For young children, "five more minutes" can be hard to understand. Time is abstract, and stopping something fun takes more planning, flexibility, and self-control than adults sometimes realize.

Try giving families language that makes the transition visible:

Instead of: "We're leaving in five minutes."

Try: "Two more trips down the slide, then we're walking to the car."

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Instead of: "Dinner is almost ready."

Try: "When this puzzle is finished, we're washing hands for dinner."

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Instead of: "Hurry up." 

Try: "Shoes first, then we open the door."

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Concrete cues help children know what's coming next and give them a chance to practice shifting gears.