‘I Want to Play When I Go to School’: Children's Views on the Transition to School from Kindergarten

Abstract

THE BEGINNING OF A CHILD'S JOURNAL to formal schooling is a significant milestone in the early years of a child's life. Research literature has identified that the manner in which a child experiences the transition to school has significant implications for their future social and academic success at school. This article presents some of the findings from a recent study that examined the multidimensional nature of children's transition to school. The study specifically explored six children's views about their transition to school. The study was carried out across three long day care centres in inner suburban Melbourne that provided a kindergarten program for children a year before commencing formal schooling. The study indicated that children were very happy about starting primary school and children's understanding of school encompassed the social and physical changes to which they will need to adapt when commencing school. The study further suggested that children did not take into consideration the academic aspect of school but just wanted to have fun at school.