The Key Smooth Baby Sitting Transitions shared by No Non-cents Nanna
Summer vacation is almost over for school-age children. Transitioning from summertime play to getting up for school in the morning may be a challenge in some families.
Whether you are a babysitter, older sibling, parent, or teacher, No Non-cents Nanna has a secret key that will help you.
The secret key to understanding misbehavior in children is to hold the key to smooth transitioning from one activity to another. Image copyright 2014 Malika Bourne all rights reserved.
The key is to understand that transitioning from one activity to another is challenging for some kids, but even more so for others.
Yes, you can nip a big problem behavior in the bud while keeping the kids safe when you are in charge.
Remember, when you are in charge, you are not the “friend”. But that does not mean you can’t be pleasant as you expect cooperation, so be friendly!
Children and grown-ups alike all appreciate knowing what is expected of them. So, use your words to tell the kids what you desire before you transition to another activity or task.
Baby-sitting Secrets for Smooth Transitions
Baby sitters, do you want to know the secrets about how to transition smoothly from one activity to another?
Quote from my archived blog:
6 tips to smooth transitions for kids. No Non-cents Nanna guide for baby sitters
- Many children have a difficult time stopping one activity to go on to the next thing.
- Transitioning is most often the culprit in misbehavior.
- Knowing this and how to stop one thing smoothly and then go on to another is being two steps ahead in the game.
- Give a five-minute warning that things will change.
- Sing a song or chat.
- Be prepared to transition into the next activity by having clothes or books laid out.
- Be prepared to state firmly, “This is not a choice” when there are no options.
Gives kids a few minutes WARNING of transitioning to the next task.
Below are some ideas of things you, the babysitter, might pleasantly say or chant in a sing-songy way when you give the 5-minute warning of a change.
- Ding, ding, ding. You have five more minutes to play before cleanup time.”
- “Clean up, clean up. Everybody clean up then I’ll read a bedtime story.”
- “Way to go, little gizmo. I have three books picked out. Which would you like to have me read to you first?”
- “This is the last book before you brush your teeth.”
- “When you finish your bedtime story, what do you do? Brush your teeth, brush your teeth, brush your teeth.” Sound like a “choo-choo train” in rhythm, saying, “brush your teeth”, on the way to brush your teeth.
- Would you like to walk like a dinosaur or waddle like a duck on your way to bed? (Choices help a child to feel like they have some power and control.)
- Would you like me to rub your back or pat your back?
Begin a new school year routine before bedtime to lay out clothes; pack lunches; backpacks; gym shoes etc the night before—and before they lay their heads on the pillow.
A 10-year-old may not still want to hear Good Night Moon as a bedtime story. My now-grown children loved chapter books and Shel Silverstein .
Have you talked about what relaxing music your child might like to listen to? (Put the tech stuff away before bedtime.)
Have you tried spritzing some lavender on the pillow as a cue to relax at bedtime?
5 Phrases for Babysitters to Use to Help Kids Transition to Bed. No Non-cents Nanna tips.
What other fun ways have you tried successfully with kids while they are transitioning from one activity to another?
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