting to another through play. The children can join in the process of moving the teddies from one blanket to another, simulating their transition.
Equipment
Selection of soft toys and two blankets or rugs.
How to
- Set out two blankets or rugs on the floor with a space between them.
- Together, sit the soft toys on one of the blankets and play with them. You may choose to read them a story or just play at moving them onto the rug and sitting them down.
- One by one, move the teddies onto the ‘new’ blanket. Encourage the children to help. Repeat with the teddies playing on the new blanket. You could show one teddy being a bit nervous about the change, but then being OK when they arrive.
- As you play, introduce the idea that the teddies are moving.
Alternatives
Use two cardboard boxes and move the teddies from one to another.
Extension activity
If you are able to, you could then take the children and their teddies into their next room too.
Skills developed
- Concentration
- Language and communication
- Problem solving
- Motor skills
- Emotional regulation.
ABOUT THIS SERIES
- This is the first article in a three part series on practical ways to support children (including those with SEND) with transitions, starting school, starting nursery or moving room.
Georgina Durrant is author of 100 Ways Your Child Can Learn Through Play, a book of play- based activities that help develop skills for children with special educational needs. She is a former teacher/SENDCO, private tutor for children with SEND and the founder of The SEN Resources Blog, www.senresourcesblog.com. Twitter: @senresourceblog
