![]() ![]() Practice Frontloadingįrontloading refers to the conversations and activities that occur before an event with the intent to support a successful transition. If chores and homework are on your child’s to-do list, say, “Your choices are to do your flashcards or put away the dishes. For example, most likely the steps in your child’s bedtime routine are non-negotiable (e.g., putting on pajamas, brushing teeth, combing hair), but maybe you can let your child choose the order in which they’ll complete each step. If the bus is running late, you can ask your child, “Do you want to wait for the bus inside or outside?” If they can’t wear their favorite sandals, ask, “Do you want to wear tennis shoes or boots?”Įven when things are going according to plan, consider introducing flexibility and choice throughout your child’s daily transitions to break down barriers and resistance. Especially if your child’s transition difficulties are rooted in anxiety, choices, no matter how small, can provide them with a sense of control during stressful situations. But even in these moments, there are always little glimmers of flexibility and choice to be found. The Gift of Choiceĭespite our best efforts, some things are simply out of our control, like if the school bus arrives late, or if it’s raining and your child can’t wear their favorite sandals. Either way, your child will be able to see that a break or a fun reward is coming up soon. Some children may thrive if their visual schedules are balanced with challenging and less challenging tasks, with breaks after especially frustrating tasks, or with a preferred activity at the end of the routine. Likewise, another simple visual schedule could be writing out the tasks within an especially aversive homework assignment. Writing out (rather than solely verbally telling) your child the chores you expect them to complete may help with the transitions between homework, laundry, and doing the dishes. That way, your child can physically move a picture card once the related task is completed.īut schedules don’t always have to contain images and Velcro tabs to help your child. For example, your child may benefit from an interactive visual schedule for their nighttime routine where each step in the routine has an associated picture card. Make your child’s visual schedule as detailed as needed. Visual reminders of the many activities and sequences your child follows throughout the day can help them mentally prepare for changes and avoid surprises. Maybe transitions are easier for your child when the environment is quieter, when they have a full belly, or if they can read a book on drive there.Įxamining transitions in this way will help you notice patterns and think of strategies that uniquely fit the situation and are appealing for your child, like putting on their favorite song as they transition through their morning routine. Is your child moving from a quiet environment to a loud one with lots of people, or is it the opposite? Is the activity your child is transitioning to a boring one? Is the transition too slow, or too fast? You can also try to write down the transitions that come easily to your child to give you some clues. Try writing down all the transition hot spots during your child’s day and think about what happens immediately before and after the transitions. Your child’s transition difficulties likely follow a pattern. Try these strategies to help your child seamlessly move through difficult “between spaces.” 1. ![]() But with a bit of patience, planning, and practice, your child’s toughest transitions can eventually become second nature. Whether it’s the space between brushing teeth and putting on socks, or the space between the end of the school day and the start of swimming lessons, even a seemingly small transition point can have a big impact on our kids with ADHD. The space between can be rough for our kids. ![]()
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