One of the things that a lot of us tend to forget is that it can be pretty tough to be a kid. Sure, they might not have the weight of adult responsibilities on their shoulders but, for kids, things are constantly changing and facing up to new things all the time can be pretty scary. It can often feel as though a new change is coming into your child’s life every few months. This is especially true in the current moment where elements of everyday life are constantly changing for all of us. However, helping your child navigate the difficult transitions of life with a few easy steps can really make a difference.
Prepare them
One of the worst things for any kid is being faced with a sudden change that they have no control over and had no idea was coming. This is why it’s so important to make sure that helping your child prepare as best as possible for any changes and transitions in their life.
Whether you’re moving to a new home, changing schools, or simply going through some kind of significant change in routine, preparing your child for it through clear communication is one of the most important things that you can do. Not only does this make it all go a lot smoother but it helps them to emotionally brace for whatever is happening.
We can all relate no matter what age we are that being blindsides is never a good thing nor easy to deal with.
Make things fun
Not all changes need to be bad and scary. A lot of the time it just comes down to how you approach those changes with your child. Something like moving to a new school can be an anxious time for a lot of kids but using fun distractions can help. Do things like letting them choose from a new selection of kids backpacks to making a list of all of the things that they’re looking forward to, or what they hope the new school will be like, you can help to make it all a whole lot more exciting and a whole lot less scary. If you’re able to approach these kinds of things with a positive outlook, it will make it that much easier for them to do the same.
Listen to them
One of the biggest mistakes that any parent can make is to treat what their child is dealing with as though it’s not that important. It might seem as though they’re making a big fuss over nothing but the truth is that they are likely dealing with a lot of complex emotions. The best thing that you can do is to listen to them and validate the way that they’re feeling. Helping them feel less alone in what they’re going through can make all the difference in the world. Sometimes it makes it easier to open communication with them so they can come to you if they need, later.
Put yourself in their shoes
One of the most important things to remember is that the changes that your child is going through might not seem all that significant to you but to them, they could well be some of the most life changing experiences that they have ever had. Make sure that you try to put yourself in their place emotionally so that you can understand what it is that they really need from you in terms of support.
These seem pretty easy things but sitting down and doing them is a whole lot different. Having been the new kid on the block, I can say these will really help. Helping your child navigate the difficult transitions of life is our jobs as parents. Let’s make it easier for them so it’s easier for us.
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