Rationale

The integral component to deliver a quality child care in a setting are called routines and transitions.  These components are patterns of behaviour learned and incorporated automatically into daily life.

In routines, young children enable to anticipate what happens next and gives them a great deal of control over what they do during each part of the day.  A change from one place, a state, an act or a change in one set of circumstances to another are classified as a passage called transitions.  To give children a sense of knowing, routines and transitions work together.  To add to the predictability and used as valuable learning opportunities for children to explore and experiment in a safe and secure environment.   These help children to develop self-control, independence and decision-making skills.  To support active learning, consistent daily routines help.

Also, these components are used to effectively meet individual children’s needs and challenges.  It helps children to focus and connect in their daily activities, because they spend a major part of the child care day in routines and transitions.  These are considered as a need to plan and to optimise the value of learning opportunities.   It occurs through experience during nappy changing, morning tea and at the same time making the most of routine times for one-on-one or in small group experiences.

Throughout the day, routines and transitions can be included but not limited to the arrival time, self-selected activities, meal breaks, rest time, packing away and farewell.  During routines and transitions, children’s time are valuable and they need purposeful experiences and planned activities.

 >>> Background... Next Page