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"I will miss Johanne the most"

Almost every day since Erika was one year old, she has relied on Johanne at pre-school. Soon, a new chapter awaits as she starts school. Research from INN shows that what children miss the most about pre-school are the staff and the opportunity to play.

Published July 30, 2025 7:36 AM - Last modified Oct. 24, 2025 9:19 AM

Erika on a zipline — *The most fun things at pre-school are the zipline, playing in the net, and riding bikes.* Erika Fryjordet, school starter

Erika is riding on a scooter — Time flies at Suttestad Pre-School. For Erika and many other children, there are only a few days left before the summer holidays mark the end of their time at pre-school.

Erika and a girl are playing — Research shows that what children enjoy most at school are places, activities, and subjects where they get to do things. This often allows them to draw on the skills they developed at pre-school to continue growing.

Portrait of Erika smiling — *I’m looking forward to PE. I also want to learn English and Italian.* Erika

Portrait outside of Kristin D. Bergseth.

Kristin Kathinka Due Bergseth is a PhD research fellow at the University of Inland Norway (INN) and studies children's experiences of the transition from pre-school to school.

Kristin D. Bergseth is standing by a wall — She has interviewed four children and their parents throughout the first year of school.

As part of her methodology, she used a retrospective walking interview, where they returned to the pre-school the children had attended and walked around to connect place-based memories with stories about how they experienced the transition.

When a child is about to start school, much of the focus is on them becoming a school pupil. What is often given less attention are the aspects related to leaving pre-school.

"Children hold a subordinate position and are often viewed through a lens focused on the future and who they are going to become. This can lead to a lack of recognition of their past," says Kristin.

To children are playing outside — Today is an outdoor play day at pre-school. The children play freely as they wish.

Johanne is holding a swing — *We have focused on play right up until the start of school began to approach a few months ago. It is important to enjoy the final time in pre-school and to ease the transition.* Johanne

Erika and a friend are talking — But Erika and the other children starting school are not unprepared for the transition.

Johanne in coversation with a child — In recent months, the pre-school has worked in dialogue with the school to ensure the transition goes as smoothly as possible, including the use of transitional objects.

There are things the children know well, such as songs, rules, and books that they use at pre-school and get to revisit at school.

Most children, including all of my informants, are keen to learn to read and write. They feel limited in their daily lives when they cannot do so.

Kristin

Mother and Erika are walking down the street — 6 June is a day Erika has both looked forward to and felt a little anxious about. Together with her mum, Karen-Ingrid, she will attend a pre-school day at Hammartun School. The aim of the day is to provide reassurance to the excited school starters.

Erika standing in the school yard — *Children experience the transition in different ways. My best advice to parents is to allow time and opportunities for dialogue with their children about their own feelings and experiences.* Kristin

Lene Heflo, Head of the Lower Primary Department, welcomes you:

"We’ve been looking forward to meeting you. Now, we will get to know you, and you will get to know us."

A group of boys enter the classroom — The day consists of familiar activities and transitional objects from pre-school in somewhat unfamiliar surroundings.

School starters are sitting in a classroom. Erika is raising her hand — The school starters gather to listen and identify unfamiliar sounds, write Norwegian, and read a book together.

School starters are sitting in a classroom — "The children are excited to learn. They wonder what and how they will learn at school, and they are very eager," says teacher Melanie Gratzer Dalsegg.

Starting Year 1 means that Erika and the other school starters leave behind their identity as the oldest and perhaps most capable in pre-school.

For some, this can cause uncertainty, as both their surroundings and they themselves expect them to become more independent and mature at school.

But most are looking forward to it, partly because it is part of growing up.

Kristin Due Bergseth behind her desk at the office — Kristin believes this is connected to the idea that going to school and being a school pupil gives one a different position and status.

Erika is talking to a teacher in the school yard

"At Hammartun School, we want to bring play into school so that the transition isn’t too big. There is also a lot of learning in play," says teacher Mia Paulsen.