In the transition class, we help children learn how to deal with their new found desire for control and power through activities, peer interactions and adult interactions. Children are encouraged to dress themselves, serve themselves at meals, wash, and dry their own hands, and initiate their own activities. Adults help by giving appropriate choices and by setting appropriate limits. At this age, children vacillate between wanting to do it all and wanting to be cared for like an infant. Keeping this in mind, the teachers' approach is to model behavior and language for the children to use with each other.
Language development is another area of focus.
Children learn to express their needs not only to adults, but also to their peers. This initial form of communication lays a foundation for the more complex communication of adulthood. As children spend longer periods of time interacting with peers, they require less adult guidance because they are learning the socialization process. Generally, children become toilet competent in this class. We help when each child is ready to achieve toileting abilities.