Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698058147012.pdf (Liberia)
11.7.2022 Toddlers’ transition to early childhood education and care (ECEC) May Britt Drugli Professor in education, RKBU, NTNU, Norway 1001 days, Reykjavik 27.06.22 Transitions in general • Change and reorganization • Comfortable in a new setting • Growth and development Brooker, 2008; Carr, 2001, Degotardi & Pearsson, 2014; O'Connor, 2018 Toddlers transition from home to ECEC Transitions to ECEC may differ • Familiarity with the new environment • Relationships with caregivers and peers • Help to deal with separation and negative emotions Successful transitions:  Positive feelings (strength, competence, happiness etc.)
 Support and positive stress Unhappy transitions: —Negative feelings (frustration, fear, loss) —Short- and long term problems Brooker, 2008; www.developingchild.

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edu Brooker, 2008; Carr, 2001, Degotardi & Pearsson, 2014; O'Connor, 2018 Transition = establishing «the caring triangle» • Parent enter the ECEC together with the child • The key worker becomes an important relational figure • Strong relationships Brooker, 2008; 2010 Research focusing on toddlers’ transition to ECEC 1 11.7.2022 Levels of stress during transition A Norwegian study of 121 toddlers (Nystad et al., 2021) • Levels of cortisol in saliva samples • Helps us to understand the child’s experience during transitions • High levels of cortisol in the morning, and a decline during the day Preliminary findings about wellbeing and stress during the first period without parents in ECEC 100 toddlers in 41 ECEC centers in Trondheim, Norway 1= First week without parents 2= Second week 3= Third week 4= After three months • A1 = second day with parents • A2 = third day with parents • S1 = first day without parents • S2 = second day without parents • F = follow up after 4-6 weeks • The youngest children (starting before the age of 14 months) showed higher cortisol levels Other reseach findings about transitions • Most toddlers seem to adjust during the first month (Nystad et al., 2021; Drugli, 2019) • BUT: some toddlers need four to five months (Datler et al., 2012) • Key-person approach seems to ease the transitions (Brooker, 2008; Ebbeck & Yim, 2009) • Parent anxiety has negative impact on the transition (Swartz et al., 2016) How to support toddlers’ transition to ECEC?
• It’s a process • Informed parents • Strong and continuous dialogue How to support….

• ECEC invites parents and toddlers to frequent visits before the start • Parents and toddlers become familiar = smooth transition • Caregivers get usefull insight = flexible support 2 How to support….
• Establishing caregiver-child relationships • The best predictive factor for a positive transition • Key persons • Supportive parents • May need to stay several days in ECEC together with the child • Transition objects How to support…….
• The first three weeks can be particularly challenging • Toddlers need predictive routines in ECEC and at home and a lot of support • Sensitive and stimulating care • Peer relationships and play • Time with parents in afternoons • Enough sleep • Early wellbeing – reduced stress Thank you for your attention!

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