29/12/2025
This Useful Tip Tuesday, let’s make the holiday chaos a little calmer with one tiny, predictable routine that really helps 🌱
Tip: Do a “Two-Minute Preview” before transitions.
Holiday days have a lot of mini-transitions (screens off, getting out the door, visitors arriving, bedtime). When kids feel surprised or rushed, their nervous system can flip into “nope!” mode. A calm preview gives their brain time to shift gears, especially for kids who find change, stopping, or waiting tough.
Here’s how:
🟣 Preview the next two steps (only two!).
Try: “In two minutes, screens off. Then we’ll put shoes on.”
🟣 Name the hard part with warmth.
Try: “Stopping is tough when you’re having fun.”
🟣 Offer one small choice inside the plan.
Try: “Do you want to turn it off, or shall I press the button with you?”
🟣 Use a simple timer they can see.
Try: “When the timer beeps, it’s time.” (Then follow through calmly.)
🟣 Finish with a connecting bridge.
Try: “First ___, then ___. After that, I’m keen to hear what you were building/watching.”
Quick Win: Make a “Holiday Transition Phrase” and stick with it (i.e. “First ___, then ___.”). Write it on a note on the fridge. The repetition is what makes it work.
Why it works
Previewing reduces uncertainty, and choice reduces power struggles. The timer becomes the “boss,” and your calm, predictable language helps your child shift from one activity to the next without feeling blindsided.
If the holidays feel loud and messy, you’re not alone. Tiny predictable moments can steady the whole day 💜 See you next month for another practical tool.
Note: This is general information only — not a substitute for individual professional advice.
