Toddler Transitions

Do not confine your children to your own learning, for they were born of another time.
-Hebrew Proverb

 

"Transitions are predictable rituals that toddlers learn to trust and rely on," note Beverly Kovach and Susan Patrick, in their book, Being with Infants and Toddlers. "Many toddlers have difficulty during transitions due to their internal emotional struggle between dependency and independency. This may interfere with providing calm transitions."

The authors offer these suggestions for toddler transitions:

• Use a signal to specify transition time.
• Tell the toddlers what they are about to do.
• Allow time for toddlers to act and process (toddlers take more time than adults to process information).
• Give one clear rule or limit or action.
• Avoid herding or gathering toddlers.
• Be an active participant in the process... If one adult is engaged with the group the other should position herself where the children need to go.