A joint effort by school and home is needed to affect a smooth transition. This means that continuity is important for the parents as well as the children. For the parent, the preschool may be a familiar family support system where there has been frequent contact with the teaching staff. The kindergarten may represent a less familiar environment with a different type of program for children and families. Many parents are actively involved in their children's preschool program.
Studies indicate that such involvement contributes to the success of the educational program.
Parents need encouragement to continue to be involved in the educational program and to help their children feel competent as they move on to kindergarten. Parents can promote confidence in their children by conveying a positive attitude about the new school. Parents also need support to work through the effect of changing programs on their daily lives. For example, locating child care that can be used in conjunction with the kindergarten may be a critical need for some families. As parents become more familiar with the new setting and meet other parents in their children's peer group, they gain confidence in their own power to have an effect on the education of their children.