Concerns and expectations of greek parents regarding their children’s transition from domestic environment to the nursery school

In spite of the great interest of the international educational community regarding the issue of transition during pre-school age, only a limited amount of research regarding such has been conducted in Greece. In our current study we set our goals on detecting the preoccupation of parents concerning the matter of their children’s transition from the domestic environment to the nursery school as well as their expectations regarding the school environment since, as proven by the research, the participation of the family in the transitional curricula is crucial for a successful outcome of a child’s transition to a new pre-school environment no less for the backing of the school preparedness itself. On the hereunto study the semi-structured interview was opted as a basic tool for recording the parents’ views on issues of transition in order for valid data and profound information to be gathered concerning the subject of scrutiny. Our research sample consisted of 55 families all from the Region of Epirus. The interviews were carried out from early March until late May, 2017. Based on the findings of our research, the primary concern that occurred, with regards to the child’s transition to the nursery school, was -on the parents’ side- the separation and acclimation on the new context which seems to be quite hard not only for the kid but for the parents themselves. Conclusively, the activation of parents regarding the nursery school educational work shall facilitate the transitional process of the child from one context to the other by creating familiar surroundings for them, offering them security and enhancing their confidence and self-esteem.