TIPS for successful Transitions
All students, from Kindergarten to Grade 12, experience transitions like starting school, moving between grades, switching to high school, or preparing for postsecondary paths. These transitions should be planned to help students learn to manage change and build independence. This can be noted in a transition plan within the Individual Education Plan (IEP).
Prepare & practice
Talk about the change
Practice when things are calm
Start with easier and more positive transitions
Visit new places (like new schools) ahead of time whenever possible
Include strategies you know have helped your child in the past
Countdowns
Let children know ahead of time when one activity is ending and a new one is starting to help them prepare
Use visual timers, a song or hold up fingers and count down from 5
Pictures or gestures can be better than words
Visuals
Children feel more relaxed when they know what’s going to happen next. Visual schedules and visual first-then boards enable children to look at them whenever they don’t know what’s happening next
Review visuals often during the day and cross off each activity as it is finished
TRANSITION OBJECTS
Familiar items like a favourite toy, blanket, or device can reduce anxiety and provide comfort, helping individuals feel secure and adjust to new surroundings
For more Tip Sheets in multiple languages, visit Connectability.ca
