Helping Our Learners With Transitions On The Go
Hi there! How are you? It’s so nice to see you here!
OUR TOPIC THIS QUARTER
Our topic this quarter gets us ready for the rise of spring and the start of summer fun in my neck of the woods. If you’re in the part of the world where the seasons are changing spring to summer, or if you’re in a season of life where you’re getting ready for a trip, preparing for upcoming changes and transitions - this is for you.
June - Transitions On The Go
This month, our focus is on transitions that happen when you’re busy doing life - on vacation, in a car, on a train, near… or far.
Near, far, transitions happen wherever you are..
(Cue Celine Dion, the Titanic and the Heart of the Ocean necklace from 1997.)
Seriously though, transitions happen everywhere we go, not just at home, not just at school, not just the ones we set-up for ourselves or the ones we can plan to participate in. What do I mean?
Transitions happen when you’re leaving and coming home from vacation. Transitions happen in the car when your usual route is backed up with traffic or your learner suddenly becomes ill in the backseat. Transitions happen when you’re out to dinner, at a party, or celebrating a holiday in a new environment. Transitions happen wherever you are. It’s inevitable. Instead of worrying about the transitions that could pop up, we can approach them with a toolbox of strategies and the confidence knowing we know how to support our learners “wherever we are….”
Transitions away from home
This is a tough one.
I know it as a parent and you might as well - the side stare from onlookers.
You know what I mean. You’re struggling with your learner transitioning off of the playground, leaving a preferred area of a local store or entering a new environment.
Suddenly it can feel like all eyes are on you.
I’ve been there and it brings an ache in my heart just thinking about it.
It doesn’t have to be like this (nor should it!)
Transitions away from home are always happening. Why? Because when we’re outside of our predictable, safe environment, the unexpected will inevitably happen. And what many people tend not to realize is not everyone has all the tools they need all the time. (I mean, you’ve surely forgotten your house key before and gotten locked out of the house a time or two, right?)
So what options do we have before?
For starters - before you’re going to be away from the house, think of these key pieces of information:
- Think about how you supported your learner with predictable transitions. (What helped & didn’t help.)
- Think about how you suppported your learner with unpredictable transitions. (what helped & didn’t help.)
- Create a transition toolkit with items that supported your learner in both predictable and unpredictable situations.
In the moment though - use the toolkit. And no, it’s not a literal toolbox but rather a collection of strategies your learner shows success with that support their regulation in moments when they’re experiencing dysregulation.
After the transition - reflect. Check-in with yourself afterwards and see if there is anything that needs to be adjusted in the future. Check-in to see how your learner is following the transition too. This can help gauge if they need more or less of something in particular for support moving forward.
Transitions on vacation
Vacations are suppose to be relaxing in all actuality its the opposite sometimes. For instance:
- You’re not sleeping in your usual bed with your usual surroundings
- The sounds and smells are different
- You may be in a different time zone
- Your routine is completely different too
What do we do?
When you’re on vacation, you can provide your learner with as much similarity to their usual environment as possible within your hotel space in 3 ways.
1) Consider the routine and timing of travel and provide your learner what's to come and when (in a way that supports them best)
- When are meal and snack times?
- What is the duration of travel and the arrival to the destination?
- Is there a change in transportation and what will that be like?
2) Consider wake-up and bed-time routines
- Keeping the to rise and to bed times similar
- Maintaining a similar wake-up routine (get dressed, brush teeth, breakfast, etc.)
- Maintaining a similar bed-time routine (dinner, bath/shower, story, bed, etc.)
3) Emulating a similar sleeping arrangement:
- a blanket or pillowcase from home (these tend to travel well and are small enough for a suitcase)
- introduce a sound machine before the trip so you can travel with the same sound into a different location so it creates a sense of comfort and predictability
The goal is to find ways to “ground” your day with anchoring tasks or activities that create a sense of familiarity for your learner while also the ability to have new experiences.
Transitions beyond control
As much as my “Type A” personality enjoys a good predictable schedule and routine, a majority of the time events and circumstances are out of our control.
It is TOUGH sometimes!
Your food is late to your table at the restaurant.
You’re late to a doctors appointment for your learner because of traffic.
A snow storm cancelled a party you were looking forward to.
Your learner suddenly became ill at school or in the backseat.
How we respond when transitions happen beyond our control makes a huge difference in allowing your learner the space to see your reaction but also have a reaction of their own to navigate with you.
For as much as we are preparing for our learners, we need to prepare for ourselves too. Don’t “pour from an empty cup” and make sure that the transition tools you need are ready to go too!
A transition happened… now what?
How did it go? How are you doing?
Now is the time to reflect. Honestly answer those two questions.
If it went smoothly and you had everything you could need (& then some), awesome!
If things were sticky and clunky and felt messy, it’s time to revisit where things went wrong, what you might need more or less of and what to change for the next time.
If you’re wondering what to do and want to collaborate on sustainable strategies to support your learner at home and beyond, let’s chat over a coffee break together and build something for your learner, together!
Make sure you’re following along on Instagram @coffeemugsandclipboards as we bring this quarter’s content all about transitions to life!
I hope your day goes as smoothly as you wish and as always,
I’m so glad you stopped by!
