Change is a natural part of life. It happens all around us, every day. Some changes are big, like moving to a new home or starting at a new school; others are small, like having a substitute teacher step in for the day, or weather impacting your plans.
Teaching your students how to accept and adapt to change helps them build important life and social skills that support their growth into confident, resilient adults.
Helping Students Navigate Change
Learning to handle change can help students approach new situations with greater flexibility and confidence. Even though change can feel uncomfortable, these strategies can help your students face it with more confidence:
- Ask questions to better understand the circumstances
- Talk about their feelings with someone they trust to feel heard and supported
- Practice calming strategies to regulate emotions
- Make a plan for how to handle the changes
- Look for the positive outcome of the change
- Allow time to adjust and adapt to the new circumstances
By reinforcing these strategies, you can help students feel more prepared and supported when they are faced with unexpected changes.
These special education resources for accepting change were authored by Watson Institute’s special education consultant, Andee Morris, M.Ed.
PowerPoint Presentations:
I Can Accept Change Facilitator’s Guide
I Can Accept Change PowerPoint Presentation
Resource Materials:
I Can Accept Change Teacher Note
I Can Accept Change Parent Note
I Can Accept Change Magnet Cards
I Can Accept Change Mini Schedule
If you have any questions or concerns about the Watson Institute’s use of this information, please contact us.