Warm days give way to cool nights. Cool greens blend into warm, vibrant fall colors. As the landscape changes, so does the world around us. Seasonal businesses close, a barrage of new activity begins. Something within us changes, too. Free Spirit steps aside, willingly bowing to Schedule. Children head back to school. Neighbor kids, nieces and nephews head off to college.

When seasons change, it’s a time of TRANSITION. As parents, we desire to help our little ones navigate waters of change and celebrate success along the way.

When Aaron entered the WeJoySing classroom wearing a shirt that said, “Potty Like a Rock Star,” his proud Mommy asked the teacher if she noticed anything different about Aaron. His teacher responded enthusiastically: “Looks like he has less padding today…Aaron, you must be wearing UNDERWEAR!” Aaron beamed. Behold the successful transition to being a “Big Boy.” (Make the transition to the 2-3’s class, and you’ll discover that discussing undies and potty habits is perfectly NORMAL!!)

For six months before she went to kindergarten, Callie chattered with excitement about this new stage. Her parents and grandparents never seemed to tire of her enthusiasm, though it WAS a VERY frequent topic of conversation! The year was all she’d hoped it would be and more.

How we respond to our children’s interests and needs in early childhood prepares them for “bigger” transitions later. For some children, especially children with special needs, such as autism, transitioning from one activity to the next can be extremely difficult. Experts recommend counting down to the transition …” (“five minutes until we leave…”) and sticking to a routine for the transition, even if at first it feels as if it’s not working.1 Song and game often help create seamless transitions from one activity to the next.

Many “small” transitions are, in actuality, a big deal for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

Think about all that is involved in the transition of being fed to holding a spoon. We've all observed the many techniques a thirteen-month-old has of using a spoon to get yogurt from the bowl to her mouth: flipping the spoon upside down, smearing it against her lips, yogurt running down her chin, smiling all the while. It’s not easy! And it really IS o.k. if, at first, more food ends up on baby than in her mouth. It’s all a part of the transition.

Participating in household chores, putting toys away, dressing oneself, and learning how to take responsibility for personal hygiene all involve huge transitions: building upon one thing and moving into another. How do we move from one stage to the next? It’s not always easy, but we CAN make it fun.

Babies watch us brush our teeth. Then they learn to hold and chew on their own toothbrushes without toothpaste. Then they learn to actually manipulate the brush and spit. Michele Borba, Ed.D., author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions 2 recommends that parents create games like the “the train game” to help children learn to brush their teeth. The child’s teeth are the tracks, and the brush is the train. Chug, chug, Woo-Woo! Behold. JOYFUL transition.

Does cooler weather find you wrestling to get your child’s jacket on? Try the classic “Dip ‘n Flip” method. Lay the coat on the floor, upside down, collar toward the child’s feet. Hands go in, coat “flips” on.3 Try singing: “Flip your coat on your back, on your back…” (to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know it”.) This is MUCH more fun than hollering, “Get your coat so we’re not late!” Even if you are going to be late, singing along the way won’t make you LATER. Singing motivates children quickly and makes for a happier journey.

Good parenting often involves good acting, but that doesn’t take away from a genuine intent: to love children well, build them up and lead them on to the next big thing, even if that “big thing” is today’s nap time or cleaning up the toy room.

Parents magazine recommends that children learn to help with clean-up around the age of 1½. 4 At WeJoySing, we begin even earlier! Think about our transition song “Instruments away, Instruments away, time to put the instruments away…” Parents routinely testify to the magical qualities of this song. “It works for socks and shoes and dishes and toys…” Every time a parent tells us about it, WeJoySing teachers hear the “Eureka!” in their exclamation.

We delight in each parent’s discovery because (though WeJoySing knew it all along): a joyful transition makes all the difference.

A Note from Mrs. Jo
As you transition into this beautiful season, take time to weigh possibility against what has been established (all that your little one has accomplished!) We hope your family will make WeJoySing a part of your lives. We are looking forward to playing once again with you and your child because: The More We Get Together the Happier We'll Be!!

 

Notes:
1. Lisa Jo Rudy, About.com Guide “How Can I Prepare My Child with Autism for Transitions?” updated May 13, 2010.

2-4. Scher, Hagar “Raise a Can-Do Kid” Parents March, 2010, 124-127.