Preschool to kindergarten: The role of preschool social competence in the transition to kindergarten

This study examines the association between preschoolers\u27 social competence and their transition to school in the beginning months of kindergarten. One hundred forty eight preschoolers that were followed into kindergarten participated in this study. During the spring of the preschool year, children\u27s social competence was assessed as well as rated by teachers. In the follow-up year, parents and teachers reported on kindergarteners\u27 adjustment to school. While parents\u27 and teachers\u27 reports of kindergarteners\u27 transition and competencies were not related, teachers\u27 reports of kindergarteners\u27 transition were related to teachers\u27 reports of kindergarteners\u27 competencies. Moreover, preschool social competence was negatively associated with kindergarten transition difficulties and positively associated with social and academic competencies in kindergarten. Implications of the findings and future directions are discussed