26 Jun Helping Kids Cope with Change
Change is a part of life.
For children, some common changes that can impact them greatly include attending a new school, shifts in family dynamics (including a parental separation/divorce), birth of a sibling, and loss/death of a pet or family member; to name a few. To help ease the stress of new changes, parents can help in a few important ways.
First, take the time to discuss and prepare children for any changes that you know are about to occur. Talk to them about any concerns/fears they may have and validate their feelings. Try to keep home routines as predictable as possible with regular meals and bedtimes. Share some of your own strategies for dealing with stress. Children need to know that adults find change difficult sometimes too. Keep an eye on any periods of prolonged sadness or worry. This may indicate that the child is not coping well and may need extra help. This way normal changes in life can be felt or viewed more as gentle ebbs and flows instead of crashing waves that overwhelm.