“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart…I’ll always be with you.”
A. A. Milne
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/6659295-you-are-braver-than-you-believe-stronger-than-you-seem#_=_
Helping Children Cope With Change
Ashley Cullens writes about this topic in the Big Life Journal and lists 7 strategies to do this. https://biglifejournal.com/blogs/blog/help-kids-cope-big-life-changes
- Give them time to prepare
- Listen to their concerns
- Read books about life changes
- Keep routines the same
- Provide connection and play
- Give them choices and ask for help
- Talk about other changes they have successfully coped with in the past
Books To Help Children With Change
Kirsten, a librarian and educator who loves picture books, gives parents some good book ideas to use for this topic in her blog as the ‘Children’s Library Lady’. https://childrenslibrarylady.com/adaptability-book-list/
She says: ‘Life is unpredictable. Teaching adaptability skills and flexible thinking helps children cope with changes, uncertainty and disappointment. This could include starting school, moving house, changes in relationships and digital advancements.
Change may be difficult, but it opens us up to new experiences and opportunities. As teachers, we can help children adjust to difficult situations by giving them the skills to cope with change.
These picture books about adapting to change and flexible thinking are great discussion starters on how to deal with challenges, uncertainty and disappointment.’
To understand how a child might feel about change here is a poem about starting a new school Who Am I? © Lesley Gutierrez Published: November 2013 Who am I ? I just am not able to understand. Feeling so many mixed emotions Different Helpless Ignored Lonely And most of all Lost. The road of confusion seemed to have no end. I covered myself with a blanket of fear. The judgmental stare of new classmates Did nothing else but lay upon me I walked in My legs were trembling Like a newborn calf I stood at the door New beginning Opportunity And a future https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/starting-at-a-new-school-poem-who-am-i
Eileen Moynihan Author 