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My Child Has a Hearing Loss...What Next?
Information and resources for parents of newly diagnosed deaf and hard of hearing children.
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Tackling Transition Times
By: Renata Bursten, Dragonfly Staff
Tips for inclusive transition strategies in preschool.
Experienced early childhood educators know about transition. Transition is the process of changing from one activity set to another, let's say from painting time to circle discussion. How well the transition goes impacts the success of the next activity in a big way.
Transition can be especially hard for preschoolers because they are often reluctant to change activities. The hustle and bustle can be confusing, and acting up is common. Children with special needs often face extra challenges in maintaining their emotional balance, and the caregiver needs some strategies for accommodating these needs.
,Here are a few hints for accommodating certain issues during transition:
For children with visual impairments, set up tactile way-marker cues like a rug runners or tape strips down walls in a hallway that can be traced with the fingers. Describe the path ahead of the child verbally, and praise the child for independence.
,Children who have a hearing impairment will appreciate a consistent cue to signal an upcoming transition time, perhaps a shoulder tap or verbal cue.
Children with gross motor delays may benefit from the "buddy" system. Helper-friends can assist in leading the child to the lunch table or the outdoor activity area.
Build a little extra time into the routine for smoother transitions. Everyone will enjoy an unhurried changeover ... including the teachers!
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PLAY Tip
Crystal Drop Ball: Sensory Integration and Balance
Try sitting the child cross-legged on a ball. Hold their hips firmly, and slowly roll the ball from the center out in the forward directions on a gentle angle.
Watch to see how (and if) the child compensates for the new angle of their trunk. We want to see the chin tip back towards level with the floor. This signifies the understanding that "upright" is not always determined by the position of the hips relative to the floor, but rather is cued by the relation of the inner ears to the floor.
Prompt the child to "sit up straight" both with verbal and demonstrative cues. Once the rolling forward is mastered, work on backwards, side-to-side, and in a gentle circular motion. The see-through ball adds extra fun!