Bridge Activities

The secret weapon for smooth transitions is what child psychologists call a bridge activity — something connecting the current activity to the next. Leaving the playground? Carry the ball to the car together.

Routines are the ultimate bridge. When the sequence is always bath-then-story-then-bed, each step predicts the next. Children who resist transitions fiercely in novel situations often flow through familiar routines with zero friction. Predictability is a superpower for young brains.