Gayle's Preschool Rainbow, a resource site for teachers, notes that rhymes and songs help children become secure in knowing what comes next. Have the children recite rhymes or sing songs related to routine activities to prepare them for what is about to happen. This distracts them from things they might prefer to do such as continuing the current activity. Rhymes and songs can be recited while the children perform a necessary chore such as cleaning up. A song about quiet time may include kinetic motions for the children to perform such as placing their hands on their lap.
The transitional period before an activity ends is a good time for children to partner to complete any projects and clean up. Four-year-olds can be teacher's helpers during transition times. Use a kitchen timer to set the time allowed for an activity. When it dings, the helper can reset it for another five minutes and announce that the class has five minutes to finish what it is doing. When the timer dings again, the helper resets the timer for yet another five minutes and announces that it is clean-up time, or time to put things away, so students can start the next activity such as snack time or playtime. Not only does this reinforce responsibility and leadership for each child, but it helps establish the importance of schedules.
Some transaction activities such as hand washing leave many children waiting while others finish washing. Preschool-Plan-It, a website dedicated to planning for preschool teachers, recommends having a designated mat where the children who have completed the primary task can occupy themselves. A number of games can be employed, but be careful to include only things that have a short playing time. Memory cards are a good choice, being easy for each child who arrives after washing to blend into the game.
As the end of the school year approaches, children should be prepared for what to expect as they are promoted to the next grade level so that it can become familiar. After discussing possible changes they may experience, make the children aware of the new privileges and opportunities that will open up to them, the new friends and teachers they will meet and how they will be able to help the younger children in the school. Have the children talk about what these changes may mean for them and their feelings about the promotion.