Transitions
Switching activities, leaving fun things, flexibility
The child who can't switch gears. The meltdown every time you leave the park. The resistance to any change in activity, even good ones. Transitions ask kids to let go of what they know and step into uncertainty.
What to Know
Transitions ask kids to let go of what they know and step into something uncertain. Even when the next activity is good, the ending of the current one triggers grief, and the uncertainty of the next one triggers anxiety. This is why kids resist transitions even when they like where they're going.
Some kids are temperamentally more sensitive to transitions — they need more warning, more time, and more support to shift gears. Others struggle with transitions because they're already dysregulated from the current activity or because the next activity is undesirable.
Transition warnings help most kids, but timing matters. Too far in advance creates anticipatory anxiety; too close doesn't give enough time to prepare. Finding the right warning window for your child takes experimentation.
Signs to Watch
- •Melts down at the end of preferred activities
- •Has difficulty starting new activities even when warned
- •Gets stuck and can't shift attention
- •Needs excessive time or help to transition
- •Has bigger transition struggles when tired or stressed
- •Resists transitions even to things they enjoy
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