Making transitions more predictable

An ending is also a change of task

Leaving the park, stopping a game or moving towards bedtime can become the hardest part of the day. Describe one specific transition and what comes before and after it. Not every difficult ending has the same explanation, so a consultation begins with the pattern in your family rather than a universal rule.

What was visible to your child?

Consider whether the ending was expected, how it was communicated and whether the next activity was clear. A warning can mean something different to the adult giving it and the child hearing it. What does your child say about the moment? What already helps on easier days?

A resource for discussion

The Two-Step Countdown is an STG parent-led transition resource. Its materials describe a consistent sequence of cues, a visible timer, naming what comes next and rehearsing the hand-over. These are elements to review with your clinician, not a requirement to implement the whole resource without considering fit.

Try the parent approach first

The parent workbook supports preparing and reviewing the agreed routine. A separate Fridge Card can keep that agreement visible. The child handout is introduced only after the parent has tried the strategy and the clinician has considered the appropriate age band and the child's involvement.

Keep boundaries and safety in the conversation

If a hand-over is unsafe, communication is unclear or the approach is not workable, seek an adaptation through the agreed care process. Do not physically force a routine or continue an unsafe interaction to complete a chart. Immediate danger needs local emergency support, not a diary submission.

What to bring back

A short account of what the cues were, what happened at the transition and what support was needed can help the review. An incomplete attempt is still something to discuss. The aim is a more workable family routine, not a perfect-looking record.