Many of us know stories like this: a three year old becomes greatly upset when his mother decides the time has come to wash his "sucky blanket." To her, the blanket is dirty and smelly, little better than a rag. For the little boy, though, the blanket is a vital connector between himself and the world.

Transition Objects

The blanket comes out of the dryer, looking and smelling different, but after a bit of "breaking it in," he's soon able to find comfort in it again.

We call things like that boy's blanket "transition objects." They are favorite things children latch on to when they are little -- a blanket, a toy, or perhaps a teddy bear. One child we know has "Bear" who has been his beloved companion since infancy. His father had a soft dog called "Ann." Rarely can we predict what will become the beloved "best" object.

Building Trust

These objects become important bridges between what the child knows best -- home and close family members -- and the rest of the world of new places, new things, and new people. Transition objects offer children comfort and a sense of security while they're becoming more comfortable in those new places (which, for some children, can take a long while).

There's another essential way we help children with transitions to new places and new people. It's trust. Trust is the essential bridge between the child and the rest of the world of people.

The infant who has learned to trust his or her first and closest caregivers can take that trust and extend it to a widening circle of relatives and other caregivers -- child care providers, doctors, teachers and other caring professionals who become important in his or her life.

Transitions as a Process

Transitions can still take lots of time, even when children have had warm, trusting relationships and even when they carry along their "blankies." Little by little, at their own pace, children will be able to move ahead on their own.

Even though providers may feel some sadness as children move ahead, they can also feel pride in the strengths they've given children as they move to a new separate, unique, independent, feeling, decision-making person! What a tremendous journey that is!

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