Bellingham Pediatric Therapy

The transition into and out of winter break can be challenging for many families! Here are some tips and strategies from Bridges Learning System to support your child during times of transition.

As many folks are gearing up to start the school year, it’s important to support children during transitions!

Transitions can be disruptive. Whether it’s transitions throughout the course of a day or larger transitions like transitioning from a long break to the start of the school year, understanding how to support your child or student during these times is essential.

Understand that during transitions, neurodivergent folks will be at a decreased capacity and it can be helpful to reduce any demands on their plate as well as increase their self-care. Self-care might look like:
❤️ Encouraging them to spend time engaging with their passions
❤️ Encouraging them to stim or move in ways that feel good to relieve their body of stress/tension
❤️ Making sure they’re spending time with people who they can be their authentic, unmasked selves around
❤️ Making sure they have an opportunity to express their feelings without a filter
❤️ Helping them engage with sensory stimuli that are grounding and bring them joy
❤️ Or anything else that helps your child or student be healthy, well, and rested!

Preparing for transitions by familiarizing children with the new environment, building in extra time for sleep, leaning on routines that haven’t changed, and advocating for needs ahead of time are also great tools to use before, during, and after transition periods.

Download our newest FREE resource, the Get Ready, Get Set, Go Infographic to help support children during transitions. Print and hang the infographic in your home or classroom or keep it easily accessible on your computer for everyone to easily see and refer back to as needed: https://bridgeslearningsystem.com/free-resource-transition-infographic/