Showing posts with label Child Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Child Health. Show all posts
Friday, August 26, 2011

postheadericon Helping Your Child Deal With Major Life Changes

stressImage by bottled_void via Flickr
Change is an inevitable part of life and helping children learn to adjust to change has always been a parent’s job. It seems like these days, many children are facing change more frequently than in the past as parents lose jobs or homes, divorce or remarry and friends move away. 

How do you help children adjust to major life changes? Here are some suggestions: 

Children thrive on routines. If your child is facing a big change, try to keep as much of the family routines intact as possible. For example, if Wednesday is family game night and Friday is pizza night, keep it that way.

Talk to your child about the change in advance if you can. Some changes, such as the death of a loved one, come on suddenly. If you know a change is coming though, don’t keep your kids in the dark about it. Sit down and talk to them about it. Take your child through the transition step by step so they know what to expect. 

Involve your child in planning and an appropriate amount of decision making. For example, if the change involves a move to a new house, let your child arrange their own room if they are old enough to do so.

Be there for your child. By this I mean don’t let your child be a tag-along to whatever changes are happening in their lives. Take time to focus on your child and let them know you’re there to listen to them and help them.

Acknowledge your child’s feelings – nothing is worse than being told to “just get over it”. Kids really do thrive on routine, and when something changes it can send some kids completely off-kilter. Your child may be angry, sad, anxious or scared, even if the change is something positive in their lives. Remember to not take it personally if your child has negative feelings about a positive change. Acknowledge their feelings without anger and give them time to adjust. 

Focus on the positive aspects of the change. Children follow their parents lead, so if you have a positive attitude towards the change, your child is more likely to feel positive about it as well. Acknowledge the negative, but don’t dwell on it. 

Be sure your child is eating a healthy diet, getting fresh air and exercise and sleeping enough at night. Consider teaching your child age-appropriate stress reduction techniques such as journaling or deep breathing

Activate your support network by letting teachers, coaches and other caregivers in on the changes your child is facing. These professionals deal with children going through changes every day and if you key them in to changes occurring in your child’s life, they’ll be powerful allies in helping your child transition smoothly. 

Watch for signs of unhealthy distress or depression. Some children have a harder time adjusting to change than others. 

If you notice big changes in your child's eating or sleeping habits (more or less) or activity level (loss of interest in favorite activities or sluggishness) that lasts more than two weeks, make an appointment with a counselor or other professional. Your child may need professional help.

How do you help your child with major life transitions?

Enhanced by Zemanta

Share/Bookmark

Search This Blog

Loading...

Subscribe via email

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Popular Posts

Followers

Helping Others

Parents naturally know how to care. Expand your caring horizons, earn your online bachelors degree in social work and help those need it most.

Blog Archive

Learn the Secret

FEEDJIT Live Traffic Feed

BlogCatalog

Parenting Blogs - BlogCatalog Blog Directory

Labels

10 Tip For Flying With Your Baby (1) 1st birthday party (1) 2011 (1) 40 Something First Time Mum (1) 40 something moms (1) 4th of july safety (3) AAP (3) aaron schulman (2) abandonment (1) Abbie Dorn (1) abuse (1) Academic term (1) academics (1) accredited online colleges (1) acne treatments (1) Added your newborn to your health insurance policy (1) adhd (1) adina berzofsky (1) Adolescence (2) Adoption story (1) adoptive parents (3) adult marriage (1) advertising (1) Affordhttp://www.blohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifgger.com/img/blank.gifability (1) African circumcision study (1) airplanes (1) Alice Kinsley Matthias (1) Alisa Gilbert (1) Alix's story (2) AllChildrensFurniture.com (1) allowances (1) Alyssa Ast (58) AMA (1) Amanda Tradwick (1) American Heart Association (1) American Sign Language (1) Amy Reynolds (1) and Halloween: Avoiding tricky treats (1) Angela Atkinson (22) Anita Renfroe (1) antioxidents (1) Antonin Scalia (1) anyreader (1) app (1) Appreciating Children (1) arguments (1) art (1) Ashyia Hill (1) Ask the parents (1) asking for help (1) Asperger syndrome (1) ATT (1) attention (1) attention issues (1) Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (1) Author Lepolia West (1) Autism (1) autism awareness month (1) autism research (2) Autism Speaks (1) Autism spectrum (1) avoiding homework battles (1) Babies (4) Babies to big kids expert (54) Baby (1) baby blues (1) Baby food (1) baby powder (1) Baby Stuff (1) baby teeth (1) babyshower (1) babysitters (1) Back garden (1) back to school (5) back to school anxiety (1) bad behavior (1) bbq (1) beach (1) beauty (1) beauty treatments (2) behavior problems (1) Bell Buisness Report. parenting (2) beloved pet (1) benefits of coffee (1) benefits of doing puzzles (1) benefits of play dates (2) Best Black Dating Sites (1) bickering (1) billion acts of green (1) biological fathers (1) birds (1) birthay (1) birthday money (1) birthday parties (3) blended families (2) blogging (1) blowouts (1) boogers and princesses (2) books (3) bored kids (3) Bowling (1) boys (1) boys and girls (2) Boys and Puberty (1) BP Oil Spill (1) bragging about kids (1) Brand (1) breakfast (1) breaking the cycles of negativity (1) Breastfeeding (3) brothers and sisters (1) brush your teeth (1) brushing (1) bugs (1) bullies (4) bullying (5) bunk beds (1) busy lifestyle (1) butterflies (1) buyer's remorse (1) by Claire Hegarty (2) By Denise Bertacchi (1) cabin fever (1) calcium (1) Caldecott medal (1) California (1) Camps (1) Can the Year You Are Born Affect How Well You Do at School? (1) Canada (1) Capri sun (1) cartoon facts (1) cartoons and toddlers (1) Casey Anthony (1) Cat (1) cat in the hat (1) cause of SIDS (1) cavities (2) Caylee Anthony (1) Caylee Anthony homicide (1) Caylee's Law (1) CDC (2) cell phones (1) challenges of motherhood (6) Chance to win (1) charities and causes (7) Chicken Soup for the Soul (1) Child (12) Child abduction (1) Child abuse (1) child abuse and neglect (1) child custody (1) child drowning (2) child guard (1) Child Health (1) Child Protective Services (1) Child sexual abuse (1) child support (1) Childcare (1) childhood (1) childhood innocence (1) childhood obesity (6) childhood obesity epidemic (1) childhood poisoning (1) children (20) Children Youth and Family (1) children and charity (1) children and confidence (1) Chinese parenting (1) chocolate (1) chores (1) Christal Cooper (1) Christal Rice Cooper (1) christina newman (1) Christmas (2) Christmas and holiday season (2) Christmas break (1) chttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhildhood illness (1) circumcision recommendations (1) Claire Hegarty (3) Claire Hegarty Bryson (1) Class (education) (1) cleaning (1) Clinics and Physicians (1) Clock (1) cloth diapers (1) coffee (1) colic (1) college (1) college student (3) Columbus (1) Columbus Ohio (1) Comedy Central (1) Communication (1) Communications satellite (1) community (1) confidence (2) Contact list (1) contest (1) control (1) conversations with toddlers (1) cooperative (1) Corporal punishment (1) crafts (3) created a monster (1) creativity (1) CreditDonkey (1) crib falls (1) crib injuries (1) Crohn's disease (1) crying after birth (1) curriculum (1) dad (1) dad and baby bonding (1) Dan Dorn (1) dangers of bunk beds (1) Daniel Lee (7) Danielle Craigen (8) dating (4) daughters (2) David Ludwig (1) Dawn Bininger (2) deadlines (1) dealing with withdrawal (1) death (2) Debbie Pecis (21) Decorating the Tree (1) Denise Bertacchi (35) dental care (1) dental health for kids (1) dental hygiene (1) dentist (1) desertion (1) destination (1) diapers (1) Diet food (1) dining room furniture (1) dining rooms direct (1) dirt (2) dirty little secret (2) disabled parents visitation (1) discipline (2) divorce (1) Does Mother Make You Stupid? (1) Dog (1) Dog park (1) dog walkers (1) dogs (1) domestic violence (2) Dora the Explorer (2) Dora the Princess (1) dreams for the future (2) Drinking water (1) Dustin Hoffman (1) dysfunctional families (1) dyslexia in children (2) dyslexia warning signs (1) Dyspnea (1) Earth (1) earth day (3) Eating (2) education (8) Elementary school (1) empathic parenting (1) Empathy (1) empowerment (1) energy (2) Entertainment Merchants Association (1) environment (2) environmental law foundation (1) Environmental Working Group (1) Environmentalism (1) Environmentally friendly (1) erika coplon (1) Erin Brockovich (1) Evan Fischer (1) even fischer (1) Events (1) expectant moms (1) Facebook (1) Facebook and teens (1) facial (1) facts about pregnancy (2) fall (1) Family (16) Family and Relationships (2) Family Art Night (1) family dinner (1) family dinners (1) Family Dynamics (19) Family Health (4) Family Health expert (23) family relationships (1) family vacations (6) Fancy Picnic Dinner (1) fashion (1) Father (1) Father's Day (1) fatherhood (3) fathers (2) fathers day (1) Female (1) femininity (1) fighting (1) finances (2) finding a great pediatrician (1) finding self-motivation (1) fine motor skills (1) Fiona Godlee (1) fire trucks (1) firework safety (2) First Day Jitters (1) first day of school (2) first jobs (1) florence crittenton programs (1) food (3) food allergies (2) Food and Drug Administration (1) Food guide pyramid (1) Forty Something Mum (1) FortySomething FirstTime Mum (1) Foster care (1) Frank Sinatra (1) free family activities (1) free places to take your kids (1) free summer activities for kids (3) fresh cut flower (1) friend or parent (1) friendship (6) friendship with other moms (2) fun activities (1) Fundraisers (1) funny things kids say (2) Garden (1) Gender (1) Gender equality (2) Gender identity (1) germs (1) Gifted education (1) Girl (1) girlfriends (1) girls (4) give away (1) give to others (1) Give to Others organization (1) Glebe Dental Group (1) got ink (1) Grabovnica (1) Grade (slope) (1) grade school years (1) graduation (1) Grandparent (1) great tips (1) green living (1) greetings (1) grief (2) groundhog day (1) growing up (1) guest blogger (6) Guest Post (26) Guest Post: How to Prepare Teens for Driving (1) Guest Post: Six Ideas For A Family Night Even Your Teen Will Love (1) Guest Post: Teaching Children Proper Behavior in a Restaurant (1) Guest Post: Why Your Child May Needs Braces (1) Guest Post:The Endless Benefits of Individual Sports for Young Kids (1) Hallmark (1) Hallmark Cards (1) Halloween (2) Halloween Candy Buy Back (1) hand santizer (1) handling situations (2) hardship (2) Harvard University (1) Hastings (1) head lice (1) Health (5) Healthcare journal (1) healthy eating (2) healthy kids (1) healthy swaps for kids (1) hearing loss (2) heart disease (1) Heidi D Dempsey (1) Heifer International (1) Helen Mirren (1) help (1) history of makeup (1) HIV and circumcision (1) holiday expectations (1) holiday traditions (1) holidays (3) Home (10) Home and Garden (1) Homemade Food Night (1) homeschool or public school (2) Homework (2) Homework help (1) Housebreaking (1) housecleaning (1) How to Train Your Dragon (1) Human nutrition (1) humor (20) Hypertension (1) I'm not your babysitter (1) identity theft (1) illness (2) imagination (1) improving grades (1) In vitro fertilisation (1) indoor playgrounds (1) Infant (4) Infant formula (2) infertility (3) information about autism (3) injured marines (1) inner child (1) Institute of Fiscal Studies (1) Intellectual giftedness (1) International Space Station (1) International Women's Day (1) internet (1) Introduction (1) It Can Wait campaign (1) It's the Effort that Counts (1) iTunes (1) James Mond (1) Jefferey morgan (1) Jennifer Fulks (2) Jenny Ellis (1) Jesus (1) Job description (1) John Henry Newman (1) Journal of the American Medical Association (1) judging other parents (1) juggernaut (1) juice products (1) jury duty (1) Justice for Caylee (1) K-12 (1) K4 programs (1) Kat Foust (15) keep kids safe (4) Kelli Robinson (35) Kid (1) Kid chronicles (2) kidnapping statistics (1) kids (10) kids and independence (3) Kids and Internet Safety (1) Kids and Pets (2) kids and saving (1) kids dentist (1) Kildare (1) Kindergarten (2) La Leche League (1) Language (1) Laura Bell (1) Laura Wool (1) Lauren Bailey (1) Law (1) lead (2) lead paint (1) leadership (1) learning disabilities (1) leaving kids home alone (1) Lego (1) Leslie krick (1) letting go (1) libraries (1) life (1) Life Changes (1) Limited liability company (1) Lindsey Webber (1) lisa charleston (1) listening (1) literacy (2) little girls (1) living a parent's worst fear (2) Los Angeles (1) loss (1) love (1) Magazines and E-zines (1) Maggie Fuller (1) makeup (1) male circumcision (1) managing personal disappointment (1) Maria Barker (1) Marie Curie (1) Marina Delvecchio (23) Marine Corps (1) Mark Cuban (1) married (1) martial arts (1) martyred Myrtle (1) maternity leave (2) Math (2) Math on Call (1) Mathematics (2) Measels outbreak (1) media images of mothers (1) media literacy (1) Medicine (2) Melissa Leo (1) Men (1) Meryl Streep (1) Mess (1) messy rooms (2) Metrofax online faxing (1) Michael Horvath (4) Michael Turner (1) Michelle Obama (1) Middle school (1) military (1) military families (1) Milk (1) missing and exploited children (1) missing children (1) Modern Family (1) Mom and Dad (1) Mom jeans (1) mommies (1) mommy management (1) Mommyhood (2) money (3) money management (1) monkey mind (1) Mother (6) Mother Nature (1) Mother's Day Gift Ideas (3) mother's needs (1) motherhood (7) Motherhood Is Ageless (1) Mothers (2) mothers and sons (1) movie (1) Moving (1) MP3 players (1) Mrs. Bloom's Direct (1) Murder (1) music (1) music lessons (1) my best hour ever (1) myths of motherhood (1) nancy parker (1) nannies (1) NASA (2) National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (1) Natural environment (1) Nature (1) nature vs nurture (1) needs (2) new baby (3) new blogger (1) new mom support (1) new siblings (2) New Year (1) New Year's resolution (1) New Year's resolutions (3) New York metropolitan area (1) newbery honor medal (1) Newbery Medal (1) newborn (3) newborn circumcision (1) nicotine (2) No Phone Zone (1) Nobel Prize (1) Nocturnal enuresis (1) Normalizing Motherhood (1) nutrition (2) Obesity (2) obesity in pregnancy (1) Obstetrics and gynaecology (1) Obstetrics and Gynecology (1) OCD (1) Officer...why don't you adopt him (1) Ohio (1) Ohiya (1) older mother (1) Online Communities (1) online dangers (2) Online Dating (1) online images (1) online safety (1) OpenOffice (1) Operation Gratitude (1) Oprah Winfrey (2) oral hygiene (1) organizing (2) Orthodontist (1) osteomylacia (1) outdoor activities (1) outdoors (1) outside activities (1) over the hill (1) overcome domestic violence (1) Overextending Yourself (1) overweight (1) packed lunch (1) Pam Houghton (2) Parent (12) parent confessions (1) Parent teacher conferences (4) parental confessions (1) parental expectations. (1) parenthood (3) parenting (42) parenting advice (3) parenting advice showdown (2) parenting books (1) parenting expert (3) parenting experts (1) parenting information (2) parenting quotes (1) parenting skills (1) Parenting with empahty (1) parents (1) parkinsons (1) paternity leave (1) Patricia Anne McGoldrick (2) PAYG Promotion (1) pediatricians (1) People (2) Perchlorate (1) perfect mother (1) Personal boundaries (1) pet care providers (1) Pets (1) phallacy (1) Pheobe Lee (1) photography (1) photos (1) Physical exercise (1) picnic (1) pictures (1) pirate monkeys (1) play dates (1) play groups (1) playing together (1) playtime (1) playtime for toddlers (2) Poetry and Parenting (1) Poetry at Home (1) Poetry Month (1) pool safety (2) positive language skill (1) positive parenting solutions (1) positive relationships with kids (2) positive thinking (2) postpartum depression (3) potty training (2) potty training madness (2) potty training mistakes (2) potty training signs (1) potty training tips (2) pre-natal care (1) pregnancy (3) pregnancy and teeth (1) preschool (5) preschool teacher qualifications (1) pressure (1) prevent colds in children (1) preventing childhood obesity (1) princesses (1) Princesses Gone Wild: Disney Part II (1) protecting children (2) protecting children from online predators (1) Pseudo-Dad Step Parenting (20) Pseudo-Dad Step Parenting meeting the kids (1) PTO (1) puberty (2) Public humiliation (1) Publish (1) puppies (2) Puppy (1) puppy love (1) Putt-Putt (1) quit smoking (2) quitting (1) Rachel McCombie (1) raising daughters (1) raising toddlers (1) reacting to children (1) reading (3) reading aloud (1) realistic expectations (1) reality (2) recalls (1) recent study (1) recognizing child abuse (1) Recreation (2) Recreation and Sports (1) Recycling (1) regression tips (1) relationship (1) relationships (4) repeating back (1) Reproductive endocrinology and infertility (1) Requesting Help (1) Research (1) resumes (1) Review (1) rewards of parenthood (1) Richard Keane (1) Ronda Holder (1) rules (1) safe traveling for families (1) safety tips (2) SAHM (40) sandbox (1) Santa (2) Santa Claus (1) Saturday morning cartoon (1) save the earth (1) saying goodbye (1) schedules (1) school (4) school administration (1) school age children (1) school disruption (1) school lunch (1) school lunch vs packed lunch (1) science (1) Scientist (1) scrapbook (1) self care (1) self esteem (2) self-defense (1) semper fi (1) senior care providers (1) setting goals (1) sex (1) sexting (1) Sexual abuse (1) sexual exploitation (1) Shari Downhill (4) Shopping (1) showing affection (1) sibling rivalry (2) sick days (1) SIDS information (1) SIDS research (1) Sign language (1) Sign language in infants and toddlers (1) signs of child abuse and neglect (1) Single Moms (1) single parenting (25) single parenting contributor (11) single parents and school (5) Sitters.com (1) sleep (3) smackdown (1) smart phone apps (1) smoking (2) smoking cessation (2) snow globe (2) snowglobe (1) soccer (1) soccer mom (1) social networking (1) sons (2) South Carolina (1) spa day (1) Space Shuttle (1) Space Shuttle Endeavour (1) Special Interview (1) Special needs (1) Speech (1) sports and violence (1) spreadsheets (1) spring (2) Stacey Celaya (36) Stacey Roberts-Ohr (1) starting kindergarten (1) Stay at Home Mom Expert (2) Stay at Home Mothers (2) Stay at Home Parents (36) Staying at Home (1) step parenting (15) step parents (2) Stephanie Stevens (6) Stereotypes (1) Storm (1) stranger abduction (1) stranger danger (1) stress (4) Stress management (1) strict parenting (1) strong girls (1) Student (1) summer (12) summer activities for kids (2) summer camp (4) summer car safety (1) summer dreams (4) summer fun (4) summer safety (3) summer vacation (4) summer vacations (7) sun (2) sunburn (1) sunscreen (1) support groups (1) Supreme Court of the United States (1) surviving summer vacation (2) swinging (1) t (1) talking (1) Tampa Florida (1) tantrums (1) teach your kids a life skill (1) Teacher (4) teacher gifts (1) teachers (1) teaching (2) Teaching Resources (1) teaching stranger danger (1) technology (1) teen drug abuse (1) teen marriage (1) teen pregnancy (2) teen punishments (2) teenagers (4) teens (4) teens and tweens (6) teeth (1) telecommuting (1) television (1) Temple Grandin (1) text4baby (1) texting and driving (1) Tharp (1) The Bond of Motherhood (1) The Expanding Your Horizons Network (1) The Importance of Friendship (1) The Laid-Back Mom's Parenting Guide (1) The Naiveness of Motherhood (1) the name challenge (1) theme week (1) Themed Movie Nights (1) themes for birthday parties (1) Tidbits to Know (1) Tina Fey (1) tips for sibling rivalry (1) tips for single parenting (2) tobacco (1) Toddler (1) toddler behavior (1) toddler regression (1) toddler socialization (1) toddlers (1) toddlers to teens expert (6) Toni Morrison (1) Toronto (1) Toronto Star (1) Tourism (1) Toy (1) toys (3) Transitions (1) travel (4) traveling (2) TrueCare (1) Tuesday (1) TV (2) TV programs (2) tweens and teens (5) tweens and teens expert (1) two under two (1) types of parenting (1) Understanding (1) United States (7) United States Assistant Attorney General (1) United States Department of Agriculture (1) United States Environmental Protection Agency (1) University of Waterloo (1) Unusual Father's Day Gifts (1) USDA (1) Vaccination (1) vaccinations (1) Valentine's Day (1) Velva Marchena (1) Video game (1) Video game controversy (1) Village (2) Violence and Abuse (1) vision problems (1) visitation orders (1) vitamin D (1) Vote for Maggie (1) vote in our poll (1) WAHM (1) water games (1) water safety (1) weekly recap (6) weeping after birth (1) weight loss (2) weight watchers (1) welcoming a baby (1) Well Child Visits (1) what do we do now (1) What Does Motherhood Mean to Me? (1) when classmates move away (1) Wii (1) withdrawal symptoms (1) WMP mailbag (1) Woman's work (1) women (4) Women in science (1) Women's history (1) Women's History Month (1) work at home (1) work life balance (1) working moms (1) Working Parents (2) Writing (2) Yoga (1) you don't have to sext to be cool (1) you'll have a child just like you (1) young grandparent (1) your baby can read (1) your turn (1) youth sports (1)
Related Posts with Thumbnails