When Your Child Finds Change Stressful, with Dr. Barry Prizant

When Your Child Finds Change Stressful, with Dr. Barry Prizant

Home schedules can provide predictability for children, but they should not be as rigid as school schedules. Anchor points and visual supports like whiteboards or schedules can help create predictability in small amounts of time. Using symbols to indicate schedule changes can help children practice flexibility. Rituals and games can introduce and tolerate changes in a humorous way. Adding predictability to change can help children regulate emotions and prevent meltdowns. Language and communication skills are important for children to request information and make their world more predictable. Requesting information through language helps children regulate emotions and navigate daily routines.