This research is designed to understand mothers’ experience and meaning of their first children’s
transition and adjustment to elementary school using a narrative study. First, the predominant feeling
that the mothers experienced before their children’s transition to elementary school was anxiety. To
deal with this, they prepared their children for school, but they mostly focused on learning readiness.
Second, after transition to elementary school, the mothers became less anxious regarding their
children’s peer adjustment and more anxious regarding their children’s academic performance. The
mothers had to put in their efforts for children’s successful school adjustment. It was found that the
interaction between mothers and teachers was mostly made in the areas of Korean dictation and
mathematic evaluation, so that there was a lack of their sharing and understanding about the
children’s school life. In addition, insufficient playtime was a main psychological factor that hindered
children’s school adjustment. This study suggests to provide the more systematic and effective parent
education in order to help parent support their children’s successful transition to elementary school.
Furthermore, this study proposes the faithful management of integrated curriculum and efforts for
fruitful interaction between teachers and parents.