The 2-Hour Problem Costing Your Childcare Center $15K Per Teacher (And the 90-Second Solution)

We Asked 500 Preschool Teachers What Makes Them Want to Quit. The #1 Answer Wasn't What We Expected.

You know that moment.

The one where twenty 4-year-olds are supposed to transition from outdoor play to lunch, and instead you've got three kids still running in circles, two crying because they don't want to come inside, one who just took off their shoes for no apparent reason, and the rest feeding off the chaos like it's contagious.

Your teachers are exhausted. You're losing staff. And you're wondering: Why is something as simple as moving from one activity to another so impossibly hard?

Here's the truth: Transitions aren't simple. For young children, they're neurologically demanding moments that require impulse control, emotional regulation, and executive function—skills their brains are still actively developing. And when those transitions go sideways, the fallout doesn't stop there. It creates a domino effect that impacts everything: learning outcomes, teacher retention, classroom culture, and your bottom line.

That's why we're building Fruit Snack Streams (FSS), the first streaming platform designed specifically to calm down early learning transitions. Not to entertain. Not to babysit. But to regulate.

Why We're Creating the First Streaming Service for Calming Down Early Learning Transitions

Transition chaos is expensive and exhausting.

Research shows that preschool classrooms spend 20-30% of their day in transitions...that's nearly 2 hours of potential chaos, redirection, and behavioral escalation. When transitions go poorly, teachers spend their energy managing behavior instead of teaching. Burnout accelerates. Turnover increases. And children miss critical opportunities to develop self-regulation skills during the exact moments they need them most.

Here's what we know from the data:

• Teacher turnover costs childcare centers an average of $10,000-$15,000 per teacher when you factor in recruitment, training, and lost productivity.

• Classrooms with poor transition management see 40% more behavioral incidents throughout the day.

• Children who struggle with transitions are more likely to have difficulty with peer relationships and academic readiness.

This is a systems problem.

Teachers are doing their best with limited tools. Singing the clean-up song for the 47th time this week. Raising their voices to be heard over the noise. Trying to wrangle 20 little nervous systems back to baseline with sheer willpower and a tambourine.

They need better tools. You need better tools.

"The Hug Bug's BIG Hello" uses storytelling to turn the drop-off transition into a moment of safety, snuggly calm, and connection. Only on Fruit Snack Streams.

The Positive Domino Effect

When you solve the transition problem, everything else gets easier.

Calmer transitions mean:

• Teachers can actually teach instead of spending half their energy on crowd control

• Children develop self-regulation skills they'll use for the rest of their lives

• Behavioral incidents decrease because kids aren't constantly dysregulated

• Staff retention improves because teachers aren't burning out from preventable chaos

• Parents see the difference in how their children manage emotions and transitions at home

This isn't just about making your day easier (though it absolutely does that). It's about creating the conditions for children to thrive and giving teachers the support they deserve.

Why Media? Why Now?

Let's be honest: screens get a bad rap in early childhood education. And for good reason because most of today's children's media is designed to capture attention and keep kids glued to the screen as long as possible.

But media itself isn't the problem. It's how we use it.

The same medium that can overstimulate can also regulate. The same technology that can isolate can also connect. And the high-influence power of media—the fact that kids are naturally drawn to it—can and should be used for good.

Here's what makes FSS different:

1. We're not trying to entertain, we're trying to regulate. Every video is designed with one goal: help children's nervous systems transition from one state to another. High energy to calm. Chaotic to focused. Anxious to secure.

2. We're built for the classroom, not the couch. FSS videos are short (90 seconds to 3 minutes), routine-based, and designed to be used with teacher guidance—not as a replacement for it. Teachers remain the co-regulators; FSS is the tool that makes their job easier.

3. We're grounded in research. Every series incorporates evidence-based calming strategies: breathwork, progressive muscle relaxation, emotional labeling, predictable routines, and co-regulation. We're not guessing. We're applying what neuroscience and child development research tell us actually works.

4. We're culturally responsive and joyful. Regulation doesn't have to be boring. Our shows feature bilingual characters, diverse representation, hip-hop beats, silly humor, and imaginative worlds because kids deserve content that reflects them and supports them.

Why This Solution Can Really Work

FSS works because it meets children where they are—developmentally, emotionally, and neurologically.

Young children learn through repetition, rhythm, and co-regulation. They need predictable routines to feel safe. They need adults (and trusted characters) to help them regulate their big feelings. And they need tools that are simple enough to use in the moment.

That's exactly what FSS provides:

• Predictable formats that children can anticipate and rely on

• Calming techniques embedded in engaging content (breathing with Balencía the Forever Balloon, stretching inside a turtle's shell, whispering through magical lands)

• Routine-specific videos for every transition pinch point (drop-off, clean-up, snack time, nap prep, high-energy release)

• Teacher-friendly design that requires zero prep and works even on chaotic days

And here's the key: It's about progress over perfection.

Even if FSS helps just one transition go more smoothly each day, that's 5-10 fewer minutes of chaos, 5-10 more minutes of teaching, and 5-10 fewer moments where teachers question whether they can keep doing this job.

Multiply that across a week, a month, a year, and you've transformed your classroom culture.

At the PBS "Be My Neighbor Day" Event in Detroit!

Why We're the Team to Do This

I'm Sierra Boone, founder of Boone Productions and creator of The Nap Time Show™, a PBS series that's helped thousands of children (and their exhausted caregivers) find calm during rest time.

But FSS isn't just an extension of what I've done before. It's the culmination of everything I've learned about what children need, what teachers are missing, and what media can do when it's designed with intention.

Our team combines:

• Deep expertise in children's media that actually supports development (not just captures attention)

• Real classroom experience understanding the daily realities teachers face

• Commitment to research-backed content grounded in neuroscience and SEL best practices

• Cultural responsiveness that reflects and celebrates diverse communities

We're not tech bros trying to "disrupt" early childhood education. We're educators, creators, and parents who believe children deserve better and teachers deserve support.

Already trusted in early learning classrooms nationwide

A Sneak Peek at What's Coming

Here's a taste of the exclusive shows you'll find on Fruit Snack Streams:

Balencía the Forever Balloon – A bilingual breathing series where a lovable balloon teaches kids calming breath techniques (2 min)

Inside the Shell – A shy turtle discovers stretches and slow movements inside his imaginative shell-world through textured stop motion (2-3 min)

Clean-Up Countdown – 90-second musical countdowns that turn clean-up chaos into a dance party

The Hug Bug's BIG Hello – A flexible drop-off ritual designed to ease separation anxiety with breathing, stretching, and affirmations (30 sec - 3 min modular format)

Snack Time Rappers – Lo-fi hip-hop routines that guide kids through snack prep with chill beats and gentle rhymes (2 min)

The World of Whisper – An imaginative "quiet game" adventure that helps kids practice volume control before nap time (3 min)

Each series is designed for a specific transition moment, grounded in research, and built to make your teachers' lives easier.

"Inside the Shell"

The Bottom Line

You didn't get into early childhood education to manage chaos. You got into it to support children's growth, create nurturing environments, and build teams of passionate educators.

Fruit Snack Streams helps you do exactly that.

We're not asking you to overhaul your entire approach or add more to your teachers' plates. We're offering a simple, research-backed tool that fits seamlessly into your existing routines and makes the hardest parts of your day easier.

Calmer transitions. Happier teachers. Regulated children. Better outcomes.

Ready to see the difference?

Sign up for a free trial of Fruit Snack Streams and experience what happens when you give your teachers the tools they actually need, and your students the support they deserve.

👉 Start Your Free Trial Today