Toddlers and Transitions are words that do NOT flow together. Any parent or teacher can tell you that. But learning how to move from one thing to the next without throwing a tantrum is a life skill all of us (from tots on up) need to learn! Here are our top tips for helping your toddler learn to transition!

1. Recognize and acknowledge their feelings. “I can see you’re sad because you don’t want Mommy to leave.” Just hearing their inner feelings said aloud is sometimes enough to calm a child down. Many times most of their frustration is caused by feeling unheard or misunderstood.

2. Get down to their eye level and speak calmly. Okay, we admit this is easier said than done with a screaming kiddo. But they will feed off of your energy. Try your best to keep perspective, even when they still have none, and you’ll be leading the way to a more communicative future together.

3. Give your little one a warning. Imagine you were at a party having a grand old time when someone unexpectedly told you, “Time to put your shoes on and go!” Anyone would have a hard time with that. We all need a warning to know what is coming next.

4. Offer two choices. “Would you like to hop or get a piggy back ride to the car?” Two choices offer toddlers independence while still giving you the desired outcome you need to keep your day moving forward.

5. Create some transition rituals. The best teachers do this beautifully! Singing a favorite Clean Up Song helps saying goodbye to the toy trains a little bit easier. Picking a flower on the way home from the park makes leaving a little less terrible. When kiddos know what to expect, they can relax into the next activity, and so can you!

Sometimes we find a craft idea that just keeps on giving! This pack of paper crowns has kept our toddlers’ attention for more than a few afternoons. Because why just make one, when you can make A CROWN FOR ALL SEASONS?!

We used Creatology’s Crown Paper Shapes. 6 regal crowns for $3 seemed like a steal. But you can also make your own with extra card stock. There are lots of sample templates online. Just get your scissors ready!

Paint was not an option for our tots who were antsy to wear their latest crown creations. So we stuck to markers, stamp pads, glitter, gems, and stickers. Less drying time means more play time!

We took lots of care choosing which stickers would make for a perfect Summer crown. Baseballs and sparkly fish made the cut. While our pumpkin and football stickers were put aside for a later date.

Encourage kids to decorate their crowns to the fullest! Color the left, glitter the right, add gems to each of the arches at the top. Practice counting as you place each gem down. And don’t forget to let kids peel their own stickers. It’s fantastic fine motor skill practice. Even if you have to start the peel, let you little royal’s hands work hard to do the rest!