Change, Transition,

and Feelings. 

Change and transition are a natural part of every young person’s daily life – moving from one activity to another, from one room to the next, or from one adult to a different member of staff. These moments, while common, can sometimes feel challenging. For some children, leaving the comfort of a familiar adult or space and stepping into a new environment may affect their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

To support children with these transitions, we use simple, practical strategies and activities designed to help them feel secure, understood, and more confident when faced with change. These approaches encourage children to recognise their emotions, develop coping tools, and manage transitions in a positive and reassuring way.

Teaching young people about change and the ruptures that can occur when we move between places and people, and the feelings that can arise around this, will help young people to name and tame these emotions – young people need repeated experiences of talking about and learning about transitions and ruptures before they can do manage these themselves.

Transitional objects

1 – Making and exchanging objects that provide us with a visual reminder of the person or event that we were connected to and are now leaving can help us to maintain the feeling of connection and therefore manage our feelings around the change.

2 – By making something together and talking about the event, space or person, young people can relax, feel safe to express how they feel and become more aware of the emotions around change.

Arts based activities

Like drawing and colouring, using clay or playdough or cooking together can all help young people to express how they are feeling and reflect on difficult times.

Making memory items

Memory boxes or scrap books, writing thoughts and feelings in a journal, making frames for photographs, or writing a letter, can support the sense of loss that young people experience from some of the more significant transitions they experience, such as moving school, losing a friend, separation, relationship breakdown or taking exams.

Storytelling

Storytelling and making is another effective way of opening up discussion around the change and loss that comes with transitions.

Conversations

Acknowledging and talking about change, loss and transitions is important as young people need to feel prepared and accepted for how they are feeling at these times. Regular check ins can support this.

More ideas to try at home:

• Keep routines consistent – regular meal times, bedtimes and daily habits help children feel safe and grounded.

• Talk about changes in advance – explain what will happen, when, and why, using simple and clear language.

• Use visual supports – calendars, charts, or simple drawings can help children understand what’s coming next.

• Practise small transitions – for example, moving from play to tidy-up, or from screen time to mealtime, with lots of praise for success.

• Name and normalise feelings – encourage your child to talk about their emotions, and reassure them that it’s okay to feel worried or sad.

• Celebrate progress – notice and praise when your child manages a change well, no matter how small.

By using these approaches at home, you can help your child build resilience and confidence when facing changes both in school and in everyday life.

Taking a few minutes out of our busy days to work together, build resilient relationships and support our children with any challenges can change a child’s outlook. I hope you find the above suggestions helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact me via the support hub email if you require any more support.

Mrs Franklin