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July 7, 2008
Transitions
So, this is probably a new parent thing, an insight that most experienced parents have already had.
But over the past few weeks, I've realized that my babies are much happier when I actively create transitions for them.
After a meal of solid foods, they used to fuss and cry, even if I could tell from their cues they weren't hungry anymore. And they would continue to freak out while I tried to wipe their faces, trays, put away the food, etc. I think they must have been thinking, however babies think, "Why is this good thing being taken away from me?" (even though I as an adult could tell that they were no longer hungry).
Now, as soon as they're done, I hand them each a clean spoon to play with. No more tears for them, and a chance for me to clean things (and them!) up before the gook has a chance to dry. Then they get down and play.
The flow-chart (not to totally geek out here) for this would be (a) eat (b) transition=spoons (c) get down and play.
I suppose that's what we've been doing for awhile with sleep-times/naptimes, but hadn't thought about the wider applications of transition times.
Thinking , deux bebes , teaching | By Tim and Jo | 12:56 PM
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Comments
lol. so true!!! i never thought i'd be the type that said bye-bye to toys. but it helps soooo much
Posted by: Jeannette at July 7, 2008 2:07 PM
oh yeah. Transitions are our friend, even with my older kids.
Posted by: Joy at July 9, 2008 2:33 PM
Transitions! Vital to understand how your specific kids transition, and what helps and what doesn't.
One of my boys was just the most rambunctious and ornery when we either had guests over or after church. Both are embarrassing times for moms to have rammy kids. When I realized that the underlying issue was that he had trouble transitioning (from "our" home to "our home with guests," from structured church to unstructured post-church visiting), then I was able to prepare him for those times and help with the transition. (For us, that meant I held his hand as we left church/as people arrived and as I visited, until I knew he had made the transition and could play with the other children. . .)
Interestingly, I had someone observe this same child at 2 y/o and remark, "He really needs to know the plan of the day. . . and needs to be informed before transitions."
All this rambling to say. . . Yes! Find good transition objects, phrases, habits, routines! Kids are helped SO much by them! And some kids absolutely NEED them.
Posted by: TulipGirl at July 15, 2008 1:50 AM