Even Start is a family literacy and support program for families with young children. This paper focuses on the impact and potential of transitions for children and adults as Even Start helps them move across settings. Such transitions occur daily, such as from home to day care to work, or occur over time, such as a transition to formal schooling. The paper discusses ways of providing a stable base for children and families by building bridges between the settings in which they currently spend time to new settings, creating smooth transitions. The paper lists four guiding principles intended to build practitioners' understanding of the role of transition activities in Even Start as a basis for creating lifelong learners. The first principle is that parents, children, and families go through many transitions while in Even Start. Second, successful transitions require firm grounding in the present stage of development and appropriate challenge to move on to the next level. Third, change is preceded and followed by periods of disequilibrium, and stabilization marks the new stage of development. Fourth, teaching adults and children new skills to support lifelong learning is a major goal of Even Start programs. The paper then provides guidance on managing transitions into Even Start, within Even Start, into school, and into the community. Specific methods for planning for transitions, supporting transitions, and developing staff are addressed. (Contains 10 references.) (SD)