Transitions are a natural part of any day—whether it’s moving from playtime to circle time, transitioning to lunch, or ending a fun activity to go home. While many children find transitions challenging, they can be particularly difficult for autistic kids. What may seem like a simple shift to others can feel overwhelming, disorienting, and even distressing for autistic kids.

Today I’m going to talk about why transitions are hard for autistic children and provide actionable strategies to support them. By understanding the underlying challenges and implementing thoughtful solutions, we can make transitions smoother and less stressful for everyone involved.

Takeaways

1. Autistic children thrive on routine and consistency.

2. Transitions can create anxiety due to unpredictability.

3. Sensory changes during transitions can be overwhelming.

4. Executive functioning challenges make shifting attention difficult.

5. Emotional attachments to activities can lead to distress during transitions.

6. Monotropism allows for deep learning and creativity.

7. Visual schedules can help children anticipate transitions.

8. Empathy and validation are crucial during difficult transitions.

9. Video modeling is an effective tool for teaching transitions.

10. Building predictable routines can ease transition anxiety.

Links

Video Modeling Guide:  www.autismlittlelearners.com/video

Blog post about video modeling: https://autismlittlelearners.com/autism-video-modeling/

Related podcast episode #15:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-autism-little-learners-podcast/id1665404820?i=1000610719012

More information on Monotropism: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/monotropism-and-neurodiversity/id1729259545?i=1000659200713

You may also be interested in these supports:

1. Visual Support Starter Set 

2. Visual Supports Facebook Group

3. Autism Little Learners on Instagram

4. Autism Little Learners on Facebook