Smoothing transitions from kindergarten 2 to primary school from the parents'/ guardians' perspectives

Abstract

Children go through many transitions throughout their lives, but one of the most important transition is the one from kindergarten 2 (KG2) to year 1. Starting school is an important time not only for the child himself, but also for his families and practitioners. Pianta and Kraft-Sayre (1999) stated that during this transition to formal education, behaviour is shaped and attitudes are formed that will influence the children through their future education. Findings offered from this research through the use of questionnaires, focused on the replies of nineteen parents who were involved in this study. These findings have been used to describe the perspectives, experiences and expectations of parents as their child was going through the transition from KG2 to year 1 in a primary state school in Malta. The data collected provides information about issues related to the desire of parents to be more actively involved in transition programs, to be provided with more information about the transition prior to the commencement of year 1, and family issues as routines needed to change as new responsibilities were established due to this transition.