3 simple and effective ways to work on anticipation with your child

Many times, when a child becomes dysregulated during a transition - turning off the TV, finishing a game, starting homework, or going to bed - we tend to think it is a lack of limits or a defiant attitude. However, in most cases, the origin is much simpler: the child didn’t know what was going to happen.

A child’s brain needs predictability in order to feel safe. When the environment is unpredictable, the level of alertness increases. And when alertness increases, frustration, resistance, or emotional overwhelm are much more likely to appear.

Anticipation is a very powerful preventive tool because it provides structure, clarity, and a sense of control. It doesn’t eliminate all conflicts, but it significantly reduces the anxiety caused by unexpected changes.

Below are three simple and very effective ways to work on anticipation both at home and during therapy sessions.

1. Visual sequences

Visual sequences consist of clearly and sequentially representing the activities that will take place. This can be done using pictograms, drawings, photographs, cards, or any manipulable support (such as a train, a Velcro strip, or a panel).

What matters is not the format, but that the child can see what activities will happen and in what order.

For example: first free play, then table activity, then a break, and finally goodbye. When the child sees this sequence, they understand that each moment has a beginning and an end. This reduces uncertainty because they stop constantly wondering, “What happens next?”

Visual sequences are also very helpful during transitions. If the child knows that after playtime comes the worksheet, the change doesn’t appear suddenly. It was already anticipated. And when something is anticipated, the brain experiences it as less threatening.

2. Writing the sequence and crossing it off

Another very useful tool, especially for children who already understand lists or are beginning to read, is writing the planned activities on a board.

Adding small drawings next to each word helps comprehension and makes the process more visual and motivating.

The key is to cross off each activity once it is finished. That simple action has a very powerful effect: the child can visualize their progress. They can see that they are moving forward, that the task is not endless, and that less and less remains to be done.

This increases tolerance for waiting, improves motivation, and strengthens the sense of achievement. Not only did they complete the task, but they can actually see that they did it.

3. Anticipating time with a visual timer

Many times, frustration does not appear because of the activity itself, but because the child does not know how long it will last. For young children, time is an abstract concept. Saying “five minutes” is not always helpful if they cannot truly understand what that means.

A visual timer transforms time into something concrete. It allows the child to see how much time is left and understand that the activity has a clear limit.

When the child sees the time decreasing, their brain can begin preparing for the ending. This reduces resistance to phrases like “that’s enough” or “we’re finished.”

Anticipating time does not mean the child will always agree with the ending, but it does reduce the feeling of surprise and helps create a calmer transition.

Anticipating means preventing

When a child can see what will happen, how long it will last, and what comes next, they can prepare emotionally. And when they can prepare, they are less likely to become overwhelmed.

Instead of focusing only on correcting behavior when conflict appears, we can prevent many of those situations by adjusting the environment and providing more structure.

Small changes in the organization of the day can create big changes in emotional regulation.

At what time of the day does your child become most dysregulated: when starting something or when finishing it? Do you think many tantrums could be prevented with more anticipation?

We’d love to hear from you!