• Home
  • Services
  • About
  • Contact
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Temperament Form
  • Workshops
Kerrie LaRosaParent Coach

Ch-Ch-Changes

6/30/2011

0 Comments

 
We had a visit from the pacifier fairy this weekend. It was a dreaded transition. I think I had more anxiety about it than my toddler. Would I have to endure tantrums, screaming, sleepless naps and nights? So, I put it off, perhaps longer than need be. Or maybe it was just at the right time. We were ready. We created a plan and we braced ourselves for what was to come. And, fortunately, it worked! We read Pacifiers are Not Forever by Elizabeth Verdick; packed up the pacifiers (with the reluctant help of our son) and took them to the pacifier fairy with a promise of a toy if he could nap without the pacifier. It was a bit bumpy, but it worked.   

Transitions can be challenging for both parent and child. It seems like in the first couple of years there is always a transition: from multiple naps to none; bottle to sippy cup; milk to solid foods; diapers to underpants, and the list goes on. As children get older they continue to go through transitions: adjustment to school; developing peer relationships; growth spurts, puberty and adolescence.   Transitions can mean more fussiness (on part of parent and child); less sleep (dreaded by all!); and a lot of work for both parent and child to adjust. It is helpful to prepare as much as possible for these developmental transitions. Have a plan: prepare with your partner ahead of time. Prepare the child. Whether your child is three months or thirteen years, talk to him/her about the transition. Let him/her know that they are growing older and stronger and are ready for the next step. Acknowledge their feelings about the transition. Read books that help normalize the transition. You can practice or role play to prepare your child for the change. For particularly difficult transitions you may need to create a reward system to help them motivate to make the change.    

You also want to consider the pace of the transition. Is it best to transition you and the child slowly, or rip the band-aid off all at once?  Sometimes slow transitions can take longer, but may not be as anxiety provoking. Ripping the band aid off may create more angst initially, but it may resolve much faster. Whatever you decide, have confidence in yourself and your child that you can successfully transition to the next stage. Whatever transition you and your child are going through next, I wish you all the best of luck!


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    RSS Feed

    Author

    Kerrie LaRosa is a parent coach and a mother of two children. She draws on her professional expertise and personal experience to provide tired parents with some quick tips, resources and fun anecdotes.

    Archives

    June 2018
    February 2018
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    January 2016
    August 2015
    March 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011

    Categories

    All
    Activities
    Allergies
    Baby
    Behavior
    Birth Order
    Book Review
    Children
    Development
    Discipline
    Doctor
    Gifts
    Halloween
    Holidays
    Language Development
    Learning
    Living In The Moment
    Moving
    Parenting
    Persistence
    Picky Eating
    Play
    Reading
    Resolutions
    Safety
    Sharing
    Sleep
    Speech
    Storm
    Stuttering
    Superstorm Sandy
    Tantrum
    Temperament
    Traditions
    Travel
    Waiting
    Yelling

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from brettneilson, rolands.lakis, koroshiya, beelerspace, kellywoolen, Amy McKenzie, nerissa's ring, surlygirl, Enrico Matteucci ☸, aarongilson, dawnhops, Peter Werkman (www.peterwerkman.nl), jem, National Assembly For Wales / Cynulliad Cymru, erin_everlasting, christine [cbszeto], emrank, imcountingufoz, frotzed2, ebmarquez, rumpleteaser, brewbooks, ToddMorris, nutrition education