6 Ways To Make Transitions Easier

Transitioning from one activity to another can be one of the biggest parenting challenges in the early years...

Partially because you have to do it SO often.

In the morning alone, children have to:

• Transition from sleep to wake (which can be difficult for all ages!)
• Start and finish breakfast
• Get dressed
• Leave home to go to school/park/activity, etc.

And that’s just the first hour or two of their day!

Why Transitions Are Inherently Difficult

It’s difficult to stop what you’re doing to do something else, especially if you’re enjoying yourself, like leaving the park or finishing playing to get ready for bed.  

As adults, we rarely consider how many transitions we go through in a day because we’re usually in control of them. 

One reason why transitions can be so difficult for young children is that they are rarely in control of them.

It can be really difficult to understand why you have to leave the park now, or why it matters that dinner is ready and it’s time to eat.

As adults, we’re usually planning ahead, planning our day around meals, activities, etc. 

Children live in the moment. They probably aren’t thinking about lunch while they’re at the park, unless they’re hungry.  

Transitions are typically when you see challenging behaviour emerge, i.e. they wouldn’t listen, run away from you, get upset, etc. 

It can be really helpful to remind yourself that the behaviour is the result of the transition, and that if you can make the transitions easier for your child, the behaviour will likely stop.

How to Help Children Move Through Transitions More Easily

If your child is tired, hungry, feeling sick, etc. then chances are transitions will be even more difficult than usual. 

Spend time trying to figure out what your child needs to move through the transition more easily.

Aside from that, these 6 strategies can also make transitions easier:

1. Have a daily routine. 

Young children thrive on predictability; it makes them feel safe and in control, so if they know that every day they have to tidy up their toys before lunch or brush their teeth after dinner, they’ll eventually absorb this routine as a regular habit.  

2. Offer more autonomy and choices. 

"It’s time to get out of bed, do you want to have breakfast first or play first?" or "After lunch, do you want to get dressed to play in the backyard or the park?"

3. Offer more opportunities for independence.  

Children who want to do things independently often need more time than we give them. If your child likes to do things themselves, like putting on their shoes or jackets, give yourself an extra 20 minutes before you need to leave the house.   

4. Use a visual or auditory cue.

The concept of time is basically meaningless to young children, so they don’t fully understand when you say "You have 5 more minutes to play!" or "We’ll be there in an hour." 

For some children a visual or auditory cue can help because they provide children with a concrete representation of time. Visual timers are great because they include both visual and auditory cues.  Children can see time counting down and it makes a sound when time is up.    

5. Make transitions more fun. 

Could tidying up toys be turned into a game where you see how quickly you can get all the toys back into the basket? Could you play music while getting ready to go outside?

6. Offer help where needed. 

Even if a child can do things independently, like clean up their toys or get dressed, sometimes they may need or want a little help. You can always sit back and allow your child to try first, but if your observations tell you that they're feeling frustrated or overwhelmed, I would offer help.

Transitions can be made easier. 

Oftentimes, it just takes a little bit of strategizing, a lot of consistency and trusting that as they grow, it will get easier for them and you!