Life transitions are often emotionally complex, potentially bringing up feelings like excitement, fear, sadness, or confusion, even if the change is ultimately positive. Children don’t always understand that it is okay to feel upset, scared, or unsure.
There are various ways to help children cope with life transitions, and this blog will explore a few of them.
Common Life Transitions for Children
- Starting daycare or preschool
- Beginning kindergarten
- Moving to a new home
- Changing schools
- Parents’ divorce or separation
- Becoming a big sibling
- Loss of a loved one or pet
- Moving between households
- Making new friends or losing old ones
- Joining or leaving extracurricular activities
- Entering adolescence/puberty
- Experiencing a serious illness or injury
- Relocation due to a parent’s job
- Adjusting to a parent’s remarriage or blended family
- Having a parent return to work after staying at home
- Switching classrooms or teachers mid-year
- Transitioning to middle or high school
How Can You Help Your Child Through Life Transitions?
- Keep Routines as Consistent as Possible
- Talk About the Change Early and Often
- Let Them Feel Involved in the Process
- Offer Extra Emotional Support
- Consider Using Books and Stories to Spark Conversations
- Support Healthy Expression of Feelings
- Monitor Their Social World
- Offer Reassurance About What Won’t Change
- Know When to Seek Extra Help
We’re Here to Help
Our children’s skills and socialization group, Little People, Big Feelings, can help address many common challenges children face. Additionally, we offer Parent Coaching and Skill Building sessions.
