Want Fewer Meltdowns? Try Softer Transitions
By Sally Kidder Davis, PCI Certified Parent Coach
Does your child have a hard time with transitions? Do you struggle to get her to stop using a device or playing with toys when it is time to do something else?
You are not alone. Transitions can be some of the most challenging aspects of raising a child with ADHD. Parents get frustrated because a hyperfocused child doesn’t come to the table when dinner is ready, do her homework or help out with chores around the house without lots of reminders.
If you are a slow-to-adapt parent, then you likely understand the child who struggles with transitions. But if you are (like I was) a quick-to-adapt parent who doesn’t have any trouble with transitions, then there can be a lot of conflict around getting your slow-to-adapt child to transition to the next activity.
What can you do in those moments? How can you help ease those transitions and hopefully reduce the conflict? Try using a ‘soft transition’:
Step 1:
Sit down next to your child for a couple of minutes and simply watch her.
Step 2:
Begin asking questions about what she is doing. Be patient, it may be a few more minutes before she responds to you. Once you have started a dialog, you have created a bridge over to her world.
Step 4:
Now you can start talking about coming to dinner or getting in the bathtub or simply stopping screen time.
Step 5:
Enjoy the rest of your time together!
Our Parent Coaches help families manage the challenges and unwrap the gifts of raising a child with ADHD.