Change is in all that is. It is happening all around us. Growth, time, seasons, cooking… Sometimes it brings chaos and anxiety, other times it brings growth and a new mindset… How we choose to mentally manage change is the key to the outcome. We as adults are (typically) able to adapt, accept and keeping moving forward but for the young learners of our world change can be tricky to navigate.

We preach consistency and routine… as we should… but this can lead to surprise, anxiety and unexpected behaviors when the slightest changes occur. So how do we navigate this? Accept the change, work with it and also keep with the consistency that is needed for young learners to thrive?

Understanding… In order to welcome and accept change children need to understand what it is and feel safe when it happens. Announcing change, and bringing examples and real life scenarios to the routine and experiences that bring change to the forefront can help children with this. Science experiments are fun change. Ice melting, cooking, color change, and fizzy bubble explosions are all fun examples to introduce change.

Prepare… Again safety is important when it comes to change. Children need to feel safe when change occurs to accept it and get through it. Preparing children for change is a huge benefit. Use reminders verbal and non to announce change… 5 minute reminders (and more 1/2/10 if needed) help to prepare for the upcoming change. Pictures can be added or taken away to schedules to announce change. Messages at morning meeting to explain change to the day or routine. When children know what to expect they are able to adjust much easier.

Acceptance… Even verbal statements out loud to children (“wow the leaves are changing color”) can support children to understand and accept the concept of change. Identifying change as it is actively and naturally happening can support children to accept the changes that ultimately are consistently happening around us.

Ultimately change is often times hard to adjust to. But with preparation, support and reminders it can bring about several benefits and even lead to fun and growth. Remember to stay calm, and supportive during tricky transitions and to give yourself grace and to be kind to yourself and others. Change can be hard but it can lead to beautiful outcomes too.

Examples of real life change…

Caterpillar to butterflies 🦋
Ice melting 🧊
Plants budding to flowers 💐
Growing taller 📏
Fall leaves 🍁

What are your favorite types of change?