The 10-minute warning, and why it’s so important

This tip comes from experience, but after doing some research on it, it’s a highly recommended strategy for how to transition a child away from an activity.

Whether it’s time at the playground or time on the tablet, giving your child multiple time warnings helps them prepare and more easily accept the change.

Depending on the activity, like being at the playground, even starting with a 30-minute warning can be helpful. However we’ve found, especially for tablet or TV time, that a 10-minute warning followed by a 5-minute and 2-minute warning works best. Every child is different however, and different warning times may work better for you.

And it’s not just us, according to Vanderbilt University, “transition warnings let your child know when an activity is about to end and a new activity is about to begin. Providing transition warnings can prevent challenging behavior by creating a more predictable environment for your child.”

Some parents recommend setting a timer on their phone in addition to the transition warnings. Then when the child hears the timer beep, they know it’s time to move on.

It’s also important to stick to the transition when it’s time instead of allowing “just five more minutes.” It’s hard sometimes, but setting expectations and following through is an important part of parenting.

We’re happy to hear your thoughts and opinions on this in the comments section below.

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