Let’s Talk Transitions
What are Transitions?
The American Occupational Therapy Association (2021) defines transitions as “movement from one life role or experience to another (p. 3).” Transitions involve a phase when an individual must stop doing one thing and start doing something else, which may be planned or abruptly change a person’s daily routine (Beins, 2020). Some examples of transitions include:
Bedtime
Leaving the home to attend school
Changing classes between periods
Cleaning up toys at the end of a playdate
Why are Transitions Challenging?
Change can be an alerting and stressful experience for those with sensory differences (Beins, 2020). The parasympathetic nervous system may become activated when change occurs, allowing us to prepare for defense against threats. This defensive state involves resistance, meltdowns, or procrastination. Children with sensory processing challenges may take longer to recover from this alert and defensive state, leading to extended heightened arousal and potential difficulties with transitions (Beins, 2020).
Transitioning from a preferred to a non-preferred activity often leads to resistance, avoidance, negotiation, or meltdowns, as children may seek control or struggle to manage their emotions (Martinelli, 2024a). While many children have difficulties transitioning, it is commonly more challenging for children with varying sensory processing issues, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Anxiety, and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) (Martinelli, 2024a).
ASD: Children with ASD often prefer predictability and routine. Deviations from routines may lead to difficulties with transitions as this disturbs their internal equilibrium.
ADHD: Children with ADHD seek rewarding activities, leading to more challenges with transitioning from a preferred to a non-preferred activity.
Anxiety: Children with anxiety may have difficulties with transitions due to fear of the unknown, a location, or a new experience.
SPD: Children who are easily overstimulated may feel like the world around them is moving too fast. Order and routine may enhance a feeling of control and safety, so transitions may feel like an abrupt change causing emotional outbursts or resistance.
(Martinelli, 2024a)
Remember, many children have difficulties transitioning between activities, so it is important to understand the underlying reason leading to these challenges (Martinelli, 2024a).
How Can I Make Transitions Easier?
While there is no one-size-fits-all method for making transitions easier, here are some approaches to try:
Play
Play is one of children’s main occupations and they are often in a stress-free state while engaging in play. Pairing play with transitions may make it a more fun and positive experience. This may involve turning it into a game or incorporating their favorite toys to ease the transition. Role-play with your child to practice moving from each activity throughout the day to engage your child in the process, such as playing characters that are going through their morning routine.
Validation
Children often feel stressed or overwhelmed when it is time to transition. Showing patience and compassion can help validate their feelings and increase their ability to cope. Try using statements like “I know you’re upset about leaving for school. You were having a fun time playing this morning” to validate their experiences.
Predictability and Routines
Discuss plans with your child ahead of time so they know what to expect. Using an activity or routine chart provides a visual tool that your child can interact with as they move through their day. Try pairing an action with the transition consistently, such as picking a toy to bring in the car, as this adds a cue and may help comfort the child. To learn more about building a routine, check out our blog post here!
Visual and Verbal Cues
Use visual routine charts to help your child understand what activities will happen during the day. Give your child verbal cues leading up to a transition, such as 5, 10, and 20-minute verbal “warnings.” Incorporate phrases or songs into the transitions, such as a clean-up or goodbye song to help calm the child during transitions. Ask your child to repeat the steps of the transition back to you to ensure understanding.
Praise, Rewards, and Boundaries
Praise your child when transitions go well. Providing rewards, such as stickers or snacks, allows for tangible rewards to motivate the child. If the child is demonstrating negative behaviors but still transitioning, it may be beneficial to ignore the behaviors. If a child is demonstrating more negative behaviors, such as hitting others, set boundaries so the child understands that behavior is off-limits.
(Martinelli, 2024b; Parkings & Santomo, 2024)
When implementing these techniques to create new transitions, it may take some time for your child to adjust. Creating new habits can take weeks, sometimes even up to two months, so remember to practice the transitions consistently and remain patient as your child learns (Heffron, 2017; Pierce, 2021)!
Tools for Transitions
References
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2021). Standards of practice for occupational therapy. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(Supp. 3), 7513410030. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.75S3004
Beins, K. (2020, March 1). 3 reasons transitions are difficult for children with sensory processing disorder (SPD). Kelly Beins sensory OT consulting. https://www.kellybeins.com/3-reasons-transitions-are-difficult-for-children-with-sensory-processing-disorder-spd/
Heffron, C. (2017, September 12). 10 calming techniques and transition strategies for kids. The inspired treehouse. https://theinspiredtreehouse.com/transition-strategies-preventing-tantrums-during-daily-routine/
Martinelli, K. (2024a, March 5). Why do kids have trouble with transitions? Child mind institute. https://childmind.org/article/why-do-kids-have-trouble-with-transitions/
Martinelli, K. (2024b, March 17). How can we help kids with transitions? Child mind institute. https://childmind.org/article/how-can-we-help-kids-with-transitions/
Parkins, M., & Santomo, G. (2024). Preparing our sensory kids for easier transitions. Great kids place. https://greatkidsplace.com/preparing-our-sensory-kids-for-easier-transitions/
Pierce, R. (2021, February 26). How to help your child create habits that actually stick. Life Skills Advocate. https://lifeskillsadvocate.com/blog/how-to-help-your-child-create-habits-that-actually-stick/#:~:text=However%2C%20for%20the%20sake%20of,act%20into%20an%20automatic%20habit.