A Descriptive study of the transition experience of normally developing children within the first two months of entering an integrated preschool
Date
1994
Authors
Luis, Hillary Cormack
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Abstract
The purpose of this thesis was threefold. One purpose was to describe the consumers (parents of children attending) of the Pearkes (Queen Alexandra Centre for Children's Health) integrated preschool program during the research period in order to provide Pearkes administration with information which may be useful in future planning. The second purpose was to describe the transition behaviours of children over three years of age who were entering the integrated preschool for the first time. This information will provide teachers and parents with an idea of what may be expected during the first two months or transition period when three year old children enter integrated preschool programs. The third purpose of this thesis was to describe strategies and other factors which parents and teachers identified as useful in easing the transition period.
Additionally significant to this thesis was the use of study results on policy development specifically in relation to pre-entry preparation for children enrolled in integrated preschool programs. This thesis also adds to the existing studies regarding the experiences of normally developing children in integrated preschool programs.
Parents and teachers completed questionnaires based on Jorde's (1984) study examining the influence of parent's attitudes and behaviours on the adjustment of two year olds to a new, regular (not integrated) preschool experience. This was adapted for use in the integrated program by the researcher with the assistance of an early childhood educator.
No one strategy could be identified as playing the most central role in easing the transition process however, a number of strategies such as pre-entry preparation were explored and thought to be useful.