Improving Transitions: When it’s Time to Change, You’ve Got to Rearrange
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Improving Transitions
We borrowed the first part of our title from an episode of the classic 70’s show, the Brady Bunch, because adjusting to change forces you to rearrange. Children face a variety of transitions in their day-to-day activities and lives in general. They can, however, be particularly challenging and frustrating for 
children with special needs because of difficulties with communication.
You can use these steps and questions to guide you in a problem solving process that may make transitions easier:
1. Gather as much information as possible about the upcoming change
- Setting: what materials will available and how does the place look?
- Schedule: What activities and routines occur and how long do they take?
- People: Who will be there? How will they interact with your child?
2. Create adjustments that could be made to ease the change
- Control: What will your child be able to choose or control?
- Familiarity: Can you bring familiar items or activities to the new setting?
- Previews: Can you visit or share pictures/video of the new situation?
- Exit strategy: Can you plan a break or leave early when needed?
3. Figure out what your child will need to learn to succeed
- Transitioning: How will your child enter and exit the setting?
- Participating: What will he or she need to do in the activities?
- Communicating: How can your child express his or her needs?
4. Teach new expectations and skills to your child
- Say: Can you explain in phrases or simple words?
- Play: Will your child role-play or watch demonstrations?
- Show: Would it be helpful to show pictures or videos?
- Do: How about practicing the steps of activities?
5. Reward small successes.
- What: What activities or items does your child particularly enjoy?
- How: can you embed rewards in natural routines of the setting?
By gathering information regarding upcoming changes, making adjustments ahead of time, communicating expectations in a language your child can understand, and teaching skills that allow for your child to cope, your child can handle changes better. To re-word the Brady Bunch song:
Photos courtesy our Facebook Friends
Helpful Articles
- Family Chat: Navigating Across the Lifespan
- Transition Planning {Tip 20 of 31}
- Navigating Transitions How I did it!
- Transition Planning Timeline (Checklist)
- Transitions Your Child Will Need to Handle
- Transition & Supported Employment Working for You
- Meaningful Summer Experiences to Aid Transition
- Transition: Shaping Our Views of Technology
- Apps for Supporting Independence: The Transition to Adulthood
- When Is the Right Time to Transition from Your Home to a Group Home?
- What Are Pre-Employment Skills and How Does My Child Get Them?
- Where to Go if Your Child Needs a Job or Help with Post High School Education
- Parenting Your Young Adult Through Their First Employment Experiences
- How Your Child’s Current Interests Can Help Them After High School Ends
This post originally appeared on our November/December 2014 Magazine
