Transition Time

Fall

Articulating this difficulty and dislike for transitions can be hard for adults, let alone children (especially children with communication disabilities). It’s important to be aware of all the many transitions that occur in our daily lives and the demands these transitions hold.

I like to look at transitions in four categories:

1. Seasonal: Changes in temperature and daylight.

2. Daily: the big transition between daily activities (going from school, to afterschool, to home)

3. Small: The transitions between activities within our daily routines (our morning routine, or transitioning between classes at school)

4. Micro: The transitions within transitions. Switching from math class to art class may be hard because of the “gear switch”, but if you have difficulty with micro transitions you may also have difficulty with the transition itself because it holds so many demands. The switch in class also means you have to: clean up, keep a quiet mouth, line up, look at the teacher, follow a line leader… etc. Each of these small changes is yet another transition in the larger transition to change class.