Seasons for Growth Reconnector

This week our Seasons for Growth groups met for the final time this year in re-connector sessions.  During this time, we discussed any concerns the children may have and look forward to the future knowing that the friendships and understandings built during these ten gatherings will nurture and support them in the future.  This peer support and confidentiality within the groups is part of the enduring beauty and gift of the Seasons for Growth program. 

I have felt honoured to companion the children and would like to thank each of them for having the courage to be involved and for the support and kindness of their teachers.

Big Life Changes

It is a wonderful time of year, consolidation of work learnt, ongoing learning and celebrations of life at school.  It is also a time for some in which there are Big Life Changes and for some children as they leave and begin new adventures. BigLifeJournal.com is a great site for all sorts of parenting and growth mindset ideas. If you would like to read ways of supporting your child through Big Life Changes have a look at this site.  Below I will list briefly 7 of their ideas:

1. Give them time to prepare. This allows them time to process and begin to accept the change.
   
   
2. Listen to their concerns. Help them work through the emotions that they’re feeling. If your child struggles to name what he is feeling, help him to label the emotions (e.g. anxious, sad, nervous, worried, scared).
   
   
3. Read books about big life changes.
   
   
4. Keep routines the same. Big life journal suggests giving your children as much consistency and stability as possible, in particular bedtimes and mealtimes. This structure helps children to feel safe.
   
   
5. Provide connection and play. Remain consistent in your child’s connection with you, so that your child knows that no matter what else changes you aren’t going anywhere.
   
   
6. Give them choices and ask for help. During big life changes children can feel that they have no control over their lives. Give them some sense of agency by allowing your child to make small choices, e.g. what should the first meal in the new house be?
   
   
7. Talk about other changes. Talking about things they have successfully coped with in the past, e.g. starting school, getting a new pet, joining a soccer team.

Wishing you joy-filled and hope-filled parenting, Veronica.

Veronica Harris
Wellbeing Officer