Being able to let go of one thing and to wait, patiently, for another is an incredibly complex and important skill. (One that many adults still struggle with.) Being able to handle transitions promotes future success in classroom settings, reduces conflicts with adults and peers, and builds greater flexibility and, yes, flow! 
 
Up until now, baby has existed in “survival brain”—where the choices are now or not now. The big WOW here is the concept of later. Baby learning to wait or to pause something they are enjoying relies on their ability to imagine a future. Just like way back up stream, when baby began navigating space, and the idea of the ball behind the chair was linked to separation anxiety, they are now learning to imagine time in the same way. So, fittingly, transitions can trigger similar anxieties, resistance, and frustrations. 
 
Baby’s day is filled with mini transitions, from getting out the door or cleaning up after playtime, to taking naps or going to bed for the night. Little ones can struggle with having to stop what they are doing to do something else. Transitions call on the executive function skills we’ve talked about before—visualizing, working memory,  inhibitory control, and attention—to challenge baby’s powerful feelings of independence and exploration, which can lead to an increase in tantrums.