Why Transitions Are Hard
Your child's brain is still building executive function skills. When transitions come suddenly, it's genuinely jarring—not defiance.
They're not being difficult; the shift is actually difficult.
Four Strategies That Work
1. Give a Heads-Up (and Follow Through)
- We're leaving in five minutes
- In five minutes, time to turn off the TV
- Five more minutes at the playground
The catch: Actually follow through. If five minutes becomes ten, the boundary becomes negotiable.
2. Offer Small Choices
Give them control within your boundary:
- Bluey pajamas or Mickey Mouse pajamas?
- Walk to the car or hop like bunnies?
- Sticker book or stuffed animal in the car?
3. Create Predictable Cues
- A transition song (Clean up, clean up...)
- Visual timers (sand timers work great for young kids)
- Consistent phrases (Ten second countdown!)
4. Build simple routines
- Bedtime: bath → pajamas → books → lights out
- After school/daycare: wash hands → snack → outside or walk → dinner
- Morning: Breakfast → get dressed → brush teeth → shoes on
5. Celebrate the Wins
- You turned off the TV so calmly!
- You got in the car without any fuss!
- You really listened when I gave the warning!
When Things Go Sideways
- Stay calm. Your calm is contagious—so is your stress.
- Know when to abort. Sometimes you need to regroup. Use this sparingly.
- Address it later. Circle back when everyone is calm.
Remember
- Consistency matters more than perfection
- Your calm matters more than getting it "right"
- Pick one strategy and try it for a week
- Progress, not perfection
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Need support? Your Poppins Parent Coaches are here to help.
