Tammie: Toddler to Preschool Transitions

Developmental Considerations during the Toddler to Preschool Transition: What is it like to be this age?

Older toddlers who are 2 going on 3 years old

change every day! During this time toddlers will:

still want and need emotional closeness like they did as a younger baby, yet they also demand independence like an older child

be curious about their environment but not yet understand safety

move quickly from activity to activity constantly on the go

want to do more and more by themselves such as eating, dressing and bedtime. This can lead to power struggles at times as their drive and skill do not always match

say “No” more often now. Supporting a toddlers growing autonomy and independence presents new challenges for parents and caregivers.

be at the very beginning of developing self-control and internal limits (need support from adults)

continue growing in their language ability, both in understanding, and speaking.

imitate adults in their lives to learn more about the complex world around them

toileting will become a focus during this time

The anthem of a 3 year old; I am BIG!

During this time preschoolers will:

be curious and have a greater ability to maintain focus on things that interest them

have mastered many of the tasks they were practicing as toddlers (eating, dressing, etc.)

have an increase in autonomy and deciding what they like and dislike, are learning to express these preferences

still continue to develop self-control and internal limits ( still need support and models from adults)

rapidly acquire language skills and increased cognitive skills

imitate adults in their lives to further understand the world around them

continue to master toileting skills

begin to shift from parallel play to playing with peers, requires adults to provide models, problem solve, etc.

increase in testing limits to find boundaries

enjoy being a BIG helper!

Understanding each child's individual development, needs, families preferences, and history, are key to planning transitions (Turunen, 2012). Partnership between families and educators establishes reciprocal relationships; focusing on the child's well-being and success as the heart of decision making (Grant & Ray, 2019).