Ever feel like you have just had a V8 moment? I recently did when I realized that ANY change in activity is a “transition” for my son. For a while, I have known that a change in our normal routine such as going away for the weekend, going on vacation or starting back at school were transitions and could produce great anxiety for our son.

Now that he has been officially diagnosed with ADD (ADHD – inattentive), I realize that any change in activity is a transition. Different types of transitions produce different levels of reaction but it has now entered my consciousness that I need to prepare him for transitioning from play time to dinner as much as I need to prepare him for a new activity or going away for the weekend.
 

 
Major Transitions or New Activities

Vacations and traveling weekend plans have consistently caused much anxiety with our son. To address this, we have always talked through the travel plans in detail extensively before the actual trip. Where are we going, how long we going to be there, what we are going to do while there, where will we sleep, where will we eat and so forth. We typically discuss the travel plans for a week or two before leaving. Sometimes we also play act the new situation. We dress up and pretend we are leaving for our plans at that moment and play through what is going to occur.

I also use photo albums extensively to remind him of previous trips, who we are going to visit and what we are going to do. I have found the photo picture books from Shutterfly (or probably any photo service) to be especially great for this. The books are thin and sturdy and he is able to carry the book around with him (or sleep with it) in order to prepare himself for the change in routine.

Recently Jenn from http://canmombecalm.blogspot.com put up a blog post about using YouTube videos to prepare her children for new activities. What a brilliant idea and one I am definitely going to use in the future. Check out her post on preparing her son to be a ringbearer here: http://canmombecalm.blogspot.com/2009/07/top-tool-for-special-needs-parents.html. Jenn used the videos to prepare her children for an upcoming family wedding. We plan on using YouTube videos to expose our son to karate which we would like for him to try.
 
Daily Routine Transitions

Every day transitions are a bit easier. I have found that if I give 10 minute warnings, 5 minute warnings and 1 minute warnings, the transitions associated with daily life go a lot easier. It so simple, yet the results are amazing. All it took was a change in my mindset, to embrace the fact that transitions for a child (and probably even adults) with ADHD are difficult and to adjust my behavior accordingly. No longer is my son being bad or not listening to me, he just needed time to adjust to the change from one activity to another. I also make sure to praise him lavishly when he does transition nicely reinforcing the idea of appropriate and responsible behavior.

I expect over time that I will continue to have many more of these AHA moments. ADHD is a neurological impairment that is very complex and difficult to understand. Tasks that may seem simple or straightforward for those of us without ADHD can be monumental for those with it. I actually hope that I continue to have these AHA moments for my son so that I can help him and guide those around him to understand him and his needs that more deeply.