Easier Goodbyes

How do you make goodbyes easier?

We help clean up. 🧹

We have the help of all parents involved saying bye. 👋

We use a timer.⏲️

We give tiny treats once they are clicked in their seats. 🍏

Here is a longer explanation, with possible scripts to use.

Tell the other parent ahead of time that you'll be doing this so they don't undermine things. Until I clued other parents in on what I was doing I heard a lot of: "Don't worry about the mess" or other nonsense. Yes, your child needs to do their part to clean up their mess. Tell them when you arrive that you are going to try something new to make leaving easier and you need their help.

5-15 minutes before you need to leave, tell them paytime is over. I like singing the song from Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood to make it easier: "It's almost time to go, so choose one more thing to do..." 

Here is a recording I made a few years ago of this song with the signs I use (ASL) to reinforce my words. https://youtu.be/2xBYHhGldz4

Disclaimer: I have only taken a couple of courses in ASL and I am not fluent in this language. I made this video because I couldn't find any videos made by people on the Deaf community for this song.

Here is a picture of me signing "Done".

🧹Clean-up 🧹

"Oh! We have had so much fun. I can tell because look at this mess! It's clean up time! Let's tidy those toys! Let's wash up our paints, etc."

⏲️ Timer ⏲️

When cleaning is almost done, set a timer/alarm so it goes off! Something to reinforce your haste to leave in a minute or 5.

Here's what a 1 minute timer looks like on my phone.

❓Why? ❓

Cleaning up is especially helpful for children who have been in daycare / preschool. At daycare and preschool, cleaning is a part of their transitions. Children help pack up the toys from one activity before moving on to the next. It becomes a more natural transition.

👌Tell them they did well 👍

"That is so clean. Our work here is done. Now, it's time to hop into the car to go. We have so many other things to do today. So glad we found this time to play."

🤷‍♀️😞😡 Oh no! Time to go?

Child expresses hesitation, or even anger.

This is where another parent is so helpful. "I know it's hard to go, but now it is time for you to leave. Playtime is over. We have our things to do, and you have yours."

🚗🚗 Car and Treat time! 🍐🍏

When they get to the car, they get a tiny snack. I keep dried fruit, mints, gum, fruit snacks, etc in the car. When they are clicked into their seats they get one.