B is having a small tantrum because he doesn't want to stop playing and take a nap. He uses a calm down strategy (song from Daniel Tiger) during his tantrum. He has been practicing this particular strategy during calm moments daily for about a month. It is very important to practice strategies that you want your child to use while they are calm so that they can access them during a tantrum.
Do you have a way that you keep track of everything that is going to happen in your day? Maybe a calendar? Or notes on your phone? Or just a mental list of what is on your agenda? Do you get frustrated if your schedule changes? Children are the same way, but they can't do it for themselves. Here's a simple way, using materials you already have at home, to create a visual schedule for the day. While some children are okay with a verbal reminder of what comes next throughout the day, others need the visual picture so they can look and see how the day is going to progress. Just like other strategies, you will have to demonstrate the schedule so your child learns how to 'read' it. Don't expect this to magically work, it takes some children repetition over several weeks to really get the hang of what the schedule means. But then, wow! Game changer!
The more support we can offer children so they know what is happening in their day, the smoother the day will go. Don't we all want to know what's going to happen next? And if we have to stop something we love, don't we do better when we have a little warning? All of our schedules have been completely thrown off with the closing of school. Try out some of these ideas, and see if they begin to help smooth out the days. Remember, though, it takes time for children to learn the routines. Don't be discouraged! Just keep trying.
Transitions are hard for children, which make transitions hard for parents too! Kathryn has just started a new transition routine with Ben. Watch as she demonstrates using a timer as a transition cue at bedtime.
As adults, we have all kinds of reminders throughout the day of what we need to do. A to-do list. A recipe. A calendar reminder on our phone. Map-quest. Children can really benefit from having the same visual schedules in their day too. Here are several ideas of how you can create visual schedules in your home. I used a plastic cutting sheet and cardboard from a box. This is called make-do with what you have!
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