Change is in the Air!
The weather has cooled off and the change of seasons is in the air. Not everyone likes the change as we head into fall toward winter. The days are becoming shorter; Halloween decorations are going up and Pumpkin Spice is everywhere. How do you deal with change?
Many kids really struggle with change or transitions of any kind. It throws them off of their center. Let’s get real, a lot of adults don’t like it either. I find that the most sensitive people struggle with change the most. It’s just harder to adjust to things being new or different for highly sensitive souls.
How do your kids adjust to change? Are they just go-with-the-flow types? Do they resist transitions of all sorts? Here are a few tips for getting through changes – and we know that the only constant in this life is change!
- Give kids as much warning as possible when change is coming. For example, leaving to go somewhere, someone is coming over, dinner isn’t what they were expecting, practice is cancelled due to rain, etc…
- Many changes can not be anticipated. Try to proactively warn your kids about things that might not be as expected. For example, you never know when a teacher or best friend might not be at school and your child will have to adapt to that big, unexpected shift. A friend might be coming for a playdate, but we never know when things will change at the last minute. Warn your child of what the plan B might be. “If Bobby isn’t able to make it for the playdate, we might go to the park instead.”
- Have lots of compassion for how hard it is.
- Don’t make things happen out of fear of your child’s reaction if they don’t. We have to teach them to deal with the difficult parts of life. Sit in the discomfort with them, but don’t make it all better. The more they overcome tough moments, the more faith they will have in themselves that they CAN get through tough moments. (I can’t say this one enough times!)
Change is hard sometimes, but change can also be very exciting because it invites in the new. Help your child see the positive parts of change. When the best friend is home sick from school, look at the opportunity to play with new friends! Be an annoying optimist!
Happy Fall, my friends! Enjoy this lovely season!
With love,
Bette
