Change is a part of life. It is happening with us and around us constantly. The major difference is how we deal with change. Each one of us has a different way of reacting and adapting to different changing situations around us. Some of us face feelings of fear when introduced with the change, while some of us simply accept it and get on with the normal ways of life.
Most of the time, children have a very hard time adapting and understanding change. But the only thing constant in life is change. And that is exactly what you need to teach your child. You need to make them learn how to accept and embrace change. Welcoming changing situations in our lives is not an easy task and it gets harder as we grow older, thus, it is important to lay this foundation for your children during the early stages of life.
Here are 4 tips that will help you in making your child learn the concept of change and embrace it
Talking is always the first step
Seems simple and easy but this one is a nutcracker. Sometimes all that your child is looking out from you is a little bit of time so they can share their feelings with you. They talk about what is going on in their lives with either their parents, siblings, friends or acquaintances. Most of the time, talking about it helps. This is a two-way process. When you talk to your child about the changing situations, it helps them in adapting to the situation and at the same time helps you in getting to know your child better. Trust is the way to get them talking to you. You need them to confide in you and that’s how you can provide them with a little more sense of perspective. Indulge your child in family gatherings or alone times where they get to share their ideas, thoughts and concerns about what is bothering them
Listening is equally important
Now that you have gotten your children to talk and share their feelings, it is important that you listen to them and pay all your attention to their concerns and come up with apt solutions. You need to stop whatever it is that you are doing, put your phone down and really listen to your child’s feelings heart to heart. Many times, these feelings, when not spoken about escalate into anger, frustration, trauma and undesirable behavioural patterns. This is because your kid might not feel heard or acknowledged. So when your child is making a fuss about wanting more of your time or feelings, it is because they want your attention and they want you to notice that they are not happy with a certain situation. The best response to such a situation is to LISTEN and acknowledge them. You need to let them know that you are there for them and you trust them
Allow your child to feel the ‘feels’
As parents, all we want for our children is to be happy. But there is no way in the world that your child feels happy all the time. This happiness would accompany a number of tantrum issues and a few meltdowns alongside the way of ‘perfect parenting.’ So, here is the best tactic for that. Instead of sweeping the bad parts and bad days under the rug, it is important to communicate. You need to understand that your child needs to face the bad days in order to understand the value of the good ones. Acknowledge your child’s emotions and feelings. Tell your children that it is okay to cry and be sad when they have to leave the playtime or travel away from their friends. Acknowledging your kid’s emotions will make them feel normal about themselves and the feelings that they are going through. Thus, feeling the ‘feels’ would only make your child grow up in a positive environment, owing upto his/her emotions
Build a routine
This one is the key for all of us. Not just the children, but this step helps the parents as well. With all the moving and traveling and settling, there are some things that you have to keep the same. Decide a bedtime routine for your kids, get a meal plan in place and jot down all the activities that your kids like in order to save them from dwelling in the overwhelming sea of emotions. Instead, make sure that your kids learn from the transition and embrace it as a part of their lives. It is easier for children to thrive on a routine because it makes their lives easier and simpler and more predictable. The perfect example here can be for your child to be wrapped up in their favorite blankie. This makes them feel comfortable, secure and happy. If you think that the routine can be changing slightly, keep them informed well in advance. Without structure, your kids might feel a sense of chaos and this may result in stress. Meanwhile, routine helps in breeding consistency and safety.
