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Transitions :Moments of misbehavior

(thanks to Pollygreen berg for enlightenment)

Meera tells me that all of her children give her fits on and off during each day.

“They can’t shift gears from one thing to another,”  Meera frets. “Especially Aman. He pushes my buttons. I am efficient. I want to move swiftly though my day. But Aman! He is such an intense little boy. Whatever he is doing he is deeply into it. We can’t get him to switch to what needs to be done next.”

Some children are much less adaptable than others. I guess, Aman is one of them.  Yet like many other children , your child must endure so many changes and waits (transitions) throughout the day. And like so many other children you child must be having trouble with transition.

Here is a brief guide for transitions 

Transition the weak spots vulnerable for Misbehaviors

1.  Unreasonable rigidity breeds to blowups and dawdling dare devils. Dawdling is a disruptive and powerful form of resistance. But biggest chaos comes in the life of a child is in from ‘lack of schedule to follow’.

2.   The routine embedded in a daily schedule provide security—they give young children a protected ,safely sounded feeling.

3. Important part of positive self esteem

An important part of positive self esteem is the ability to predict what’s about to happen. A schedule provides children with many opportunity to predict and therefore, to prepare emotionally.

4. Chance to feel intelligent and competent

Children need many chances each day to feel intelligent and competent. The less they feel like puppets being led by strings you pull and the more they have information they need to some self management , the easier transition time will be—that is , the more likely it is that your child will do as you say.

Reduce the number of transitions in your schedule as much as possible.

1. Large blocks of play time

Large block of play time, framed by necessary routines and errands, eliminates the need to interrupt children so much. Then you can explain them that you are cooperating with his need for time and you need him to cooperate with you need too.

2. They can’t and so they don’t want to hurry

You child is naturally busy, talkative –and a slowpoke when you want him to hurry. Young children are leisure lovers. This makes it difficult to move them through many transitions in a typical day. To the extent possible , stretch the time you allow in your schedule for “finishing up,” “putting your coat on,” and so forth, to accommodate your child’s turtle like pace. If you expect slowness and plan time for it, it won’t be so aggravating.