Life goes up and down and round and round – change can happen at the drop of a hat. As adults, we adjust to change fairly well as we have dealt with many during our lives and are used to the feelings and thoughts that go with change.
Children are not always so good at this. They find change a little tricky and most children I know like everything to stay the same as it makes them feel safe and secure. However, parents have to help children learn how to adjust to life changes, as they cannot be avoided. Whether it’s moving house, moving country, changing schools, a financial change at home or someone moving out of the home, big life changes can feel huge and overwhelming for children.
Ideas To Help Children Cope with Life Changes
Talk to your child to prepare them for what’s coming so they feel more prepared and ready to face it. Discuss the following points:
- Give them enough warning as you think is right for your child. Too much time and they worry for a longer period. Too little and they don’t feel they are ready.
- Give them the facts – enough for their age.
- Talk about the change and what it will mean for them.
- Share the benefits of the change – no matter how small they are.
- Listen to your child’s concerns and worries, and address them as they come up
- Answer any questions they have, even if it means you answering the same ones time and time again.
- Acknowledge and validate their feelings.
The worst thing you can do is shield your child from change and put off the inevitable. They need to be part of it, so keep dialogues open and share the impending changes that are about to happen and the consequences of how it will affect them.
Here is more information on how to help children with big life changes. I find there is so much change that children have to be able to adjust to it easily. If your child could benefit from some life coaching in this area, please do give me a call on 07961 312 749.
