“Please don’t rush me!” Allow time for transitions. When we are engaged in an activity, whether it’s a computer project or reading a great book, most of us need time to switch gears. Children also need transition time. Give time for transition by letting your child know what will come next. “In five minutes we will have to put the toys away so we can leave for school.” If your child is too young to understand the concept of time you can set an alarm on your phone. Or use an old fashion egg timer. This provides as a good visual for your child by showing when it is time to transition.
You can also create a pictorial chart which displays the sequence of the day’s activities. For bath time, cut out a picture of a child bathing from a parenting magazine, take a digital picture of your child reading a book for story time, and a draw a picture of a bed for time to sleep. If you create the pictorial schedule with your child, not only is it a great time management tool, but also a lesson in literacy and an activity that helps develop fine motor skills.
In addition to helping your child change his focus from one activity to another, allowing time for transition demonstrates that you respect your child’s time and value his or her play. Remember “play,” is a child’s work and as such is an important training ground for developing lifelong skills.
