Your child will need support and time to prepare for any changes to his/ her routines at school or home. This includes school trips or moving to a different classroom or teacher.
Strategies for managing change
- Use visual supports to explain what will be happening to your child, this will support his/ her understanding of what you are saying. You will need to explain what’s going to happen more than once. Mark on a calendar when the change will be happening and encourage him/ her to count down the days until the change takes place. On the day of the change a visual time table can be useful to explain exactly what is happening.
- Visit a new place several times before the change to enable your child to become familiar with it. Take photographs of key parts of the new place and people and make a book about the change.
- If you feel the change may cause your child to become anxious, make sure you provide him/ her with opportunities to ask questions. You could also provide him/ her with a worry book or box where they can write or draw his/ her concerns. Explain the benefits of the change.
