How Can I Help My Child Prepare For Mealtimes and Bedtimes?

One of the most common struggles any parent faces is getting their child to stop doing one activity and moving on to the next. It may be getting a child to go to bed when they are told, or getting an older child to get out of bed and on their way to school. Each of these requirements needs to have some kind of transition period.

Transition periods allow the child to prepare for the next item on the day's agenda. Although things like sitting down to dinner, taking a bath or cleaning up their toys may not seem like major events, a child still needs time to change gears. An effective method that is useful for nearly all transitional phases is a ten minute warning system. Most kids under the age of eight may not actually have any real concept of time, but it is still important to let them know the schedule ahead of time.

The warning system can be you verbally telling them they have ten minutes before it is time to eat or maybe setting a timer that beeps when they have five minutes left. Just giving a ten minute warning is not enough especially for younger kids who do not realize how quickly ten minutes goes by. After you have issued the ten minute warning, remind them again at five minutes, and again at one minute if necessary.

Timing mealtimes, nap times, or bedtimes around the conclusion of their favorite television program can also be very useful. This lets the child know that once the show is over it is time to move on to the next activity on the schedule.

Do you want to learn exactly how to eliminate your child's out-of-control and defiant behavior without using Punishments, Time-Outs, Behavioral Plans, or Rewards?