Comments on: Smoother Transitions http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/ Timeless Parenting Advice for Toddlers through Teenagers Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:28:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: casey http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19734 Sun, 29 Apr 2007 09:07:02 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19734 very insightful and useful info. thanks very insightful and useful info.
thanks

]]> by: Dana http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19670 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:54:40 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19670 One thing I have done for my kids for big events that are far away is use a paper chain. We talk about how many days until (our trip, school starts, halloween, etc) and then make a big paper chain with one link for each day. Then they can take off a link every morning. It's a great visual. A great discussion to go with this is that you can't make time go faster or slower, so don't think if you take an extra chain link off the big day will come sooner. So wht do we do when it's a long time to wait? Do other stuff and the time will come soon enough. Use your time well. If you sit around waiting for something to happen, you've wasted a lot of time that could have been fun. One thing I have done for my kids for big events that are far away is use a paper chain. We talk about how many days until (our trip, school starts, halloween, etc) and then make a big paper chain with one link for each day. Then they can take off a link every morning. It’s a great visual.

A great discussion to go with this is that you can’t make time go faster or slower, so don’t think if you take an extra chain link off the big day will come sooner. So wht do we do when it’s a long time to wait? Do other stuff and the time will come soon enough. Use your time well. If you sit around waiting for something to happen, you’ve wasted a lot of time that could have been fun.

]]> by: Sandra http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19655 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:23:27 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19655 Just the other day my 5 year old asked me, "Mom, when is Halloween?" I answered, "In a few months." His reply was, "A few months... but that will take all day!!" Isn't this Q & A fitting of this article on time and transitions! Being that my son has no concept of time and has a hard time with transitions, the thing that has helped me to help my son get through his very busy weeks during his pre-school year was a special the calendar I had made for him. I used stickers next to the each day of the week to represent the different activities he's involved in. (e.g. A sticker of a schoolhouse represents the the days he goes to Pre-K, baseball stickers to represent the days he has T-Ball, etc.) Using this system has made him more independent and he has given him a comfort level as he refers to the calendar each morning and knows what to expect each day. Just the other day my 5 year old asked me, “Mom, when is Halloween?” I answered, “In a few months.” His reply was, “A few months… but that will take all day!!” Isn’t this Q & A fitting of this article on time and transitions!
Being that my son has no concept of time and has a hard time with transitions, the thing that has helped me to help my son get through his very busy weeks during his pre-school year was a special the calendar I had made for him. I used stickers next to the each day of the week to represent the different activities he’s involved in. (e.g. A sticker of a schoolhouse represents the the days he goes to Pre-K, baseball stickers to represent the days he has T-Ball, etc.) Using this system has made him more independent and he has given him a comfort level as he refers to the calendar each morning and knows what to expect each day.

]]> by: Sharon http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19638 Mon, 23 Apr 2007 20:56:21 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19638 Thanks for the article. My husband and I were able to figure out that our two year old does so much better with knowing ahead of time that a transition will be happening. From the time he was much smaller, we have used counting down, the timer, and reminders. They have all worked really well. I am a stay at home mom and our son is not in school yet. What do you suggest for transitioning your child when they are not able to be reminded to move on to the next thing when they are in a different environment? Such as school or with other care takers? Thanks for the article.

My husband and I were able to figure out that our two year old does so much better with knowing ahead of time that a transition will be happening.

From the time he was much smaller, we have used counting down, the timer, and reminders. They have all worked really well.

I am a stay at home mom and our son is not in school yet. What do you suggest for transitioning your child when they are not able to be reminded to move on to the next thing when they are in a different environment? Such as school or with other care takers?

]]> by: Susan http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19619 Sun, 22 Apr 2007 17:52:24 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19619 My daughter is itellectually disabled and can not read numbers nor do they have any meaning to her. We use to use one Barney show then we purchased a clock that has numbers but shows red for how much time is left. It's great - if she has an activity that she is anxious about I can just set the timer and then when she ask how long I refer her to "how much red is left on your timer" It's called a time timer -- check it out at wwwtimetimer.com My daughter is itellectually disabled and can not read numbers nor do they have any meaning to her. We use to use one Barney show then we purchased a clock that has numbers but shows red for how much time is left. It’s great - if she has an activity that she is anxious about I can just set the timer and then when she ask how long I refer her to “how much red is left on your timer” It’s called a time timer — check it out at wwwtimetimer.com

]]> by: Kirsten http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19612 Sun, 22 Apr 2007 15:59:42 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19612 I learned through experience to always give a time warning e.g. we're leaving in five minutes . . . that's one minute, there are four minutes to go . . . . As a teacher, I would remind parents of older children to teach children to learn how to tell time on an analogue clock. They can see fifteen minutes as a quarter of an hour. I learned through experience to always give a time warning e.g. we’re leaving in five minutes . . . that’s one minute, there are four minutes to go . . . .

As a teacher, I would remind parents of older children to teach children to learn how to tell time on an analogue clock. They can see fifteen minutes as a quarter of an hour.

]]> by: Kristi http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19570 Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:54:44 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19570 Funny how you can get the same message in so many ways, just when you need to hear it.... Yes, we have to remember that our children have their own "agendas" for the day, hour, minute. If we respect that, we will be more patient when we want to disrupt their agenda. Funny how you can get the same message in so many ways, just when you need to hear it….
Yes, we have to remember that our children have their own “agendas” for the day, hour, minute. If we respect that, we will be more patient when we want to disrupt their agenda.

]]> by: Karen C Cherry http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19551 Sat, 21 Apr 2007 12:06:39 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19551 Hi This is my first time to post a reply although I have been reading small souls since 2006.pardon the pun I found this article very timely.I was just explaining to my husband last night how our son doesn't know concept of time,and how I use his school time to help him.show and tell is on Fri so I tell him when he asks say on Wed. its 2 more sleeps(we suspect he also has aspergers) Paula's idea is great with the hour numbers I use that also for bathtime and bedtime.For whole days or weekend plans I find it helps to tell him by using school days/home days and the "sleeps" sorry so long and thanks for the article. Karen Hi
This is my first time to post a reply although I
have been reading small souls since 2006.pardon the pun I found this article very timely.I was just explaining to my husband last night how our son doesn’t know concept of time,and how I use his school time to help him.show and tell is on Fri so I tell him when he asks say on Wed. its 2
more sleeps(we suspect he also has aspergers)
Paula’s idea is great with the hour numbers I use that also for bathtime and bedtime.For whole days or weekend plans I find it helps to tell him by using school days/home days and the “sleeps” sorry so long and thanks for the article.
Karen

]]> by: LadyPoet http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19532 Sat, 21 Apr 2007 06:19:28 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19532 I don't know how helpful this is, but we spoke to our kids about the placement of the sun (in relation to the mountains in our area) and how when it is in the East (by the mountains) then it is breakfast time. Time for homeschool, when it is straight up in the sky, it is time for lunch, and to hurry to finish our homework. When it is in the West (by the lake) Then it is time for dinner, time to read, take a bath, have prayers and scriptures. It seems to help them. My 6yo is just learning to tell time with a regular clock with hands, but he can tell time with digital clocks. LadyPoet http://www.theeducationalrevolution.com/ I don’t know how helpful this is, but we spoke to our kids about the placement of the sun (in relation to the mountains in our area) and how when it is in the East (by the mountains) then it is breakfast time. Time for homeschool, when it is straight up in the sky, it is time for lunch, and to hurry to finish our homework. When it is in the West (by the lake) Then it is time for dinner, time to read, take a bath, have prayers and scriptures. It seems to help them. My 6yo is just learning to tell time with a regular clock with hands, but he can tell time with digital clocks.

LadyPoet
http://www.theeducationalrevolution.com/

]]> by: nisa' http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19514 Sat, 21 Apr 2007 00:37:19 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19514 i think this is a good reminder to me as a teacher. in my kindergarten, we usually have a break for half an hour. but we didn't tell the children about the time. we just use a bell. when it is time to have a recess, we will ring the bell. sometimes i realize that they not happy because when they want to do something,the times is over.they do not know how to estimate the time left.i try to change this in my kindy. i think this is a good reminder to me as a teacher. in my kindergarten, we usually have a break for half an hour. but we didn’t tell the children about the time. we just use a bell. when it is time to have a recess, we will ring the bell. sometimes i realize that they not happy because when they want to do something,the times is over.they do not know how to estimate the time left.i try to change this in my kindy.

]]> by: Tricia http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19499 Fri, 20 Apr 2007 20:53:39 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19499 I have found a timer to be very effective with my 2-year-old. I tell her she has half an hour to play and when the timer beeps we need to take a bath (or whatever). Instead of screaming when we leave the playground or our neighbor's house, she willingly turns the timer off and says "come on, mom". I have found a timer to be very effective with my 2-year-old. I tell her she has half an hour to play and when the timer beeps we need to take a bath (or whatever). Instead of screaming when we leave the playground or our neighbor’s house, she willingly turns the timer off and says “come on, mom”.

]]> by: Paula http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19496 Fri, 20 Apr 2007 18:59:29 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19496 Thanks so much for this great comment!! I think kids really like to know whats going on around them, it makes them feel more in control of their environment and throw choices in with the timeline and you will have a much better behaved kid throughout the day. My daughter has a huge problem with transition as she is autistic/Aspergers. She loves a schedule and really NEEDS to know what will happen next to prepare her for it. Especially if it involves something scary like going to the doctor. We use social stories and pictures too-but the time has helped IMMENSELY also. Another one we use too is a digital clock. She is only 3 (close to 4) and cannot fully understand the minutes yet--but we use the hour number. For example: #8 is wake up, breakfast, get dressed etc... at night we start again with #6 Dinner #7 Movies or TV #8 Snack...etc... This also gives Moms and Dads a whole hour to remind them of the task, talk about how to do it etc... if #9 is bath I remind her at 9:00 to get our things ready, prepare to wash your hair-remember keep your eyes closed etc...And it is still "number 9" to her so we have all this time to get everything ready and complete the task. It really has made things easier on her and using the hour number makes it much easier on me to have time to prepare her and get everything ready. I know that my niece is developmentally sound and doesn't need as much coaxing to do the things she really does not want to do, but it worked for her too. HOORAY for the digital clock!! What a really great discussion this will be!! I am definitely going to start doing the minutes soon and I like the idea of doing the task that takes that amount of time. Can't wait to see how it works. I anxiously await comments on this topic. Thanks!! Paula Thanks so much for this great comment!! I think kids really like to know whats going on around them, it makes them feel more in control of their environment and throw choices in with the timeline and you will have a much better behaved kid throughout the day.

My daughter has a huge problem with transition as she is autistic/Aspergers. She loves a schedule and really NEEDS to know what will happen next to prepare her for it. Especially if it involves something scary like going to the doctor. We use
social stories and pictures too-but the time has
helped IMMENSELY also.

Another one we use too is a digital clock. She is only 3 (close to 4) and cannot fully understand the minutes yet–but we use the hour number.

For example: #8 is wake up, breakfast, get dressed etc…
at night we start again with #6 Dinner #7 Movies
or TV #8 Snack…etc… This also gives Moms and Dads a whole hour to remind them of the task, talk about how to do it etc…

if #9 is bath I remind her at 9:00 to get our things ready, prepare to wash your hair-remember keep your eyes closed etc…And it is still “number 9″ to her so we have all this time to get everything ready and complete the task. It really has made things easier on her and using the hour number makes it much easier on me to have time to prepare her and get everything ready.

I know that my niece is developmentally sound and doesn’t need as much coaxing to do the things she really does not want to do, but it worked for her too.

HOORAY for the digital clock!!

What a really great discussion this will be!!
I am definitely going to start doing the minutes
soon and I like the idea of doing the task that takes that amount of time. Can’t wait to see how it works. I anxiously await comments on this topic. Thanks!!

Paula

]]> by: Randy Christensen http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19494 Fri, 20 Apr 2007 18:54:47 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/smoother-transitions/#comment-19494 Thanks for the reminder. I know that I, as a parent, found it good on the loooooong car trips to break the time segments into Barney-bits. "We will be at grandma's in 7 Barneys!" It gave my kids something tangible to compare this ethereal concept of time to. Thanks for the reminder. I know that I, as a parent, found it good on the loooooong car trips to break the time segments into Barney-bits. “We will be at grandma’s in 7 Barneys!” It gave my kids something tangible to compare this ethereal concept of time to.

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