Supporting Transitions
Transitions can be challenging for any child no matter the age! Whether it’s getting ready to go to school, leaving to run errands, or just cleaning up to get ready for dinner, supporting our little ones on both sides of a transition is key!
Why transitions are difficult
Put yourself in your child’s shoes. Transitions mean leaving an activity (many times a preferred or at least a familiar activity), possibly returning to a structured or non-preferred activity, going somewhere new, or changing routines. Kids often are not in charge of transitions, and it can be difficult to give up an activity you were doing just because a grown up says so.
Supporting Transitions:
Step 1: Ensure Foundational Needs are Met
Before transitioning, check in with how your body is feeling and how your child’s body might be feeling:
- Offer a snack and/or something to drink
- Check in on how they slept the night before – if they had a rough night, transitions might be harder
- Do they need to use the restroom?
- Are you hungry or tired? Checking in with your body is important too!
Step 2: Frontload!
Frontloading or pre-warning is important to eliminate the “suddenness” of a transition. You can also answer any questions about the transition before it is “crunch time” and you are rushing out the door
- “In 10 minutes we are going to pack up our toys and go to the store”
- “In five minutes we are going to change our clothes for school”
- “In two minutes we are going to stand up and walk to the car”
- “In 15 minutes we will be all done with the toys”
Step 3: Help clean up!
Start cleaning up extra toys/materials that your child isn’t using, cleaning up around them will start to signal a transition. Ask your child to help clean up a few materials or toys so they are involved with the “closing” of the activity.
Sensory Processing and Transitions:
Oftentimes, when children have difficulties effectively taking in sensory information from their environment and processing it, emotional reactions can be magnified. This can result in relatively minor bumps in the road causing temper tantrums lasting lengthy periods of time. Transitions often are these bumps in the road. In addition to working on self-regulation with a Ayres Sensory Integration certified therapist, there are things you can do at home to help.
Add in Heavy Work:
Heavy work or Proprioceptive activities can be so helpful for self-regulation!
- Pushing a full laundry basket around
- Helping unload groceries
- Sweeping or Mopping
- Animal Walks
- Building a tower with books or large blocks
- Jumping in place
- Chair Push Ups
- Carrying a full backpack
- Wall Push Ups
First/Then and visual schedules:
Having a visual schedule to reference can be so helpful for supporting transitions! Even when we think kids know the routine by heart, it still is beneficial to have a schedule. This way they know what is happening next, when their next play-time will be, and removes any uncertainty.
Having a retreat space/time:
Having a retreat space or time for retreat is important, especially if your child may have a difficult time transitioning. Build in time in the schedule for the meltdown and mentally map out a calming space your child can retreat to. It will make everyone more upset if you are also worried about being somewhere on time while your child is melting down. Now, obviously this isn’t always feasible, so incorporate this strategy when possible.
Pack support items:
if it’s a blanket, stuffie, or fidget toy, make sure to have that on hand whenever possible to help with transitions. It is easier to transition away from preferred tasks when you are transitioning to something preferred.
Regulate yourself.
This is a big one, and the hardest one. It is difficult to think of something more challenging than keeping yourself calm while your child is having a tantrum in a grocery store aisle, restaurant, or in the drop off at school. With that said, it is important for you to try your best to remain as calm as possible given the circumstances. You are your child’s co-regulator and they will build off of your emotions even if it doesn’t seem like it. If you are getting frustrated or upset, it won’t calm the situation down.
Transitions can be hard for everyone, and when you add sensory processing challenges into the mix, things can escalate quickly! Give yourself grace, and with empathy, patience, and strategies in hand, transitions can be a bit less daunting. If you have concerns about your child’s sensory processing and/or self-regulation, reach out to our office for a complimentary consultation!
KAELYN GREEN
Kaelyn Green is a licensed occupational therapist at Valued Voices. She is certified by the University of Southern California in Sensory Integration and is an advocate for addressing underlying sensory functioning in order to improve occupational performance. She is passionate about meeting children and families where they are at and seeks to tailor interventions to the unique needs of her clients. When she is not working, you will find Kaelyn taking care of her two goldendoodles, working in her garden, or taking trips to the Central Coast.
