Supporting Children Through Transitions

Transitions ask a lot of children: stop something enjoyable, let go of it, and start something new — all within a few minutes. This guide reframes transitions as three separate, distinct requests and walks through four evidence-based steps to make them smoother, using the everyday scenario of leaving the house as a worked example.

Each step includes practical strategies, the reasoning behind them, and reflective space to apply the framework to any transition that is tricky in your familys life.

What You Will Learn

• Why transitions often feel like one problem but are actually three separate, difficult requests
• How to set up your environment to reduce friction before a transition begins
• Practical strategies for the letting go moment — including when cleanup can wait
• Techniques like easy-easy-hard, First/Then, and choice-offering to help children start the next activity
• How to support emotional regulation when things escalate mid-transition
• A pre-transition checklist to set yourself and your child up for success

Who Is This For

Families navigating challenging daily transitions with young children — and BCBAs looking for a ready-to-share resource to support home-based transition coaching.

Share this guide with every parent and family you work with — no additional cost. Everything is included in your BIP Visualized subscription.