Learning to love change
Most adults struggle with change to some extent, so it’s no surprise that children do too! While we know an ideal environment for a child is one that is consistent, stable and predictable, we also know that life often throws unavoidable curveballs. Starting daycare or ‘big school’, moving houses, welcoming a new sibling or saying goodbye to a loved one are all huge moments of flux in a child’s early life. Being able to be flexible and adaptable in the face of unexpected changes or challenges like these is a skill that will serve children throughout school and beyond.
As parents and educators, some of the ways we can teach our children to navigate change with confidence are by doing the below:
Create a supportive environment
Establishing an environment where children feel safe to take risks and make mistakes is essential. This encourages them to try new things without fear of being wrong and fosters confidence and a sense of safety. Introduce change into their environment gradually where possible, allowing children to adapt at a comfortable pace.
Provide opportunities to problem solve
Offer opportunities for children to be challenged by providing engaging problem-solving activities. Experiences that require them to think critically and change their strategy to achieve a goal will help build their confidence around change and encourage adaptability in the future.
Be a role model
You are your child’s biggest role model, and they look to you to show them the way. If you can model dealing with changing situations calmly and creatively, they will be more inclined to follow suit. Get your child involved in problem solving where possible and motivate them with lots of encouragement and positive reinforcement.
Have coping strategies ready to go
When it all gets too much, have coping strategies on hand to help your child in moments of stress around change. Breathing exercises are an excellent trick to manage stress, and can divert your child’s attention from the problem long enough to help them get back to a place of calm. Practice these exercises when your child is calm and happy so they know how they go! Promoting body awareness is another great method of self-regulation that you can teach your child. This process involves teaching them to recognize how their body feels in moments of stress and then how to physically relax each part of their body.
Teaching your child to love (or at least note loathe!) change is an essential life skill that will serve them for years to come. Framing change as something that can be exciting and fun instead of scary and troubling will help them to approach the concept of change with positivity and an open mind.
