6 Things to Consider in Supporting Children’s Adjustment to Change

Change can be difficult, especially for children when their need for safety and stability is uncertain. Establishing consistent and predictable routines helps children feel secure.

There are many changes that children experience such as:

• Moving, relocating, and transitioning between homes
• Changing schools, including new teachers and peers
• Changes to family structure. Examples include separation or addition of partner(s) and children
• Separations or losses impacting the family
• Parental struggles with mental health or substance use

It is hard for children to stay focused when the routines that create structure and consistency are missing or changing without notice.

Your child may be lacking structure if any one of the following is present:

• Waking up in the morning and going to bed at night is a daily power struggle as there are no predictable sleep-wake patterns.
• Your child does not have a plan to support the development of independent living skills such as daily hygiene and household tasks.
• There are no clear expectations around school responsibilities or homework.
• Things at home feel chaotic and disorganized.

Did you know that a therapist can help support you and your family by establishing routines to help set you up for success? If there are emerging concerns of mental health, therapists can screen for symptoms such as depression and anxiety and work with you and your child to develop a plan to support your child’s back-to-school transition.

Here are 6 things to consider in supporting a child’s adjustment to change:

Discuss changes ahead of time to help ease the transition.

Talk about strategies that will help prepare for transitions such as gradually adjusting sleep-wake schedules in preparation for the new school year. Begin having discussions now about screen time and storage of devices.

Create visual schedules to help support with tasks as part of the morning, afterschool, and evening routine.

Visual schedules can be tailored to children of all ages. Pictures can be used with younger children, color-coding for visual impact, or using a whiteboard. Incorporate positive reinforcement and praise to keep children motivated.

Work within the environment so it supports organizational skills and time management.

Having a work-study space cleared of clutter and being mindful of access and use of social media is so important. Small changes within the work environment will promote good organizational and time management skills that can transfer to the home and school environment.

Get creative with finding ways to connect within busy schedules.

For example, extra time after a child’s bedtime routine can be reserved for 1:1 connection through conversation or activities such as reading a bedtime story. This is also a great opportunity to listen to what is going on in your child’s life, validate their emotions, and be supportive.

Pay attention to signs that indicate mental illness in children.

Changes in a child’s mood, behavior, and daily routine such as sleep, or appetite changes may indicate mental health concerns. Talking to a health care professional such as a pediatrician or mental health therapist can help assess these concerns.

Notice how your response influences your child’s adjustment.

Notice what your child sees and hears, as you cope with stressful or traumatic events that impact the family. A child’s mental health is supported by the quality of their parent’s mental health. Taking good care of your mental health makes a significant difference.

Written By: Charlotte Johnson, MA, LPCC

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