Take your time: Don’t rush! Leave extra time for the transition. Your child will be less stressed, as they can feel when you are rattled (and you’ll be less stressed too!)  This transition strategy is by far one of the most important ones!

Use a toy as a tool: Does your child bring their favorite toy or blanket with them everywhere? Does it become a distraction? Does your child tantrum if not allowed to bring it?  Using a toy as part of the routine can be a great transition strategy!

Sometimes having a favorite toy with them makes a child feel comforted, especially when they are going somewhere new. If you think it may become a distraction, show your child that you are going to put it somewhere they can still see it. You may even tell them “Your toy is going to watch you do your hard work! Then when you’re done, it will come play again.” Being able to see their toy often helps them to adjust and stay focused. Similarly, you can have your child put it away somewhere, but where they still know where it is (in their backpack, taking a nap in mommy’s purse, etc).

If the issue occurs with getting your child to transition from place to place, it often helps to use a toy as a transition tool. For example, giving your child a task during their transition (eg. Can you walk the toy to the car? He’s sleeping. Lets walk gently so we don’t wake him!)

Priming: This is likely one of the most important steps to making a transition strategy successful.  Imagine you are busy writing an email or watching your favorite show and your partner walks in and tells you its time to go and you have to leave “RIGHT NOW”.  You would not be happy and you might even be annoyed, but since you are an adult, you are able to modulate your arousal and adjust your emotions.  Letting your child know what is coming next is extremely important to facilitate a smooth transition.

Countdowns: Use the priming described above, and let them know that when you get to 1, it is happening. If you can get creative, this also has the potential to make a transition more fun. (Eg. We’re blasting off to get to the “rocket ship” (the car, out the door, off the couch in 5-4-3-2-1…BLASTOFF!) If they can, have them do the countdown with you!

Timer:  Choose a timer that has a visual component.  These timers show a child exactly when the transition is happening. They are particularly helpful in letting a child know when it is time to take a break from their preferred activity to transition to something else that may be less preferred (eg. eating dinner, cleaning up their toys). Camille’s favorite is the Children’s Countdown Timer, available as a free app for smartphones and tablets. If the child can follow instructions, have them press start so they have a sense of control, then put the timer somewhere visible.

Visual Schedule: Let them know what’s coming next by keeping a visual schedule. Visual schedules are a great tool for helping keep kids on task. Remember is not to overwhelm the child with too many steps. You may want to narrow the schedule down to 4-5 steps, especially if the visual schedule is a new tool. You can do this visually with a chart or list. The most important part of this strategy is to stick to your decisions. If you show your child that you are going to go for a walk before eating lunch, don’t switch around the order of activities. As a child grows older and learns to tell time, the schedule
can become a clock with what to expect at each time written on the face.

Give them some control: Giving a child a task during a transition helps them have something to focus on during their wait time. For example, as the children are lining up in their classroom to go somewhere, a child with difficulty transitioning can be tasked with holding the door for everyone, being the line leader, or carrying a heavy book for the teacher. Instead of waiting for their math lesson to start, they can be a helper by passing out worksheets.

Give them breaks: Taking a brain break for movement between activities/subjects can help a child get their energy out during a transition so they can return their focus to schoolwork afterward. The break does not need to be long, 2 minutes is often sufficient! Brain breaks can be beneficial for the entire class. Jumping jacks, jogging in place, and desk push-ups are a few great options, but there are many many more online.

Make sure they are “ready”: When a child’s arousal level is high, it can be helpful to have them do a calming activity before asking them to make a transition. Listening to music, taking 10 deep breaths, or wearing a weighted vest are a few examples. As they mature and become more aware of their arousal, they can request their calming activities. You can facilitate this by asking them “do you need to calm down before we get in the car?”