Transitioning from One Activity to Another

"Goodbye Game" What a great idea! I have never seen the book (but I'll second its recommendation anyway, LOL). We do exactly that - I tell my daughter to say goodbye to whatEVER it is that she's holding on to (mentally OR physically)...if we are leaving soon, we tell our friends bye, if birds fly overhead, we say hi and then bye to them as they disappear, we say bye to our animals as we leave the house, etc.

Also, my DD is 32 mos and she can understand when I tell her what we'll do next, (cheese as it sounds...) Dora style. "We're going to the library, then the post office, then the grocery store. And then I tell her at each place, just like Dora, "we're at the library now...remember we're going to the post office next?" To give her a sequence of places to go and things to do makes errands (and even home routines of dinner, cleanup, bedtime) much more fun and manageable for her.

Lastly, during play, I actually plan out an entire activity ahead and she doesn't start one thing without knowing what's next. I give it a time (yes, she still has NO concept of time, but that's okay), and then remind her every so often, more as we get closer to the next activity (10 mins, 5, 3, 1, done). I find it works best to IMMEDIATELY follow (in the same sentence when possible) "we're done" with "we're going to do X now". Why should she stop doing something fun to start something that she doesn't even KNOW what's next...

Good luck, I hope at least one idea helps! :)

One thing that has helped by 2.5 yr old and a few or her friends is a timer. This works for transitioning and sharing issues. I carry an egg timer around with me (small - fits in the diaper bag); whenever we are having a problem leaving somewhere or something or arguing with a friend over sharing a toy, I'll tell her (or them) that we are setting the timer and in 1 minute (or 30 secs. or 2 minutes, whatever) it is time to do X (or it will be the friend's turn with the toy). For some reason, the "bing" of the timer is far more definitive than words, and the kids will hand over the toy, get ready to go, whatever when it goes off, without the normal argument. This works amazingly well for us. A few of my mommy friends use this tactic as well.
Good luck!

There's a book out there called the "Goodbye Game". We used it with my son at age 3. The basic premise is having an ending or goodbye routine. The book has cards that you pull out and you do one of them, but I found it better to keep it consistent. When we say goodbye (daycare drop off 3xwk) or drop off at preschool or gymnastics, we always do this. He decided on 3 hugs and 3 kisses ('cause I'm three, Mommy). I count the hugs and he counts the kisses and then I leave. We do that and it totally works. I know your child is younger and the situation is a bit different, but maybe a consistent ending might help. For example, you could have her come over to your lap for a quick patty cake or high five or hug thing....as the 2 minute warning. Tell her..."this means we're leaving very soon...in 2 minutes." Then at the actual end have her do something with her little friends, like a high five or hug. Lastly, follow through and actually leave once you've done your "routine", even if she's kicking and screaming the first time you do it. It might be helpful to talk about it before the activity and act it out with you and her and some stuffed animals or something.

Good luck. Know that it is also a phase....2 1/2 is one of the most challenging ages in my opinion. Mine are 6 and 3 1/2 now...much easier in many, many ways! Hang in there!

When kids are having a hard time transitioning, it's often not about the next activity (if it's something fun!) but about stopping the one they are currently at. They know they are having fun right now and they don't know that they will have fun at the next activity. One strategy is to insert a toy or "tool" into her current activity that she needs to bring to the next activity. This way she is an active "helper". So, if she's playing with blocks at one activity you might build a bed with the blocks, introduce a doll that sleeps on the bed and then show her that it's time to start a tea party and for her to bring her doll with her to where they tea party has started. This gives her the control she's looking for! I hope this helps and I hope you all have fun with it!