Imagine someone close to you suddenly relocates with no explanation and you go to their former place just to meet someone new. How do you feel?
Yes.. the anxious feeling of betrayal and loss. How could they do that to you?
That’s how children feel when they are taken from the school they have bonded with to an entirely new place.
“His new daycare is a large center housed in a former elementary school, so the change has been drastic. He absolutely does not want to go in and he melts down every morning at drop off. We're entering our third week and it's not getting better, it's actually getting worse. He barely gets into the front doors of the center now, whereas last week he'd at least make it to his locker.” - Jennifrrr
As you can see, moving schools for children is like changing the world as they know it. They begin to struggle with the reality they have been moved into.
That's why it’s important to treat this situation with care and delicacy. It might be difficult for both of you, but you have to pull through.
In this blog post, we will explore why this happens and what you could implement to minimise the transition effect and ensure your child is ready to get into the school you have planned for him.
Why Children Find It Hard?
“Transitions are hard for everybody,” says David Anderson, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute. “One of the reasons why transitions may be hard is that we’re often transitioning from a preferred activity — something we like doing — to something that we need to do.”
Transition is difficult for each of us. In children, it can manifest as reluctance, anxiety, tantrums, avoidance etc.
We all know that change leads to anxiety and why do we get anxious about things? Because we sense a lack of uncertainty and control over the situation.
Children feel the same way. When a child becomes attached to a place, any change in that environment can heighten their anxiety.
Also because they are way more emotional than we are, they tend to feel emotions at 10 times the rate we do. They cope with crying or throwing tantrums.
Another reason they find it hard is that their pre-frontal cortex hasn’t been developed properly.
This is the part of the brain where we deal with changes and it’s one of the last things to be developed in the brain by humans.
Due to this lack, they can have a full mental breakdown.
As parents, your children need you more than ever in this phase. Children crave closeness with their surroundings and are very in tune with them.
Your presence can make things easier for your child.
So, how can you make this challenging phase less overwhelming for your child? Here are some proven strategies.
Communicate Early
Speak to them about it as much as possible. Yes, you heard me right…no matter what age your child is tell them about the change happening soon.
You might wonder: ‘But my young toddler can’t understand what I’m saying.’ Well, you’re partially right, but no matter how little your child is they can read your emotions.
If you can calmly and comfortably explain to them through body language and tone, they will understand that something is happening but there’s no need for alarm.
Repetition is key to success in this aspect of preparation. The more they hear about the upcoming changes—whether it's a new daycare or moving to a different home—the better prepared they'll be.
Make Transition Fun With Music
Children love music. You could implement some form of tune to the change and make it fun. Your child will have no issue with any transition.
They will match the song in their heads with that change. In the “The Clean Up” song, the children understand that it’s time to clean their environment when they hear the music.
You can form tracks around the changes your child is about to undergo so you can ease them into the process.
Using Rewarding System
Rewarding systems encourage children to handle things better. If they don’t cry after you take them to an unfamiliar place, you reward them with a snack or sweet.
They can attach going to new places or taking the action of not crying to getting a reward.
Key Takeaways
Talk to your child early and often about changes.
Use music to make transitions fun.
Reward positive behavior to encourage adaptability.
Children are emotionally smart, which makes this situation difficult. As a parent, you need to be strong for your children.
Finding a daycare that understands your child’s emotional needs is also critical. At Redeemer’s Learning Center in Katy, Texas, we prioritize emotional, spiritual, and academic growth, ensuring a smooth transition for every child.
Schedule a tour today to see how we nurture children into leaders of tomorrow.
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