Music In Bloom

The Transition Train

Hop on board the transition train and take a journey with young children to help guide them through those in-between moments. Introducing song and movement helps children focus their attention while getting their wiggles and giggles out before circle or listening times.

The American slide whistle is a great musical tool for getting the attention of young children. Ask the children to move up and down to this song.

Slide Whistle Up
by Maureen Conlin
© 2017 Maureen Conlin

Slide whistle up.
Slide whistle down.
Slide whistle moves up and down.

(Play slide whistle up and down)

Can you make the sound, moving up and down?

(Children mimic sound of slide whistle)

Then move all around. (Play slide whistle up down up down)

Then we all sit down. (Play slide whistle down)

Children have a natural and wonderful energy. Songs that encourage children to listen and move helps to channel that energy in a positive way. Using a song like “Wiggle Your Fingers” before starting an activity provides children with an opportunity to jump, wiggle, and listen.

Wiggle Your Fingers
by Maureen Conlin
© 2017 Maureen Conlin

Wiggle your fingers, one, two, three,
touch your toes and wiggle with me.
Wiggle your fingers, touch your toes,
turn around and touch your nose.

Now jump, and jump, and jump, one, two, three,
Now jump, and jump, and jump, then freeze.

Wiggle your fingers, one, two, three,
touch your toes and wiggle with me.
Wiggle your fingers, touch your toes,
turn around and now sit down.

Room changes, bathroom breaks, or movement to and from classroom activities offer another opportunity to use music to smooth out the transition as children march from one activity to the next.

Here I Go
by Maureen Conlin
© 2017 Maureen Conlin

I can march with two feet, two feet, two feet,
I can march with two feet, here I go.

I can walk with two feet, two feet, two feet,
I can walk with two feet, here I go.

I can skate with two feet, two feet, two feet,
I can skate with two feet, here I go.

I can clap with two hands, two hands, two hands,
I can clap with two hands, here I am!

Another idea for transitioning from one place to another is for the children to form a music train with “Chugga, Chugga, Whoo! Whoo!” Children can use their lap drums or a tambourine to tap the rhythm of the train with the accent on beat one.

Chugga, Chugga, Whoo! Whoo!
by Maureen Conlin
© 2018 Maureen Conlin

Hop on board the music train, as we chug on down the track.
Hop on board the music train, caboose is in the back!
Chugga, chugga, move along. Hear the whistle blow.
Chugga, chugga, move along. Here we all go.

When it’s time for the train to stop, we hear the whistle blow (Children make sound of train whistle).
Chugga, chugga, whoo! whoo! (whistle sound) Here we all go!

Gathering young children together to make a circle can sometimes be challenging. Once again, music creates a smooth flow as children sing themselves into the circle.

A Hand to Hold
by Maureen Conlin
© 2018 Maureen Conlin

Find a hand to hold and gather around
Find a hand to hold, make a circle big and round
As we join together, watch our circle grow
Round and around we go.

When children are wiggly and in each other’s space, ask them to find their own “chicken space” so they can flap their feathers without rustling their neighbors. This is a fun way to have children find the space to prepare for a sitting activity.

Chicken Space
by Maureen Conlin
© 2018 Maureen Conlin

Flap your feathers, here we go (Children flap arms like a chicken)
Sometimes fast and sometimes slow.
Flap your feathers, find your space.
Chickens move in their chicken place.

If you’re in your chicken pen,
find your space, cluck like a hen.
Flap your feathers before we rest.
Now sit down into your nest

Sitting for story time is another occasion for a transition activity. A fun and creative one is to ask the children to let the air out of the tire. Make the sound of the tire going flat (Psssssssssssss! Pssssssssss!) and have the children slowly sit down on their bottoms as the air runs out.

When the time comes for children to stand up, ask them what would it sound like to pump up the tire so it’s big and round and ready to roll. Choose one of their sounds for all the children to mimic as they pump up their tires.

So, it’s full steam ahead with these suggested activities as children hop on board the transition train. They are “the little engines that could” on their musical journey.