Change champions!
Small children are constantly growing and developing, whilst life around them is continually changing. From taking their first steps, to welcoming a new sibling or starting at school, your child will encounter so many new environments, different people and new experiences. All these come with new language, rules, expectations and emotions.
Some children cope relatively well with change and others will find even the smallest of changes difficult to manage. This can be especially true for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Supporting your child to navigate change can also be daunting for you as a parent or carer as some changes have a big emotional impact on all involved. Fortunately, there are some effective strategies that are helpful and relevant when dealing with any kind of change.
Top tips:
- Establish familiar daily routines: examples include having meals at regular times and a consistent morning or bedtime routine – some families find it beneficial to stick to these routines even during school holidays or when staying away from home
- Introduce visual timetables: these are useful for preparing young children to move on from one thing to another – they are especially useful if your child struggles to understand or process language: Visual Timetables – TLC
- Give a heads-up for changes (even small ones): transitioning from one activity to another can be challenging for some children – you can gently prompt your child of an upcoming change using verbal communication, countdowns, timers or visual timetables
- Talk about changes: for big changes such as moving house or awaiting the arrival of a new sibling, start talking to your child about the change in the days or weeks leading up to the event – many children find it helpful if there is some discussion about an upcoming change
- Share photos and videos about upcoming changes: they may reduce anxiety about what lies ahead – many schools share photos and videos of classrooms and key adults as part of a child’s transition to Reception Class
- Use words connected to emotions: some children might find it tricky to recognise or express how they are feeling about a change, so it helps to start talking about emotions and using emotion words such as ‘fear’, ‘sadness’, ‘excitement’ or ‘anger’ from an early age
- Acknowledge and validate emotions: if your child is able to, ask them to tell you how they feel about a change – validate all feelings by reassuring them it is okay to feel ‘sad’ for example
- Explore a book about change and emotions: books such as ‘The Colour Monster’ by Anna Llenas (video above) and The Worrysaurus by Rachel Bright are a good starting point. – there are many examples, and if you head to your local Essex Library staff will be able to find something appropriate for you to take home
- Pretend play: this is a powerful way of acting out scenarios and helps children understand what might happen in a particular place – you could act out going to see the dentist, or going on a bus – add toys and teddies to your pretend play too: Teddy is Going to School – TLC
- Provide comfort and calm at times of change: this might be reassuring cuddles, a quiet activity such as looking at a book together, or providing your child with a familiar comforting item such as a teddy or blanket when going to a new place or on an unfamiliar journey
- Be a role model: as an adult you do not have to hide your feelings, but ensure you show your child positive examples of managing life’s worries and challenges
- Encourage a ‘Growth mindset’: this is a common term used in educational settings, and it means having the mindset that you can ‘grow’ and get better at things through hard work and practise – it is about supporting your child to be resilient and not be discouraged if they find something such as reading or riding a bike challenging
- If you feel concerned about your child’s ability to manage change: seek guidance from your local Family Hub or the school nurse if your child has started school
