Transitioning a child from home-based to center-based services, or from classroom to classroom, can be an emotional and scary process for children and their families. Parents may be reluctant or worried about letting their child go into a new setting. Family members may have a lot of questions. Creative ideas are being tried all over Kansas to familiarize children and their families with new locations.

Rainbows United in Wichita is just one of many centers working on this task. The home-based program has developed a simple way of aiding the transition to center-based services--photographs!

Dawn Lang and Shirene Sayers have obtained pictures from various Rainbows centers in Wichita. These pictures include children at the centers, teachers, paraprofessionals, therapists, classrooms, routines, and special events. The snapshots have been compiled into three beautiful photo albums complete with labels and descriptions of activities.

Family service workers take the appropriate photo album for a child's future attendance center on the home visit and review it with the family. Families and their toddlers can become familiar with the people and places that will become so important to them. Later, they can take a tour of the new facility prior to enrolling there. What a great way to reduce stress and increase anticipation for entering toddlers!

Submitted by Julie Rupert, Bridging Early Services Transition Project-Outreach / ACCK

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