Terrible Transitions

ladylisalt

Lately my DS is having difficulty transitioning when leaving places,i.e. the park, play area. I do give him warnings that we will be leaving soon or last time,etc. but that does not seem to click. I eventually have to pull him away which usually results in him crying, pulling,even falling to the ground,etc. I have to imagine this is sometimes normal frustration for a 2 year old but it seems like its getting more and more frequent. Does this happen with your LO? Any advice, stories,etc?

JustBeth

My daughter is 3 so she might understand what I'm saying a little more but when she acts up when we are out somewhere I usually try to speak to her calmly and tell her that if she doesn't listen to what mommy says and be a good girl I won't let her have (fill in the blank) or just try to explain the reason why were leaving or whatever..honestly I have a much better reaction when I'm calm and just talk to her like she's a big girl and say it in a calm voice instead of yelling and then I will ask for a kiss or hug after and I seem to get a better reaction and she tends to behave better when I approach it that way...don't get me wrong I still have my days where I just blow up too

Good luck

sschwege

It's just the age, totally normal!  You are smart to be giving warnings, that does help.  You could try giving choices, that might be enough to distract him.  "Do you want to run out of here or walk?"  "Do you want to climb into the stroller yourself or have me put you in?"  

Lhyacinth888

Yeah choices is a good one. And with my DS sometimes I'll set a little timer and when it goes off its time. Also I have to make sure to tell my child like 30 mins in advance that we are leaving. I keep reminding him. He still throws fits but not as bad. He'll hopefully outgrow it soon enough.

MNgirl326

We have had success working with a timer- the first couple times it sucked he through a fit and what not, but I have stuck with it and stayed consistent and it has gotten better.

I let him know he has 2 more minutes and that I am setting the timer. I also remind him at that point that when it is time to leave, we go nicely and don't through a fit, so that we can come back.

When the timer goes off I usually let him finish what he is doing, so if he is at the top of the slide I let him go down the slide, then I say, okay the timer went off time to go.  And then I let him wave goodbye to park or whatever.

Choices are really important- do you want to walk or ride in the stroller as we leave.  I also like to distract him while we are leaving by singing a song, or playing I spy or something as we leave.

A lot of this is developmental and totally normal.  The have 0 concept of time and so many times they think if they leave you will never come back- even if its somewhere you go everyday.  Just stay consistent and business like and validate their feelings and I promise it will get better