Transition Ideas for Young Children

• “First we build, then we have snack, then we play outside! Let’s flip the card and see what’s next in our story…”
• Jumping through a magic portal 
• Join child's play 5 minutes before the transition so that you can weave the transition into the play. 
• Let a favorite stuffed animal, puppet, or toy “lead the way” to the next activity. (Mr. Bear says it is time for dinner….)
• Turn the transition into a part of an unfolding story.
• Frame the transition as a special mission from a beloved character or imaginary guide.
• 5, 4,3, 2, 1 pretend to be a rocket blasting off to dinner
• Can you tiptoe to the next room without making a sound?
• How many hops does it take to get to the table?
• Develop a short, personalized storybook that walks the child through their daily routine, with them as the main character. Re-read it daily and refer to it during transitions.
• Hop like a bunny to dinner
• Crab-walk to the table
• Balance a stuffed animal on your head while going
  (Let him choose the movement for added control.)
• First/Then “First dinner, then tablet time” (put a preferred activity, after a less preferred activity). 
• Scavenger hunt. Find the ______ on our way in for dinner and bring to the table. 
• Hide numbers and say “find numbers 2, 0 and 5, the secret code to enter the dinner room”
• Help him make “dinner tickets” for everyone and he can pass them out when it is time to transition. 
• Toys “go to sleep” or trucks “park in the parking garage”
• Take a picture of whatever he is playing with, so that he can remember it even though it is time to go inside. 
• Pretend there is a “pause button” and press it, explaining we can come back after dinner. 
• Create a “transition treasure bag” - he gets to pick a sensory toy to take with him to dinner. 
• I see it’s really hard to stop playing outside. It’s okay to feel sad. We’ll come back tomorrow, and right now, let’s fly like a bird to the table.”

           Transitions that provide a sense of power and control: 

• Do you want to go inside in 2 minutes or 5?
• Should we hop or tiptoe to the table?
• Which toy can come with us to dinner? 
• Let him announce time for dinner using a toy megaphone or a special wand.
• Let him control the timer (pressing start, etc). 
• Let him help siblings or a toy through the transition first.
• Oh no, Bunny says he’s not ready to stop playing. Can you tell Bunny how to get ready for dinner?