Tips for Transitions

Lexie Huddleston, OTS

Transitions call for change, and we all know that change can be difficult, unpredictable, and frustrating at times. A transition can be described as the process of moving from one activity to another or from one location to another. Whether at home, school, or in the workplace, transitions make up a large part of the day and can be challenging for many kids, especially when asking them to stop an activity that they enjoy, and move to a less desirable task such as homework or chores. Unlike adults, children do not have a strong awareness of time, which therefore hinders their ability to anticipate and prepare for upcoming transitions. Oftentimes, for children that are easily overwhelmed and have trouble adapting to change, transitions can be a trigger for problematic behaviors. Depending on the child and setting, difficulty with transitions can result in avoidance, negotiation, distraction, resistance, aggression, or a full-blown meltdown.

Transition strategies are used to support kids during transitions and promote self-regulation when change or disruption occurs throughout the day. There are various verbal and visual techniques that can be used before, during, or after a transition to help children better understand the process. When used consistently, these strategies provide a sense of predictability and can help reduce anxiety and decrease the frequency of challenging behaviors. Incorporating these strategies throughout the child’s daily schedule will help them learn to manage their time and create positive routines that take some of the difficulty out of transitions.

1. Create transition routines. Providing the child with structure and consistency is key!
2. Allow plenty of time for the child to complete the transition, especially transitions that are particularly difficult for them. 
3. Use a visual timer. This will give a visual description on how long a specific task or activity should last and how much time remains.
4. Create visual schedules. Visual schedules show the sequence of daily tasks that need to be completed and signals when each activity should start and end.
5. Allow the child to carry a transition object or toy. Holding something familiar in the midst of change can be comforting for the child.
6. Adding movement activities throughout the transition can be a great distraction. Singing songs, marching, blowing bubbles or completing animal walks are great activities to help the child move from one location to another.