Transitions may be hard for some motives, which include fatigue, disorientation, or unwillingness to end an activity. Daily transitions and changes are regularly inevitable, but it’s vital to have in mind ways they could affect young kids. While thinking of the unique necessities of the kid, adults can create strategies to sell safety to kids.
Parenting Expert and Early Interventionist, Alexandra, recommended 5 approaches to assist children thru transitions in her recent Instagram post.
1. Anticipate the response and talk it
Often, we recognise which transitions are hard for our kiddos. We can assume the response and speak it with the child. This can sound like this: “You love the park a lot, but on occasion, it is honestly difficult on the way to depart! I get that. Also, I wouldn’t say I like preventing things that I experience. Sometimes doing that makes me sense irritated. What will we do if we feel irritated about leaving the park?”
2. Do an activity countdown
We regularly hear about five-minute warnings, but an activity countdown earlier than the transition may even be extra helpful for a few youngsters. This can sound like this: “It’s nearly time to leave the park. What three matters might you like to do earlier than we cross?” And depend on the kid as they go through their very last activities.
3. Allow a transition object
A transition object can reduce pressure and assist the child in the emotional transition from one activity to the next. Following the park instance, this may appear like this:
– taking a photograph of them doing their preferred park pastime to expose to a member of the family
– taking a stick from a tree in the park to add to their play space
4. Allow them to invite for extra time
Transitions may be hard because they can make kids feel like they do not have control over their day’s activities. Parents can plan for this by giving them the possibility to invite them for extra time. This can sound like this:
Parent – “It’s time to leave the park!”
Child – “No!”
Parent – “It appears like you’re not prepared. You can say: ‘I need greater time.”
Doing this model’s suitable ways to ask gives children a sense of management over their day.
