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This paper analyzes the phenomenon of the leap from kindergarten to primary school level of education. Different approaches to understanding the indicators of successful transition have been considered. As the most relevant condition and experience of children concerning occurring changes and new environments, expectations and activity of parents, quality of cooperation with family, educational and public organizations, quality of preparation of teachers come to the fore.

The transformation of ideas about factors influencing the well-being of the transition has been analyzed. The conclusion about the need for a comprehensive consideration of the role of early educational experience of children, their preparation to school, the continuity of the content and methods of education, the involvement of parents and the quality of interaction between all participants in the transition process has been drawn.

Some of the transition strategies have been considered, in particular, from the point of view of the purposes of support of this process, the basic regulatory documents, the most widespread ways of working with children, families, educational and public organizations, as well as challenges and complications.

Cases from Japan, Finland and Australia have been considered to illustrate possible areas of work to improve the transition between preschool and primary education. These countries are implementing significantly different strategies and tactics, while recognizing the need to improve the transition process and appreciating the role of early learning experiences. Japan’s approach is more oriented towards the creation of detailed regulations and the organization of interaction between teachers. The creation of a common methodological framework for early childhood education is relevant for Finland, and the particular implementation of innovations in transition is delegated to the educational institutions themselves. Australia is primarily focused on working with children in the preparatory stage, as well as on informing parents and encouraging them to engage proactively with children, teachers and each other.

The aim of the article is to help children and their parents in a difficult period of child’s adjustment to the school. The authors examine the relationship of psychological readiness and success of the child’s entry into school life. Indicators of these process successfulness are described. The article highlights the series of preparatory steps for school and the begining of the school life. Possibilities of support of first-graders in this interesting and difficult path to adulthood are explored. The answers to the questions whether the child knows the rules and able to comply with them without supervision by the parents and other adults, whether the child is ready to build a relationship with the teacher and peers in the form of cooperation are provided. Guidelines for psychological care to ensure safe entry child in school life are described.

The article presents a series of studies of the effect of mother on the course of the child’s adaptation to preschool institute. Correlation between quality of attachment to the mother, the nature of the interaction in the dyad, mother’s attitudes to the preschool institute and adaptation of the child to preschool establishment are shown. The study involved 107 mother-child pairs. The methods used in the study were: analysis of adaptation lists of children; interview with teachers, aimed at identifying the features of adaptation of the child; standardized observation of children, including meeting and parting with mother; interviews with parents aimed at identification of the relationship to early childhood institutions; the questionnaire for the study of the interaction of parents with their children (Markovskaya, 1988); a questionnaire for children and parental emotional interaction (Zaharova, 2002). The results showed that the favorable course of the process of adaptation occurs in children with secure attachment, with a high level of emotional interaction between mother and child and the positive attitude of the mother to preschool education. Unfavorable adaptation is seen in children with insecure attachment, lack of positive emotional interaction in the dyad, negative experiences during mother’s visit to preschool establishment.