Easing the transition to kindergarten: demonstrating partnership through service-learning

The transition to kindergarten can be difficult for both parents and children. Teachers, administrators and community providers can help ease this process by developing effective transition programs and materials for families in anticipation of the school year. However, such resources are often time-consuming and costly. To offer a solution, a team of graduate students conducted a service-learning project in collaboration with a small group of parents whose children attend a preschool in central Florida. The resulting product of this partnership was an informative brochure designed and disseminated with the goal of assisting parents in easing their child's transition from preschool to kindergarten. This project also serves to illustrate the utility of the service-learning model as a means of supporting children and families within a community preschool context. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.